The Diploma of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is the most widely sat women's health qualification among UK GPs and GP trainees. It validates clinical competence across obstetrics, gynaecology, and sexual and reproductive health — and it is increasingly expected by employers offering women's health extended roles, LARC clinics, and enhanced service contracts.
With 120 SBAs in 3 hours across 7 syllabus modules, the DRCOG rewards systematic, guideline-aligned preparation. This guide covers everything from format and syllabus to resources, strategy, and the adaptive approach that makes the revision work around your clinical schedule.
What the DRCOG Is and Who Should Sit It
The DRCOG is awarded by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. It is not a specialist qualification — it recognises a GP's interest and competence in women's health at primary care level.
Who sits it: GP registrars (especially during their O&G placement), qualified GPs wanting to demonstrate women's health expertise, FY doctors with O&G interest, IMGs seeking a recognised UK women's health qualification, and doctors working in private women's health clinics.
Career value: Women's health extended roles in primary care, LARC clinic leadership (coil fitting, implant services), antenatal shared care provision, enhanced service payments from NHS England, and portfolio career development. The DRCOG signals clinical depth that employers and patients value.
No prerequisites: Any GMC-registered doctor can sit the DRCOG. There is no formal clinical training requirement (though O&G placement experience is strongly recommended for optimal preparation).
Exam Format in Detail
120 single best answer questions. Each worth 2 marks. Total: 240 marks. 3-hour examination. Computer-based at Pearson VUE centres across the UK and Ireland.
Twice yearly: March and October. Fee: £476 (UK band). Application through RCOG website; Expression of Interest form required first.
Standard setting: Modified Angoff methodology — pass mark varies by sitting difficulty, ensuring the same competence standard passes every time. No fixed percentage pass mark. No negative marking.
Attempts: Not formally capped by the RCOG, but the fee applies each time. Prepare to pass first time.
The 7-Module Syllabus — What Each Module Actually Covers
Module 1: Fertility Regulation and Sexual Health Assessment
Contraception (all methods — CHC, POP, injectable, implant, IUS, IUD, barrier, emergency), the UKMEC table (Category 1-4 for every method-condition combination), sexual health counselling, cervical screening (NHS programme, HPV primary testing, management of abnormal results), and HPV vaccination.
This is consistently the highest-weighted module. Expect 20-25% of questions here. The UKMEC table is guaranteed to appear in multiple questions every sitting.
Key guidelines: FSRH UKMEC summary table, FSRH method-specific guidelines, NHS cervical screening programme.
Module 2: Subfertility and Unplanned Pregnancy
Causes and investigation of subfertility, assisted conception pathways (IVF, ICSI — at GP referral level), pregnancy options counselling, abortion (legal framework across UK jurisdictions — England/Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland have different laws), ectopic pregnancy (risk factors, diagnosis, management), and gestational trophoblastic disease (molar pregnancy, hCG monitoring, referral).
Module 3: Antenatal Care
Routine antenatal care pathway (booking visit, screening schedule, routine investigations), first and second trimester screening (combined test, quadruple test, anomaly scan), gestational diabetes (NICE NG3 — OGTT criteria, management, monitoring), pre-eclampsia (NICE NG133 — diagnostic criteria, risk factors, aspirin prophylaxis, management, delivery timing), rhesus disease (anti-D prophylaxis, Kleihauer test), infections in pregnancy (group B strep, rubella, CMV, parvovirus, toxoplasmosis), medications in pregnancy (which to stop, which to continue, which to start), and mental health in pregnancy.
The second highest-weighted module. Expect 20-25% of questions.
Key guidelines: NICE NG201 (antenatal care), NICE NG133 (hypertension in pregnancy), NICE NG3 (diabetes in pregnancy).
Module 4: Intrapartum Care
Normal labour (stages, management, partogram interpretation), fetal monitoring (CTG interpretation using RCOG classification — normal, suspicious, pathological), induction of labour (indications, methods, risks), operative delivery (ventouse vs forceps — indications, contraindications, complications), caesarean section (categories, indications), shoulder dystocia (McRoberts manoeuvre, Rubin manoeuvre, Gaskin, episiotomy), cord prolapse (management algorithm), and postpartum haemorrhage (risk factors, prevention — active management of third stage, treatment sequence).
Key guidelines: RCOG GTG 52 (PPH), GTG 26 (operative vaginal delivery), GTG 54 (induction of labour), NICE NG235 (intrapartum care).
Module 5: Postpartum Problems
Postnatal care (6-week check, contraception counselling), VTE prophylaxis (RCOG GTG 37a/b — risk assessment, LMWH, duration), breastfeeding (benefits, common problems, medications compatible with breastfeeding), postnatal depression and puerperal psychosis (screening, management, referral), perineal trauma and complications, and postpartum contraception (when to start each method).
Key guideline: NICE NG194 (postnatal care).
Module 6: Gynaecological Problems
Abnormal uterine bleeding (investigation pathway, management by age group — NICE NG88), fibroids (medical management, indications for surgical referral), endometriosis (diagnosis, medical and surgical management — RCOG GTG 71), ovarian pathology (cyst management algorithm, malignancy red flags, CA-125 and RMI), pelvic organ prolapse (conservative management, pessaries, surgical referral), urinary incontinence (stress vs urge vs mixed, conservative management, referral criteria), menopause and HRT (NICE NG23), and infertility investigation and referral.
Module 7: Sexual Health
STI management (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital herpes, trichomoniasis, genital warts, PID — first-line treatment, test of cure, partner notification), emergency contraception (detailed eligibility criteria, timing, interactions), and sexual health counselling.
Note: sexual health content overlaps significantly with Module 1 — the exam tests contraception and STIs from both the counselling perspective (Module 1) and the clinical management perspective (Module 7).
The UKMEC Table — The Most Examined Single Document in the DRCOG
The UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use is the framework for every contraceptive prescribing decision. It assigns Category 1-4 to every contraceptive method for every relevant clinical condition. It is guaranteed to appear in multiple questions every sitting — and getting the categories wrong is the single most common reason candidates fail questions they should get right.
Category 1: No restriction. Category 2: Benefits generally outweigh risks. Category 3: Risks generally outweigh benefits. Category 4: Unacceptable health risk (absolute contraindication).
Most tested scenarios: Migraine with aura + combined hormonal contraception (Category 4). Smoking ≥15/day aged ≥35 + CHC (Category 4). BMI ≥35 + CHC (Category 3). Postpartum timing for each method. Breastfeeding + CHC. DVT/PE history + CHC (Category 4). Enzyme-inducing drugs + hormonal methods.
How to revise it: Do not try to memorise every cell. Understand the underlying logic (thrombosis risk drives CHC restrictions; progestogen-only methods have far fewer restrictions; the copper IUD has the widest eligibility). Then drill the specific Category 3 and 4 entries through Q-bank practice until they are automatic.
The iatroX DRCOG Q-Bank includes extensive UKMEC scenario questions. The adaptive engine identifies which UKMEC combinations you get wrong and serves more of those until your accuracy improves.
The Guidelines You Must Know
FSRH UKMEC: Primary source for contraception eligibility. Memorise the Category 3/4 entries for CHC.
RCOG Green Top Guidelines (most tested): GTG 52 (PPH — appears almost every sitting), GTG 26 (operative vaginal delivery), GTG 37a/b (VTE in pregnancy), GTG 63 (antepartum haemorrhage), GTG 17/21 (ectopic pregnancy), GTG 54 (induction of labour), GTG 71 (endometriosis), GTG 25 (early pregnancy loss).
NICE Guidelines: NG201 (antenatal care), NG133 (hypertension in pregnancy), NG3 (diabetes in pregnancy), NG126 (ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage), NG194 (postnatal care), NG235 (intrapartum care), NG88 (heavy menstrual bleeding), NG23 (menopause).
Ask iatroX provides instant access to all of these guidelines with citations. When a Q-bank question references a guideline you have not read, the key recommendation is available in seconds — no tab-switching required.
Best DRCOG Revision Resources in 2026
iatroX DRCOG Adaptive Q-Bank
iatroX Boards provides 600+ adaptive SBA questions mapped to all 7 DRCOG modules — the largest adaptive DRCOG bank outside the RCOG's own static resource.
True adaptive sequencing: The algorithm identifies your weakest modules and serves targeted questions to close those gaps. If Module 1 (contraception/UKMEC) is your weakest area, the engine concentrates practice there. If Module 4 (intrapartum care) is where you lose marks, it adjusts.
Performance dashboard: Proficiency by module — see exactly which of the 7 modules needs the most work before exam day.
NICE/RCOG/FSRH guideline integration: Explanations reference the specific guideline with citations.
Mobile app: iOS and Android. Revise between consultations on your O&G placement.
Single subscription: A iatroX Boards subscription includes the DRCOG Q-bank alongside DFSRH, DGM, DipIMC, FFICM, DTM&H, and other specialty banks.
RCOG Official Revision Resource
Authoritative SBA bank launched by the RCOG — questions written by DRCOG committee members and faculty clinicians. 140 SBAs covering all 7 modules. Essential for format familiarisation. Limitations: static, small volume, no adaptive personalisation.
Passmedicine DRCOG
Over 1,000 questions. Good explanations. Affordable (~£25-50 for 3-6 months). Peer comparison feature. Static bank — no adaptive routing. Best used as a volume supplement to iatroX.
Susan Ward Revision Guide (3rd Edition, 2021)
The go-to textbook: 400+ practice questions with detailed answer discussions. Aligned to the current exam format. Essential companion — but not standalone.
12-Week Revision Plan
Weeks 1-2: Baseline diagnostic via iatroX — proficiency map across all 7 modules. Identify your weakest modules. Begin UKMEC table study.
Weeks 3-4: Module 1 (fertility regulation, UKMEC intensive) + Module 7 (sexual health). These are the highest-yield combined area — contraception and STIs together.
Weeks 5-6: Module 6 (gynaecological problems — heavy hitter) + Module 2 (subfertility/unplanned pregnancy).
Weeks 7-8: Modules 3 and 4 (antenatal + intrapartum) — read RCOG Green Tops (GTG 52, 26, 37, 63), NICE NG201/NG133/NG3/NG235.
Week 9: Module 5 (postpartum) + postnatal mental health.
Weeks 10-11: Mixed-module adaptive sessions from iatroX. UKMEC consolidation. Full timed mock exams (120 questions, 3 hours). RCOG official 140 questions under timed conditions.
Week 12: Guidelines review (UKMEC table, most commonly tested Green Tops). Final reinforcement. No new content.
Common DRCOG Failure Points
Sexual health module: Consistently under-revised relative to its weighting. Candidates focus on obstetrics and gynaecology and skim STI management — then lose marks on straightforward chlamydia/gonorrhoea treatment questions.
UKMEC edge cases: Candidates know the common Category 4 entries (migraine with aura + CHC) but fail on less common clinical scenarios — cumulative risk factors, postpartum timing specifics, enzyme-inducing drug interactions.
Intrapartum emergencies: Shoulder dystocia management sequence, cord prolapse algorithm, PPH treatment escalation. These are high-stakes, low-frequency events that the exam tests because getting them wrong in practice harms patients.
DRCOG Career Value — Is It Worth the Investment?
Total cost: ~£476 exam fee + ~£100-200 revision resources = ~£600-700 total investment.
Return: Women's health extended roles (LARC clinics, antenatal shared care, menopause clinics), NHS enhanced service payments (coil fitting and implant services often require DRCOG or DFSRH), career signal for partnership and salaried GP applications, and the clinical confidence that comes from structured, guideline-aligned women's health knowledge.
For most GPs with any women's health interest, the DRCOG is worth the investment.
Start with the iatroX DRCOG bank — 600+ adaptive questions, NICE/RCOG/FSRH integration, and a performance dashboard that shows you exactly which modules need work.