The aim of this book is to provide a straightforward summary of the knowledge required for preliminary examinations in specialist obstetrics and gynaecology; the first part of the examination for Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists would be a good example. Thus the field covered is that of the basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, etc.) as applied to human reproduction. Most examinations of this type are based on mUltiple choice questions (MCQ). No apology is made for the fact that the present book addresses the sort of 'fact' which lends itself to testing by this approach. There is no discussion of speculative or contentious areas, no account of present or future research and no references. Excellent books are available which treat the topic in a much fuller and more discursive manner and the present volume does not seek to emulate them. Readers will be aware that even apparently immutable facts are subject to occasional revision. We have attempted to present the 'state of the art': most of the material is generally if not universally accepted. A particular problem arises with numerical information.