There is a dearth of the books which could address the practical aspects of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and this book is a welcome addition. It is comprehensive, relevant, contemporary and will be a useful tool for examinations as well as in day-to-day practices. The book is tailored for the Generation Next, with a detailed initial chapter on “How to Communicate Effectively with Patients”. Newer technology which are now being increasingly used in patient care, like Ultrasonography, Electronic Fetal Monitoring, Colposcopy, etc. are covered in great detail along with traditional procedures. The authors have addressed various topics with great thoroughness, and the book is essentially designed to make life easy for students facing a practical 10examination. However, there is a wealth of information in the book which will help trainees improve their knowledge about operations and instruments, and teach them history-taking as well. Finally, it will serve as a ready reckoner the day prior to assisting a not-so-common operation, especially in a busy trainee's life.

This book is designed as a companion for trainees and junior doctors during their training in general and examinations in particular. However, I will not be surprised if this book makes its way to the bookshelves of many busy practitioners.

I always felt while pursuing my residency that there was a lack of a simple yet concise textbook that would give me a practical outlook on clinical examinations and techniques. What I intend to emphasize is that communication with the patient is the first and most important step of a good clinical examination because once the patient is comfortable with you; it is easier and more fruitful to conduct a proper and complete clinical examination.

This book should help the readers in learning to undertake a brief and yet informative history which will help in constructing a relevant differential diagnosis. The examination techniques described should then enable the readers to elicit the appropriate clinical signs and deduce the correct diagnosis akin to solving a mystery by a sleuth.12

The basic scheme of this book is to guide the students about the communication techniques, history-taking methods, basic instrumentation, clinical techniques, and interpretation of imaging modalities.

I hope this book helps residents and fellows in not only securing better grades but also in securing a firm basic clinical knowledge in the art and science of gynecology and obstetrics.

There are many people who were directly or indirectly responsible for the publication of this book. I would like to extend my thanks to all my teachers and seniors who have guided me throughout my residency and years thereafter. I am thankful to all my seniors and colleagues at BEAMS Hospital and Fernandez Hospital, Hyderabad, and special thanks to Dr Evita Fernandez, Director, Fernandez Hospital, Hyderabad, who always encouraged me to carry out these kinds of academic endeavors. I am thankful to my husband and all my family members who are always there to support and encourage me to carry out and complete such academic works. I would like to thank Ms Rekha who helped me in making charts, tables and editing of the book. Last but not least, I would like to thank my co-author Dr Bhaskar Paul and all contributors, without their effort it would have been a distant dream.

I would like to thank M/s Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd., for showing promptness for accepting this script for publication.

I would welcome any suggestions and feedback from our readers for further editions of the book.