As fascinating as the human body is, after studying it for the better part of my entire lifetime and dissecting every square inch of it in a gross lab, few things seem to amaze me anymore. Physiology and pathology concepts have become mundane. I talk about feces and urine almost as if they are causal conversations topics. Facts that used to seem radical and impossible have just become a part of my daily routine of rounds with patients, figuring out their diagnosis, and attempting to treat them correctly.
That was until I started my obstetrics and gynecology rotation.
Women have for millennia been getting pregnant and giving birth. It is literally the foundation of human existence. Yet, despite all of our advancements, current technology, and in depth research, we still know so little about the process! We still have no idea what starts labor, what ripens the cervix, what hormones are released, etc. This list goes on and on. The best we have been able to do is make lots of educated guesses.
This rotation has been unique for me because it is the only field where doctors are not trying to actively fix something. It seems like the ultimate goal in obstetrics is to just not mess anything up and let Mother Nature do her thing. It is humbling to know that there is still so much unknown about the human body; yet despite all that, it can still continue on with full disregard for our ability to keep up.
