Between scalpel and stethoscope: how medical students weigh obstetrics and gynecology as a career option

Few medical specialties require a clinician to serve as a surgeon, an internist, and a primary care provider throughout a patient's reproductive life. Obstetrics and gynecology occupy this hybrid role, and that hybridity shapes how medical students appraise the field as a career. This narrative review examines the perceptions, motivations, and reservations that drive Brazilian and international medical students toward or away from obstetrics and gynecology. Drawing on literature published between 2015 and 2025, the review reports thematic findings under five headings: clinical and procedural appeal, the gendered geography of the field, the emotional economy of obstetric practice and litigation risk, clerkship quality as a turning point, and competitive selection in a residency market concentrated in urban Brazil. Professional affinity is treated as a secondary lens that helps explain why exposure produces such divergent outcomes among students. Findings indicate that obstetrics and gynecology benefits from strong baseline interest among female students and a reputation for procedural variety, yet it is constrained by litigation anxiety, on-call intensity, persistent gender asymmetries, and a residency landscape that rewards students with access to preparatory resources concentrated in capitals. Implications for clerkship design, residency communication, and equity-oriented recruitment are discussed.