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Every chapter carries the date it was last revised — this page is generated from that data, not written by hand.
FCOG(SA) Final
Jun 2026
- Evaluate and manage the couple with recurrent pregnancy loss, applying current ESHRE, RCOG and ASRM guidance
- Diagnose and manage complicated and non-tubal ectopic pregnancy, including caesarean-scar, cervical, interstitial, ovarian and advanced abdominal pregnancy
- Manage termination of pregnancy and early pregnancy loss, including methods, complications and the South African medico-legal framework
- Diagnose and manage gestational trophoblastic disease, including molar pregnancy, gestational trophoblastic neoplasia and post-molar surveillance
- Provide safe peri-operative care for gynaecological surgery, including assessment, consent, thromboprophylaxis and enhanced recovery
- Select the surgical approach and route for gynaecological procedures and apply energy sources safely
- Recognise, prevent and manage intra-operative complications of gynaecological surgery, including haemorrhage and visceral injury
- Recognise and manage the complications of laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery
- Assess (POP-Q) and manage pelvic organ prolapse, including native-tissue repair, pessary and the transvaginal-mesh position
- Evaluate and manage urinary incontinence, including urodynamics, mid-urethral slings, pharmacotherapy and voiding dysfunction
- Diagnose and manage genitourinary and obstetric fistula
- Manage anal sphincter injury (OASIS) and faecal incontinence, including prevention, repair and the posterior compartment
- Diagnose and manage pelvic inflammatory disease and tubo-ovarian abscess
- Diagnose and manage vaginal discharge and vaginitis using South African syndromic management
- Diagnose and manage genital ulcer disease and sexually transmitted infections, including South African syndromic management
- Manage genital tuberculosis and the HIV-gynaecology interface
- Diagnose and manage vulvar dermatoses, including lichen sclerosus, lichen planus and differentiated VIN
- Assess and manage vulvodynia and chronic vulvar pain
- Diagnose and manage Bartholin gland disease and benign vulvar and vaginal masses
- Evaluate and manage heavy menstrual bleeding across the reproductive lifespan
- Diagnose and manage endometriosis and adenomyosis
- Apply medical ethics, informed consent and capacity in obstetric and gynaecological practice
- Practise defensibly within the medico-legal and litigation environment of South African O&G
- Address gender-based violence, social determinants and the public-health dimensions of women's health
- Evaluate and manage the subfertile couple
- Apply assisted reproductive technology and ovarian stimulation, including the prevention and management of OHSS
- Diagnose and manage uterine fibroids across the reproductive lifespan
- Assess and manage benign ovarian and adnexal masses, including malignancy risk stratification
- Diagnose and manage Müllerian and congenital uterovaginal anomalies
- Assess and manage normal puberty and its disorders, including precocious and delayed puberty and primary amenorrhoea
- Evaluate and manage disorders of sex development and the neonate with ambiguous genitalia
- Manage common paediatric and adolescent gynaecological problems, including child sexual abuse
- Interpret intrapartum fetal surveillance and CTG, and manage suspected fetal compromise in labour
- Counsel on and interpret prenatal screening for aneuploidy, including NIPT/cell-free DNA
- Counsel for and perform invasive prenatal diagnosis — amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling and fetal blood sampling
- Diagnose, counsel and plan management for major fetal structural anomalies
- Plan and perform the complicated caesarean section, including the placenta accreta spectrum
- Manage maternal collapse and perform peri-mortem (resuscitative) caesarean section
- Appraise intrapartum hypoxia, neonatal encephalopathy and cerebral palsy, including causation criteria and the medico-legal context
- Interpret umbilical cord blood gases and fetal acid-base status
- Apply perinatal and maternal mortality audit and classification in the South African setting
- Provide pre-pregnancy and periconception care, including medical optimisation and risk reduction
- Deliver evidence-based antenatal care and routine screening
- Counsel on teratogens and medication safety in pregnancy and lactation
- Recognise and manage maternal sepsis
- Manage the critically ill obstetric patient, including shock and organ support
- Diagnose and manage puerperal sepsis and complications
- Manage postpartum venous thromboembolism and secondary postpartum haemorrhage
- Diagnose and manage perinatal mental health disorders
- Diagnose and manage congenital and perinatal infections, including TORCH and group B streptococcus
- Manage HIV in pregnancy, labour and the puerperium, and prevention of vertical transmission (PVT)
- Manage emerging and pandemic infectious disease in pregnancy
- Assess and counsel a high-risk patient requesting contraception, applying current eligibility criteria
- Assess, diagnose and manage the patient presenting with polycystic/metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS)
- Appraise the physiological effects and clinical uses of progesterone in obstetrics and gynaecology
- Assess and manage premalignant lesions of the cervix, including colposcopic assessment
- Evaluate and devise a management plan for a patient presenting with malignancy in pregnancy
- Assess and manage cervical cancer, including recurrent disease and post-treatment care
- Assess and manage endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer
- Assess and manage ovarian malignancies
- Evaluate and manage a patient with cardiac disease in pregnancy
- Manage gestational and pregestational diabetes mellitus in pregnancy
- Evaluate and manage acute and chronic renal disease in pregnancy
- Evaluate and manage thyroid and other endocrine disorders in pregnancy
- Appraise and manage systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome in pregnancy
- Evaluate and manage thrombocytopenia and haematological disorders in pregnancy
- Manage obstetric cholestasis and liver disease in pregnancy
- Evaluate and manage neurological disorders in pregnancy
- Critically appraise the diagnosis and management of early-onset pre-eclampsia with severe features
- Appraise screening for and aspirin prophylaxis of pre-eclampsia
- Critically appraise antihypertensive choice and the management of postpartum and mild hypertension in pregnancy
- Evaluate a patient at risk of Rhesus iso-immunisation and red-cell alloimmunisation, including anti-D shortages
- Critically appraise the evidence-based management of preterm labour and PPROM
- Manage twin and higher-order multiple pregnancies, including TTTS, sIUGR and single demise
- Diagnose and manage fetal growth restriction, including Doppler, timing and route of delivery
- Manage the prolonged second stage of labour
- Defend the management of breech presentation, including external cephalic version and complications
- Contrast methods for induction of labour and manage IOL, including complications
- Plan the management of a patient with uterine rupture
- Describe the approach to and management of caesarean section at full dilatation
- Interpret and apply maternity statistics and critically appraise the primary literature in O&G
- Manage postpartum haemorrhage using current FIGO and SA evidence
FCOG(SA) Intermediate
May 2026
- Demonstrate the examination of a child presenting with a vaginal discharge
- Demonstrate the assessment of a patient presenting with ambiguous genitalia
- Consider performance status in assessment of a patient for surgery
- Integrate principles of ERAS in the care of a post-operative patient
- Interpret an arterial blood gas
- Discuss issues related to electrical safety during surgery
- Consider the principles of fluid management in the management of peri-operative patients
- Demonstrate the safe use of surgical instruments open, vaginal and minimally invasive surgery
- Describe methods of preventing complications related to minimally invasive surgery
- Discuss the principles of pneumoperitoneum
- Illustrate the principles of operative hysteroscopy, as related to indications, procedure, complications and its prevention and management thereof
- Demonstrate the use of colposcopy
- Demonstrate concepts of knobology, and Doppler safety in performance of O&G US
- Describe and interpret ultrasound signs of possible malignancy
- Describe evidence-based safe caesarean section technique, including the various skin incisions
- Illustrate the use of obstetric ultrasound across all trimesters, including liquor and placenta assessment, fetal Doppler evaluation, and multiple pregnancy assessment
- Completion of basic biomedical statistics course (if offered or required uniformly for MMed)
- Consider the issues related to informed consent in O&G practice
- Demonstrate knowledge of SA law that is applicable to O&G practice, such as TOP Act, Child Act, Law regarding consent, gamete donation, etc.
- Appraise a women who has been a victim of gender-based violence
- Demonstrate knowledge of South African guidelines on maternity care
- Evaluate a woman presenting for antenatal care
- Discuss the principles of respectful care
- Understand the risks associated with high-risk pregnancies, such as advanced maternal age, teenagers/adolescents, grand multiparity, elderly primiparity, poor obstetric history
- Discuss nutrition, exercise, supplements, gestational weight gain
- Demonstrate the ability to assess gestational age
- Explain the effects of smoking, alcohol, medications, and drugs of abuse on pregnancy; and advise on cessation
- Advise a woman on long-distance travel in pregnancy
- Discuss the safety and use of vaccines in pregnancy
- Describe the minor complaints in pregnancy
- Apply screening protocols for disease or abnormalities (maternal and fetal) in pregnancy
- Discuss the management of HIV in pregnancy
- Describe the management of normal labour
- Demonstrate use of the partogram, and consider reasons/controversies for using a partogram
- Select the most appropriate analgesia for labour, i.e. consider options, indications, complications
- Compare the various methods of fetal monitoring in antenatal and intrapartum care
- Interpret the cardiotocograph
- Describe the normal course of the puerperium
- Discuss infant feeding options
- Discuss the evaluation a pregnant woman for gender based violence and mental health issues in pregnancy
- Describe the management of complicated labour including poor progress, cephalopelvic disproportion, malpresentations, shoulder dystocia and cord prolapse
- Discuss vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC)
- Appraise a patient with complications in the puerperium (risk factors, presentation, diagnosis and management) including puerperal sepsis, breast complications, postpartum psychiatric conditions and venous thromboembolism
- Demonstrate neonatal resuscitation, assessment of Apgar score, interpretation of cord blood gas, assessment of fetal birth injuries
- Evaluate the postpartum contraceptive options
- Describe the antenatal and intrapartum management of a patient with a fetus in breech presentation
- Evaluate and manage a patient presenting with antepartum haemorrhage (APH)
- Discuss the use of instrumental delivery in modern obstetrics including forceps, vacuum/ventouse and the Odon device
- Appraise means of protecting the perineum in labour, use of episiotomy, and perineal tears in the parturient
- Describe the management of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) including risk factors, mechanism, prevention, diagnosis, emergency management and definitive management
- Discuss uterine rupture in the pregnant patient
- Evaluate and manage a patient presenting with postpartum haemorrhage (PPH)
- Evaluate a woman with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss
- Describe the use of progesterone in pregnancy
- Discuss the use, indications and complications of cervical cerclage
- Explain the pathophysiology, prevention, and management of Rh isoimmunisation in pregnancy
- Describe the management of common infections in pregnancy – syphilis, Group B Streptococcus, STIs
- Discuss the management of preterm birth and preterm rupture of membranes
- Explain the management of various forms of hypertension in pregnancy and their complications
- Compare the pathophysiology of early versus late onset pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome
- Contrast the pathophysiology and management of early versus late onset fetal growth restriction (FGR)
- Discuss the management of the macrosomic fetus
- Describe the management of multiple pregnancy – diagnosis, management of uncomplicated, including vaginal delivery
- Describe the management of common medical complications in pregnancy (UTI, anaemia, VTE, DM, asthma, pneumonia/TB, epilepsy, HELLP, obesity, depression, DKA, thyroid storm, proteinuria, hyperemesis gravidarum)
- Describe the basic principles of inheritance
- Discuss the antenatal counselling, screening, and diagnosis of Down syndrome
- Describe the effect of uterine contractions upon fetal oxygenation and blood supply
- List the factors involved in the initiation of respiration
- Discuss the physiological adaptation of the neonate to extra-uterine life in the first few days
- Describe the fetal response to chronic and acute placental insufficiency and hypoxia
- Explain the approach to a patient presenting with decreased fetal movements
- Describe the management of oligo- and polyhydramnios
- Describe the principles of resuscitation in pregnancy
- Discuss fluid and electrolyte management in the O&G patient
- Analyse FBC, U/E, arterial blood gas (ABG)
- Evaluate the use of fluids in the O&G patient
- Describe the management of shock (haemorrhagic/hypovolaemic and septic)
- Describe the pathophysiology of osteoporosis
- Describe the pathophysiology of hyperandrogenism
- Discuss the clinical presentation and impact of climacteric and menopause
- Compare and contrast the different contraceptive modalities
- Appraise a gynaecological patient presenting with urinary retention
- Discuss the classification, definitions and pathophysiology of the various forms of urinary incontinence
- Discuss the aetiology, classification and causes of the various types of genital organ prolapse
- Describe the pathology and pathophysiology of gynaecological fistulas
- Describe the pathological features of cysts of the genital tract
- Describe the diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease
- Discuss the pathological features of gestational trophoblastic disease
- Devise a management plan for patient presenting with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
- Consider the cervical cancer screening tests and the SA policy on cervical cancer screening
- Describe the pathophysiology of benign cervical pathology, e.g. cervical ectropion, cervical polyps
- Describe the pathological features associated with HPV infection of the genital tract
- Describe the pathophysiology of CIN
- Discuss the process of cervical cancer carcinogenesis
- Describe the pathological features of endometrial carcinoma
- Discuss the pathological features of gynaecological sarcomas
- Describe the pathological features of benign and malignant vaginal tumours
- Discuss the histopathological types of vulval carcinoma
- Discuss the pathological features of vulvar epithelial hyperplasia
- Describe the effect of pregnancy on neoplasia
- Describe the pathological features of melanoma
- Describe the pathological features of lipoma
- Describe the pathological features of fibroma
- Compare and contrast the normal vs. abnormal female genital anatomy
- Discuss the pathophysiology of conditions of the genital tract associated with acute pelvic pain
- Assess, diagnose, manage, and refer where applicable a woman presenting with acute pelvic pain
- Assess, diagnose, manage, and refer where applicable a woman presenting with acute pelvic infection
- Appraise a patient presenting with chronic pelvic pain
- Classify the staging of endometriosis/adenomyosis
- Describe the pathology and pathophysiology of endometriosis/adenomyosis
- Appraise a pregnant patient (in each trimester) presenting with a symptomatic adnexal mass
- Discuss the clinical presentations and causes of vestibulitis
- Assess, diagnose, manage, and refer where applicable a woman presenting with spontaneous miscarriage
- Appraise the various methods available for termination of pregnancy
- Describe the aetiology, pathophysiology of ectopic pregnancies
- Assess, diagnose, manage, and refer where applicable a woman presenting with ectopic pregnancy
- Counsel a patient on the risks, prevention and management of HIV
- Discuss the impact of HIV on gynaecological health
- Investigate a patient presenting with vaginal discharge and ulcers
- Correlate the pathological features of tubal infections to clinical presentation
- Correlate the pathological features of STIs (vaginal discharge and ulcers) to clinical presentation
- Describe the pathological features of defects in pigmentation such as vitiligo, albinism, intertrigo
- Describe the pathological features of lichen sclerosis
- Describe the pathological features of candidiasis
- Describe the pathological features of contact dermatitis
- Assess, diagnose, manage, and refer where applicable a woman presenting with heavy menstrual bleeding
- Discuss the pathological features associated with causes of heavy menstrual bleeding
- Correlate the pathological features of fibroids, and other muscular events to clinical presentation