ABOG Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

It is the subspecialty certification exam in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. Passing it demonstrates that a fellowship-trained physician meets the board's standard for advanced competence in pelvic floor disorders, and it is distinct from primary obstetrics and gynecology certification.

It is a computer-based, multiple-choice examination. Most items are clinical vignettes asking for a diagnosis, next step, or best management choice. The official body publishes the current item counts, section structure, and timing, so check its website rather than relying on secondhand figures.

It is a subspecialty-level exam, so difficulty comes from depth rather than trivia. Items often require integrating urodynamic tracings, imaging findings, or operative details into a management decision. Fellows who have read the primary literature and can justify why one option beats another generally find it fair.

Most candidates spread preparation over three to six months alongside clinical duties. A common pattern is a text-based pass early, then focused review of guidelines, landmark trials, and operative complications, with practice vignettes in the final weeks to build stamina and expose weak domains.

Start with anatomy, physiology, and diagnostic testing, since nearly every other topic depends on them. Then move to prolapse and incontinence management, followed by overactive bladder, anorectal and defecatory disorders, mesh and grafts, and complications. Finish with perioperative safety, special populations, and biostatistics.

Common failure modes are shallow knowledge of urodynamics and imaging interpretation, weak recall of complication management and reoperation options, and unfamiliarity with trial evidence behind guideline recommendations. Another frequent problem is choosing a plausible intervention over the correct next diagnostic step in a staged vignette.

Retake rules, waiting periods, and any limits on attempts are set by the board and can change. Confirm the current policy directly with ABOG before you plan a repeat attempt, and use your score report to identify which content areas to rebuild rather than repeating the same study routine.

Score reporting timelines are set by the board and vary by administration. The official body publishes current reporting windows and score interpretation guidance, so consult its site for the authoritative answer instead of planning around anecdotal timelines from other candidates.

Fees are set and updated by the board, and they may differ for initial certification versus subsequent maintenance. The official body publishes the current fee schedule; check its website for exact amounts and deadlines rather than budgeting from older information.

No. This is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Always treat the board's own published materials as the definitive source for eligibility, format, fees, and scoring.