Contemporary issues in obstetrics and gynecology for the consultation-liaison psychiatrist

Medical advances in obstetrics and gynecology, combined with the depersonalization of health care and changes in sexual and reproductive behaviors in the general population, lead to challenging new problems for the psychiatric consultant who deals with reproductive issues. The author describes contemporary issues encountered in consultation-liaison work with the obstetrics and gynecology service in a general hospital. They include the reproductive implications of medical illnesses, the stress of deciding whether to continue a pregnancy known to carry genetic risk, the intrusiveness of certain options for dealing with infertility, parental expectations for a perfect baby, and the difficulties some traditional practitioners have in adapting their practice styles to the changing needs of the patient population.