 For historical and political reasons, gynaecologists were previously not considered "surgeons", although this point has always been the source of some controversy.Modern advancements in both general surgery and gynaecology, however, have blurred many of the once rigid lines of distinction.The rise of sub-specialties within gynaecology which are primarily surgical in nature (for example urogynaecology and gynaecological oncology) have strengthened the reputations of gynaecologists as surgical practitioners, and many surgeons and surgical societies have come to view gynaecologists as comrades of sorts.