J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care: first published as 10.1136/jfprhc-2011-100272 on 27 March 2012. Downloaded from

BOOK REVIEW excellent. Each chapter is self-contained Mirena® were considered to be the same and can be read without reference to the device. The recommended treatment others. I imagine that few readers will for pelvic infl ammatory disease did not Gynaecology (4th edn) copyright. do as I did and read the book from cover follow the (admittedly different) advice Robert Shaw, David Luesley, Ash Monga (eds). Oxford, to cover; in doing so it became appar- from the Royal College of Obstetricians UK: Churchill Livingstone (Elsevier), 2010. ent that there is considerable overlap and Gynaecologists or BASHH and sug- ISBN-13: 978-0-70203-120-5. Price: £165.00. between some chapters, especially in gested removal of an intrauterine device Pages: 1096 (hardback) the Reproductive Medicine section. This (not FSRH guidance!). These may appear This is the fourth edition of Gynaecology, section is also the largest and I suspect small points to a general gynaecologist which has become one of the standard it could be edited without detriment. but as I work in the fi eld of reproductive textbooks of the specialty. It is a large Despite the size of this section I was and sexual health they were irritating tome and seems to weigh considerably surprised that the chapter on menopause and detracted from an otherwise excel- more than my own well-thumbed sec- was not longer. Some details on manage- lent work. ond edition! A quick count reveals 100 ment would have been helpful. The two I enjoyed reading the book and updat- more pages. chapters on sexual dysfunction could be ing my knowledge. It would be wrong to This edition has two new editors, both merged. single out any particular chapter because http://jfprhc.bmj.com/ experts and subspecialists in their fi eld: I was disappointed that where con- they were all good. It was useful that Professor David Luesley has edited the traception and sexually transmitted chapters on breast disease (benign and Gynaecology Oncology section and Mr infections were mentioned, outside the malignant), lower intestinal disease and Ash Monga the one on Urogynaecology. chapters dealing directly with the top- lesbian and bisexual health issues were The editors hope that this new edition ics, the guidance was at variance with included. will look forward to the challenges of that given by the Faculty of Sexual and I recommend this book and think it the 21st century, updating readers on Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) and the will be a useful addition to both home all major advances since the previous British Association for Sexual Health and and clinic bookshelves. I suspect it will edition was published in 2003. The edi- HIV (BASHH) and at times was incor- not remain in pristine condition for long! on October 1, 2021 by guest. Protected tors claim that the book will serve as a rect. In the chapter on preoperative care, However, community practitioners will comprehensive text for the established Gillick competence was discussed with look in vain for advice about some of the specialist and a resource for trainees pre- no acknowledgement of Lord Fraser. most common gynaecological problems paring for examinations as well as gen- The venous thromboembolism (VTE) presenting to our clinics; for example, eral practitioners. risks used old fi gures and there was more there is no mention of the management The book comprises fi ve sections: emphasis on second- and third-genera- of either postcoital or intermenstrual Basic Principles and Investigations, tion progestogens than is given today. bleeding. Reproductive Medicine, Benign and The chapter on endometriosis suggested Reviewed by Gillian Robinson using high-dose combined oral contracep- Malignant Tumours, Urogynaecology Associate Specialist, Department of Sexual Health, and Women’s Reproductive Health. tives for treatment, which was acceptable Southwark Primary Care Trust, London, UK Overall this is a good book; the chapters even with a personal or family history are well written, informative and up to of VTE (after a coagulation screen). In J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care 2012;38:101. ® doi:10.1136/jfprhc-2011-100272 date. The illustrations and diagrams are another chapter the Progestosert and

J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care April 2012 Vol 38 No 2 101

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