Clinical Practice Guidelines

The following SOGC national clinical guidelines in ob/gyn and related fields are available free of charge to health care practitioners and the public. These clinical guidelines, based on the foremost scientific knowledge in ob/gyn, advance the obstetric and gynecology specialties and promote informed choices for women in Canada and abroad. All guidelines are posted after they have been published in our peer-review journal, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Canada (JOGC)

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Notes and Disclaimer

These clinical guidelines reflect emerging clinical and scientific advances in ob/gyn and related specialties as of the date issued and are subject to change.
Clinical guidelines currently under review appear in bold with an asterisk (*).
The guidelines released before 1997 have been submitted to the appropriate committee(s) for audit.
Clinical Guidelines issues before 2000 are available in the SOGC members-only section.
All guidelines are copyright of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC). You may print one copy for personal use. Any other use requires written permission of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC). All requests for permission or for guidelines prior to the year 2000 need to be faxed to: Sharon Giesinger at (613) 730-4314 or emailed to sgiesinger@sogc.com.

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SOGC Guidelines

Select a link below to view all available guidelines in that category.

Aboriginal Breast Disease Contraception Diagnostic Imaging Education Ethics Executive Genetics Gynaecology Infectious Disease	Junior Members Maternal Fetal Medicine Medico-Legal Miscellaneous Obstetrics Oncology Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Social Sexual Issues SOGC/GOC/SCC Policy and Practice Urogynaecology

Joint Papers

Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Canada (APOG) Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)	International Women's Health (IWH) Prenatal Diagnosis Committee of the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists (CCMG) Society of Canadian Copolscopists (SCC) Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)

Aboriginal Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
188	March 2007	Clinical Practice Guideline	Inuktitut translation A Report on Best Practices for Returning Birth to Rural and Remote Aboriginal Communities
188	March 2007	Clinical Practice Guideline	A Report on Best Practices for Returning Birth to Rural and Remote Aboriginal Communities
100	March 2001	Policy Statement	A Guide for Health Professionals Working with Aboriginal Peoples (Parts 5 – Aboriginal Health Resources)
100	Feb 2001	Policy Statement	A Guide for Health Professionals Working with Aboriginal Peoples (Parts 4 – Cross Cultural Understanding)
100	Jan 2001	Policy Statement	A Guide for Health Professionals Working with Aboriginal Peoples (Parts 3 – Health Issues Affecting Aboriginal Peoples)
100	Dec 2000	Policy Statement	A Guide for Health Professionals Working with Aboriginal Peoples (Parts 2 – The Sociocultural Context of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada)
100	Dec 2000	Policy Statement	A Guide for Health Professionals Working with Aboriginal Peoples (Parts 1 – Executive Summary)

Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Canada (APOG)

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
176	April 2006	Clinical Practice Guideline	Pelvic Examinations by Medical Trainees

Breast Disease Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
181	Aug 2006	Committee Opinion	Breast Self-Examination
179	July 2006	Clinical Practice Guideline	Progesterone-Only and Non-Hormonal Contraception in the Breast Cancer Survivor: Joint Review and Committee Opinion of the SOGC and the SOGC.
170	Jan 2006	Clinical Practice Guideline	Mastalgia
158	May 2005	Committee Opinion	Breast Cancer and Abortion
142	Jan 2004	Clinical Practice Guideline	Use of Hormonal Replacement Therapy After Treatment of Breast Cancer Replaced #73 (May 1998)
111	Feb 2002	Clinical Practice Guideline	Breast Cancer, Pregnancy & Breast Feeding

Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA)

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
159	May 2005	Policy Statement	Postural Health in Women: The Role of Physiotherapy

Contraception Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
205	March 2008	Policy Statement	Statement on generic oral contraceptives
195	July 2007	Clinical Practice Guideline	Canadian Consensus Guideline on continuous and extended hormonal contraception, 2007
143	April 2004	Clinical Practice Guideline	Canadian Contraception Consensus (Part 3 of 3) Replaces #131(Aug 2003) and #49 (Sept 1996)
143	March 2004	Clinical Practice Guideline	Canadian Contraception Consensus (Part 2 of 3) Replaces #131(Aug 2003) and #49 (Sept 1996)
143	Feb 2004	Clinical Practice Guideline	Canadian Contraception Consensus (Part 1 of 3) Replaces #131(Aug 2003) and #49 (Sept 1996)

Diagnostic Imaging Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
192	April 2007	Policy Statement	Fetal Sex Determination and Disclosure
191	April 2007	Committee Opinion	Non-Medical Use of Fetal Ultrasound
187	Feb 2007	Clinical Practice Guideline	Prenatal Screening for Fetal Aneuploidy Replaces #79(Aug 1999) and #17 (Aug 1997)
162	June 2005	Clinical Practice Guideline	Fetal Soft Markers in Obstetric Ultrasound
161	June 2005	Clinical Practice Guideline	Ultrasound Evaluation of First Trimester Pregnancy Complications
160	June 2005	Clinical Practice Guideline	Obstetric Ultrasound Biological Effects and Safety
135	Oct 2003	Clinical Practice Guideline	The Use of First Trimester Ultrasound
130	July 2003	Clinical Practice Guideline	The Use of Fetal Doppler in Obstetrics Replaced by #197 (Sept 2007)
104	May 2001	Committee Opinion	Guidelines for Ultrasound in Labour & Delivery
103	May 2001	Committee Opinion	Content of a Complete Obstetrical Ultrasound Report
102	May 2001	Clinical Practice Guideline	Ultrasound Cervical Assessment in Predicting Preterm Birth

Education Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
146	June 2004	Policy Statement	School-Based and School-Linked Sexual Health Education and Promotion in Canada
92	July 2000	Clinical Practice Guideline	Emergency Postcoital Contraception Replaced by #131 (Aug 2003) Replaces #13 (Nov 1996)

Ethics Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
215	Sept 2008	Clinical Practice Guideline	Informed consent to donate embryos for research purposes
134	Oct 2003	Policy Statement	Sexual Abuse by Physician Replaces # 11 (Sept 1992)

Executive Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
175	April 2006	Clinical Practice Guideline	Guidelines for Training Requirements in Colposcopy and its Related Treatment Modalities
141	Dec 2003	Policy Statement	Conflict of Interest
140	Dec 2003	Policy Statement	Diversity
137	Nov 2003	Policy Statement	Volunteers
126	March 2003	Policy Statement	Midwifery Replaces # 66 (Sept 1997)
124	March 2003	Policy Statement	Mifepristone Replaces #10 (Sept 92)
99	Nov 2000	Committee Opinion	Pregnancy & Parental Leave in Canadian Obstetrics & Gynaecology Residency Programmes

Genetics Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
218	Oct 2008	Clinical Practice Guideline	Carrier screening for Thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies in Canada
217	Oct 2008	Technical Update	Obstetrical complications associated with abnormal maternal serum markers analytes
216	Sept 2008	Committee Opinion	Fragile X testing in obstetrics and gynaecology in Canada
210	July 2008	Technical Update	New molecular techniques for the prenatal detection of chromosomal aneuploidy
201	Dec 2007	Clinical Practice Guideline	Pre-conceptional vitamin/folic acid supplementation 2007: the use of folic acid in combination with a multivitamin supplement for the prevention of neural tube defects and other congenital anomalies Replaces # 138 (Nov 2003)and #19 (Mar 1993)
200	Nov 2007	Clinical Practice Guideline	Teratogenicity associated with pre-existing and gestational diabetes
199	Nov 2007	Clinical Practice Guideline	Principles of human teratology: drug, chemical and infectious exposure
194	July 2007	Committee Opinion	Mid-Trimester Amniocentesis Fetal Loss Rate
187	Feb 2007	Clinical Practice Guideline	Prenatal Screening for Fetal Aneuploidy Replaces #79 (Aug 1999) and #17 (Aug 1997)
177	April 2006	Clinical Practice Guideline	Carrier Screening for Genetic Disorders in Individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish Descent
173	March 2006	Clinical Practice Guideline	Pregnancy Outcomes After Assisted Reproductive Technology
168	Nov 2005	Clinical Practice Guideline	Amended Canadian Guideline for Prenatal Diagnosis (2005) Change to 2005-Techniques for Prenatal Diagnosis
167	Nov 2005	Committee Opinion	Present Role of Stem Cells for Fetal Genetic Therapy
162	June 2005	Clinical Practice Guideline	Fetal Soft Markers in Obstetric Ultrasound
154	Jan 2005	Technical Update	Genomics: New Technology for Obstetrics and Gynaecology
153	Jan 2005	Technical Update	Cell-Free Fetal DNA in the Maternal Circulation and its Future Uses in Obstetrics
138	Nov 2003	Clinical Practice Guideline	Use of Folic Acid for the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects and Other Congenital Anomalies Replaced by # 201(Dec 2007) Replaces # 19 (March 1993)
133	Sept 2003	Clinical Practice Guideline	Prevention of RH Alloimmunization
123	Feb 2003	Clinical Practice Guideline	Amniocentesis and Women with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus
118	Aug 2002	Committee Opinion	Cystic Fibrosis Carrier Testing in Pregnancy in Canada
105	July 2001	Clinical Practice Guideline	Canadian Guidelines for Prenatal Diagnosis (Part 2 – Techniques of Prenatal Diagnosis) Replaced by #194 (July 2007), #168 (Nov 2005), #123 (Feb 2003)
105	June 2001	Clinical Practice Guideline	Canadian Guidelines for Prenatal Diagnosis (Part 1 – Genetic Indications for Prenatal Diagnosis) Replaced by #216 (Sept 2008), #201 (Dec 2007), #200 (Nov 2007), #199 (Nov 2007), #187 (Feb 2007), #177 (Apr 2006), #162 (June 2005)

Gynaecology Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
195	July 2007	Clinical Practice Guideline	Canadian Consensus Guideline on Continuous and Extended Hormonal Contraception, 2007
193	May 2007	Clinical Practice Guideline	Laparoscopic Entry: A Review of Techniques, Technologies, and Complications Replaces #98 (Nov 2000)
171	Feb 2006	Consensus	Canadian Consensus Conference on Menopause, 2006 Update Replaces #108 (Sep/Dec 2001)
169	Dec 2005	Clinical Practice Guideline	Primary Dysmenorrhea Consensus Guideline
164	Sept 2005	Clinical Practice Guideline	Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain (Part two of two)
164	Aug 2005	Clinical Practice Guideline	Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain (Part one of two)
163	July 2005	Clinical Practice Guideline	Gynaecological and Obstetric Management of Women With Inherited Bleeding Disorders
150	Oct 2004	Clinical Practice Guideline	Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) Replaces #128 (May 2003)
145	May 2004	Clinical Practice Guideline	The Detection and Management of Vaginal Atrophy
131	Aug 2003	Clinical Practice Guideline	Emergency Contraception Replaced by #213 (Aug 2008) Replaces # 92 (July 2000)
128	May 2003	Clinical Practice Guideline	The Management of Uterine Leiomyomas Replaced by #150 (Oct 2004)
124	March 2003	Policy Statement	Mifepristone Replaces #10 (Sept 1992)
109	Jan 2002	Clinical Practice Guideline	Hysterectomy Replaces # 47 (April 1996)
106	Aug 2001	Clinical Practice Guideline	Guidelines for the Management of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
94	Aug 2000	Committee Opinion	Injectable Medroxyprogesterone Acetate for Contraception Replaced by #174 (Aug 2006)
92	July 2000	Clinical Practice Guideline	Emergency Postcoital Contraception Replaced by # 131 (Aug 2003) Replaces #13 (Nov 1996)

Infectious Disease Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
211	Aug 2008	Clinical Practice Guideline	Screening and management of Bacterial Vaginosis in pregnancy Replaces #14 (Mar 1997)
208	June 2008	Clinical Practice Guideline	Guidelines for the management of Herpes Simplex virus in pregnancy Replaces #2 (Aug 1992)
207	April 2008	Clinical Practice Guideline	Genital Herpes: Gynaecological Aspects
196	Aug 2007	Clinical Practice Guideline	Canadian Consensus Guidelines on Human Papillomavirus Replaces #69 (Dec 1997)
185	Dec 2006	Clinical Practice Guideline	HIV Screening in Pregnancy Replaces #62 (June 1997)
149	Sept 2004	Clinical Practice Guideline	The Prevention of Early-Onset Neonatal Group B Streptococcal Disease Replaces # 61 (June 1997)
119	Sept 2002	Clinical Practice Guideline	Parvovirus B19 Infection in Pregnancy
101	April 2001	Clinical Practice Guideline	Mode of Delivery for Pregnant Women Infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus
96	Oct 2000	Clinical Practice Guideline	The Reproductive Care of Women Living with Hepatitis C Infection

International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
136	Nov 2003	Policy Statement	Management of the Third Stage of Labour to Prevent Postpartum Hemorrhage

International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
152	Dec 2004	Policy Statement	FIGO/ ICM Global Initiative to Prevent Post Partum Hemorrhage
151	Dec 2004	Policy Statement	FIGO Professional and Ethical Responsibilities Concerning Sexual and Reproductive Rights
136	Nov 2003	Policy Statement	Management of the Third Stage of Labour to Prevent Postpartum Hemorrhage

International Women's Health (IWH) Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
140	Dec 2003	Policy Statement	Diversity
137	Nov 2003	Policy Statement	Volunteers

Junior Members Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
176	April 2006	Clincal Practice Guideline	Pelvic Examinations by Medical Trainees
99	Nov 2000	Committee Opinion	Pregnancy & Parental Leave in Canadian Obstetrics & Gynaecology Residency Programmes

Maternal Fetal Medicine Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
202	Jan 2008	Technical Update	The use of progesterone for prevention of preterm birth
197	Sept 2007	Clinical Practice Guideline	Fetal health Surveillance: antepartum and intrapartum Consensus Guideline Replaces #130 (July 2003), #90 (June 2000), #112 (Mar 2002), #112 (April 2002)
189	March 2007	Clinical Practice Guideline	Diagnosis and Management of Placenta Previa
182	Sept 2006	Clinical Practice Guideline	Guidelines for the Number of Embryos to Transfer Following in Vitro Fertilization
178	June 2006	Clinical Practice Guideline	Stillbirth and Bereavement: Guidelines for Stillbirth Investigation
156	March 2005	Clinical Practice Guideline	Umbilical Cord Blood Banking: Implications for Perinatal Care Providers
133	Sept 2003	Clinical Practice Guideline	Prevention of Rh alloimmunization
122	Jan 2003	Committee Opinion	Antenatal Corticosteroid Therapy for Fetal Maturation Replaces # 53 (December 1995)
121	Nov 2002	Clinical Practice Guideline	Screening for Gestational Diabetes Replaces # 1 (June 1992)
119	Sept 2002	Clinical Practice Guideline	Parvovirus B19 Infection in Pregnancy
118	Aug 2002	Committee Opinion	Cystic Fibrosis Carrier Testing in Pregnancy in Canada
112	April 2002	Clinical Practice Guideline	Fetal Health Surveillance in Labour – Part 2 Replaced by # 197 (Sept 2007) Replaces # 41 (Oct 1995 - part 1 of 4); # 44 (Dec 1995 - part 2 of 4); # 44 (Dec 1995 - part 3 of 4); and # 45 (Jan 1996 - part 4 of 4)
112	March 2002	Clinical Practice Guideline	Fetal Health Surveillance in Labour – Part 1 Replaced by # 197 (Sept 2007) Replaces # 41 (Oct 1995 - part 1 of 4); # 44 (Dec 1995 - part 2 of 4); # 44 (Dec 1995 - part 3 of 4); and # 45 (Jan 1996 - part 4 of 4)
107	Aug 2001	Clinical Practice Guideline	Induction of Labour at Term Replaces # 57 (October 1996)
95	Sept 2000	Clinical Practice Guideline	Prevention & Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) in Obstetrics
93	Aug 2000	Consensus	Management of Twin Pregnancies (Part 2)
91	July 2000	Consensus	Management of Twin Pregnancies (Part 1)
90	June 2000	Clinical Practice Guideline	Antenatal Fetal Assessment Replaced by # 197 (Sept 2007)

Medical Legal Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
183	Oct 2006	Policy Statement	The Physician Expert in Legal Proceedings Replaces #117 (July 2002)
117	July 2002	Committee Opinion	Providing Opinion for Medico-Legal Cases Replaced by #183 (Oct 2006)
98	Nov 2000	Committee Opinion	Minimizing Risks of Laparoscopy Replaced by #193 (May 2007)
90	June 2000	Clinical Practice Guideline	Antenatal Fetal Assessment Replaced by # 197 (Sept 2007)

Miscellaneous

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
172	Feb 2006	Consensus	Canadian Consensus Conference on Osteoporosis, 2006 Update Replaces #108 (Sep/Dec 2001)
144	March 2004	Policy Statement	Cervical Cancer Prevention in Low-Resource Settings

Obstetrics Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
214	Sept 2008	Clinical Practice Guideline	Guidelines for the management of pregnancy at 41+0 to 42+0 weeks Replaces #15 (Mar 1997)
206	Mar 2008	Clinical Practice Guideline	Diagnosis, evaluation and management of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
203	Feb 2008	Clinical Practice Guideline	Rubella in Pregnancy
197	Sept 2007	Clinical Practice Guideline	Fetal Health Surveillance: Antepartum and Intrapartum Consensus Guideline Replaces #130 (July 2003), #90 (June 2000); #112 (March 2002); and # 112 (April 2002)
190	April 2007	Policy Statement	Pospartum Maternal and Newborn Discharge Replaces #56 (Oct 1996)
165	Oct 2005	Policy Statement	Maternal Transport Policy Replaces #16 (Dec 1992)
163	July 2005	Clinical Practice Guideline	Gynaecological and Obstetric Management of Women With Inherited Bleeding Disorders
155	Feb 2005	Clinical Practice Guideline	Guidelines for Vaginal Birth After Previous Caesarean Birth Replaces # 147 (July 2004)
148	Aug 2004	Clinical Practice Guideline	Guidelines for Operative Vaginal Birth Replaces # 17 (Dec 1995)
147	July 2004	Clinical Practice Guideline	Guidelines for Vaginal Birth After Previous Caesarean Birth Replaced by # 155 (Feb 2005 ) Replaces # 68 (December 1997)
129	June 2003	Clinical Practice Guideline	Exercise in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period
120	Oct 2002	Clinical Practice Guideline	The Management of Nausea & Vomiting of Pregnancy Replaces # 12 (Nov 1995), #14 (Nov 1995)
115	June 2002	Clinical Practice Guideline	Hemorrhagic Shock
112	April 2002	Clinical Practice Guideline	Fetal Health Surveillance in Labour – Part 2 Replaced by # 197 (Sept 2007) Replaces # 41 (Oct 1995 - part 1 of 4); # 44 (Dec 1995 - part 2 of 4); # 44 (Dec 1995 - part 3 of 4); and # 45 (Jan 1996 - part 4 of 4)
112	March 2002	Clinical Practice Guideline	Fetal Health Surveillance in Labour – Part 1 Replaced by # 197 (Sept 2007) Replaces # 41 (Oct 1995 - part 1 of 4); # 44 (Dec 1995 - part 2 of 4); # 44 (Dec 1995 - part 3 of 4); and # 45 (Jan 1996 - part 4 of 4)
89	May 2000	Policy Statement	Attendance at Labour & Delivery – Guidelines for Obstetrical Care Replaces #38 (Aug 1996)
88	April 2000	Clinical Practice Guideline	Prevention & Management of Postpartum Haemorrhage

Oncology Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
180	July 2006	Clinical Practice Guideline	Management of Squamous Cell Cancer of the Vulva Replaces #2 (May 1993)
179	July 2006	Clinical Practice Guideline	Progesterone-Only and Non-Hormonal Contraception in the Breast Cancer Survivor: Joint Review and Committee Opinion of the GOC and the SOGC
158	May 2005	Committee Opinion	Breast Cancer and Abortion
144	March 2004	Policy Statement	Cervical Cancer Prevention in Low-Resource Settings
111	Feb 2002	Clinical Practice Guideline	Breast Cancer, Pregnancy & Breast Feeding
97	Nov 2000	Clinical Practice Guideline	Surgical Management of an Adnexal Mass Suspicious for Malignancy
85	Jan 2000	Policy Statement	Management of Low Malignant Potential Tumour of the Ovary

Prenatal Diagnosis Committee of the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists (CCMG)

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
177	April 2006	Clinical Practice Guideline	Carrier Screening for Genetic Disorders in Individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish Descent

Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
182	Sept 2006	Clinical Practice Guideline	Guidelines for the Number of Embryos to Transfer Following in Vitro Fertilization
173	March 2006	Clinical Practice Guideline	Pregnancy Outcomes After Assisted Reproductive Technology
110	Jan 2002	Clinical Practice Guideline	Hirsutism: Evaluation & Treatment
106	Aug 2001	Clinical Practice Guideline	Guidelines for the Management of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Social Sexual Issues Guidelines

No.	Date	Document Type	Title
219	Nov 2008	Committee Opinion	Missed hormonal contraceptives: n