Gynecology or gynaecology (see American and British English spelling differences) is the area of medicine concerned with conditions affecting the female reproductive system. It is sometimes combined with the field of obstetrics, which focuses on pregnancy and childbirth, thereby forming the combined area of obstetrics and gynaecology (OB-GYN).

Gynaecology encompasses preventative care, sexual health and diagnosing and treating health issues arising from the female reproduction system, such as the uterus, vagina, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and breasts; subspecialties include family planning; minimally invasive surgery; paediatric and adolescent gynaecology; and pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. Transgender, intersex and nonbinary individuals can in some instances require gynaecology care; however, they may experience some stigma and bias.

The word gynaecology comes from the oblique stem (γυναικ-) of the Greek word γυνή (gyne) meaning 'woman', and -logia meaning 'study'. Literally translated, it means 'the study of women'. Its counterpart is andrology, which deals with medical issues specific to the male reproductive system.

The Kahun Gynaecological Papyrus, dated to about 1800 BC, deals with gynaecological diseases, fertility, pregnancy, contraception, etc. The text is divided into thirty-four sections, each dealing with a specific problem and containing diagnosis and treatment; no prognosis is suggested. Treatments are non-surgical, consisting of applying medicines to the affected body part or delivering medicines orally. During this time, the womb was sometimes seen as the source of problems manifesting in other body parts.

Ayurveda, an Indian traditional medical system, also provides details about concepts and techniques related to gynaecology, addressing fertility, childbirth complications, and menstrual disorders among other things. These writings provide a post and prenatal care, integrating lifestyle practices, meditations and yoga, and a dietary regime for overall well-being.

The Hippocratic Corpus contains several gynaecological treatises dating to the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Aristotle is another source for medical texts from the 4th century BC with his descriptions of biology primarily found in History of Animals, Parts of Animals, Generation of Animals. The gynaecological treatise Gynaikeia by Soranus of Ephesus (1st/2nd century AD) is extant (together with a 6th-century Latin paraphrase by Muscio, a physician of the same school). He was the chief representative of the school of physicians known as the "methodists."

During the Middle Age midwives dominated women's health concerns through experienced-based knowledge, traditional remedies, and herbal medicines. Midwifery was often regarded unscientific and was challenged with the rise of gynaecology as an official medical field. The Renaissance period, 16th century, brought about a resurgence of classical scientific advancements, including the rise of medical advancements in the field of gynaecology and obstetrics. Figures like Ambroise Pare were imperative in improving obstetrics techniques during this period. Peter Chamberlen developed the forceps, an important surgical tool that transformed childbirth and lessened maternal mortality.

As medical institutions continued to expand in the 18th-19th centuries, the authority of midwives was challenged by men who dominated medical professions. The formalization of midwifery training by male doctors and advancements in medical knowledge of women's health and anatomy occurred during this period. Figures such as William Smellie, William Hunter, Paul Zweifel, Franz Karl Naegele, and Carl Crede contributed to the understanding of childbirth and women's health in Europe.