Embryology
Oogenesis and Spermatogenesis The process of fertilisation involves the union of female and male gametes, the ovum and spermatozoon, respectively. In humans there is a ready supply of spermatozoa constantly…
OBSTETRICS
Microbiology and Virology
Bacteriology, Mycology and Parasitology Introduction Bacteria are the smallest organisms capable of a free-living existence. That is, with the exception of a few highly evolved examples, they are able to…
Fetal and Placental Physiology
Introduction The subject of fetal and placental physiology encompasses a large and complex branch of the reproductive sciences, and any one of the subsections below could form the subject of…
Clinical Genetics
Clinical genetics is the specialty concerned with the diagnosis and investigation of disorders which are thought to have a genetic basis. The clinical genetics team is multidisciplinary and consists of…
Structure and Function of the Genome
This chapter will provide a basic introduction to the human genome and some of the tools used to analyse it. Genomics and molecular biology have developed rapidly during the last…
Ultrasound scanning in early pregnancy and foetal abnormality screening in obese women
25.1 Introduction The prevalence of obesity is on the rise and is a major health concern in pregnancy. It is associated with comorbidities posing risks to the health of both…
Early pregnancy and obesity
Obesity has become a major health problem worldwide and it’s an independent risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcome. The World Health Organization classifies obesity into class I BMI (body mass…
Preconception care for obese women
Obesity poses increased health risks for women not only before pregnancy but also puts these women and their babies at various adverse outcomes during pregnancy. These women and their offspring…
Pathological basis of effects of obesity on pregnancy outcome
21.1 Introduction 1. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally and nearly tripled worldwide between 1975 and 2016. 2. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2016, more than 1.9…
