Book Review

Obstetrics and Gynecology: Principles for Practice

N Engl J Med 2001; 345:1137-1138October 11, 2001

Article

Obstetrics and Gynecology: Principles for Practice
Edited by Frank W. Ling and Patrick Duff. 1387 pp., illustrated. New York, McGraw-Hill, 2001. $95. ISBN: 0-8385-7201-4

In Obstetrics and Gynecology: Principles for Practice, Ling and Duff have recognized the rapid changes in women's health care and have assembled a book of substance, written by both long-standing experts and the newer generation of experts. This is not a traditional textbook of obstetrics and gynecology. It targets practitioners but could also serve as a valuable resource for some of the new integrated medical curriculums in medical schools. Indeed, women could use the book as a practical resource for the many issues they confront in their own health care.

The book has two parts, one on obstetrics and the other on gynecologic medicine. The chapter on medical complications of pregnancy has nine subchapters, covering the major organ systems, that make it convenient to read and help integrate the content of the subsections. Part II, which deals with gynecology and women's health, is divided into three sections: “Women's Health Care Issues,” “Management of Chronic Medical Problems in Women's Health,” and “Special Problems in Gynecologic Oncology.” The topics in these sections reflect what women want to discuss with their physicians. The subjects include stress management, nutrition, mood disorders, adolescent pregnancy, menopause and old age, and social issues that are either the result or the cause of many medical problems.

In both obstetrical and gynecologic parts of the book, emphasis is placed on the importance of acquiring information relevant to accurate diagnoses, especially for the more complicated conditions. Many of the chapters include templates for patients' histories and diagnostic algorithms. There is also an emphasis on the integration of medical specialties in treatment, again especially for the more complex conditions. There is even an interesting chapter on collaborative practice models in the delivery of women's health care. This comprehensive approach to women's health is generally typical of the book and is one of the features that make it stand out.

Each chapter begins with five key points that summarize the content and serve as a helpful guide to the topic at hand. The book includes numerous tables, flow charts, and illustrations that help the reader retain key information. The illustrations and tables are placed on the same pages as the related text, making it convenient for the reader to refer back and forth. An eight-page color-plate insert is included in the chapter on dermatologic problems, with the same photographs in black and white conveniently appearing with the text. There are abundant references on each topic, and the index is well constructed and thorough. The text is also very well written, and some of the chapters are exceptionally well written.

My only criticism is that the book contains surprisingly little information on infertility, which is a rather substantial component of gynecologic practice. In view of the relatively large number of women who seek infertility consultation and the effect of delaying conception, the book would benefit from the addition of more information on and assessment algorithms for infertility.

Overall, this is an impressive book whose contents recognize and reflect the issues that today's women confront in their health care management.

John A. McCoshen, Ph.D.
University of Manitoba School of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3A 1R8, Canada