Question | Answer |
vagina | Muscular tube from the cervix to the exterior of the body. |
placenta previa | Obstetric complication in which the placenta is attached close to or covers the cervical canal resulting in bleeding during labour. |
dyspareunia | Pain during sexual intercourse. |
gynecologist | Specialist in the study of the female. |
uterus | Organ that contains and nourishes the embryo from the time of fertilization until birth. |
natal | Pertaining to birth. |
labial | Pertaining to the lip. |
ectopic pregnancy | Pregnancy in which the fertilized ovum does not reach the uterine cavity but is implanted on any tissue, such as a fallopian tube, an ovary, the adbomen or even the cervix uteri. |
abruptio placentae | Premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before the third stage of labour; also called placental abruption. |
tubal ligation | Procedure that ties the fallopian tubes to prevent pregnancy. |
cryosurgery | Process of freezing tissue to destroy cells; also called cryocautery. |
lactation | Production and release of milk by mammary glands. |
mammography | Radiographic examination of the breast to screen for breast cancer. |
hysterosalpingography (HSG) | Radiography and usually, fluoroscopy of the uterus and uterine tubes following injection of a contrast medium. |
mammary | Relating to the breast. |
endometrial biopsy | Removal of a sampling of uterine endometrium for microscopic study. |
cordocentesis | Sampling of fetal blood drawn from the umbilical vein and preformed under ultrasound guidance. |
chorionic villus sampling (CVS) | Sampling of placental tissues for prenatal diagnosis of potential genetic defects. |
kernicterus | Serious condition involving mental retardation, jaundice and brain damage. |
pruritus vulvae | Severe itching of the external female genitals. |
external genitalia | Sex or reproductive organs visible on the outside of the body; also called genitals. |
intrauterine device (IUD) | Small, T-shaped device inserted by a physician inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy. |
colpocleisis | Surgical closure of the vaginal canal. |
transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flap | Surgical creation of a skin flap and then shaping the abdominal tissue into a natural-looking breast and suturing it into place. |
mammoplasty | Surgical reconstruction of the breast(s) to change the size, shape or position. |
colporrhaphy | Suture of the vagina. |
cerclage | Suturing of the cervix to prevent it from dilating prematurely during pregnancy, decreasing the chance of a spontaneous abortion. |
oral contraceptives | Synthetic hormones used to prevent pregnancy and treat menstrual disorders. |
prostaglandins | Terminate pregnancy. |
abortion | Termination of pregnancy before the embryo or fetus is capable of surviving outside the uterus. |
tubal | Testing for patency of the uterine tubes made by transuterine insufflations with carbon dioxide; also called Rubin test. |
menopause | The end of menstruation for the remainder of a woman's life. |
total plus bilateral salping-oorphorectomy | Total hysterectomy, including removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries. |
amniocentesis | Transabdominal puncture of the amniotic sac under US guidance using a syringe to remove amniotic fluid. |
estrogens | Treat symptoms of menopause through hormone replacement therapy. |
antifungals | Treat vaginal yeast infection by altering the yeast cell membrane or interfering with a metabolic process. |
retroversion | Being tipped from its normal position, especially an entire organ, such as the uterus. |
transvaginal | US of the pelvic area with a probe inserted into the vagina, which provides sharper images. |
ultrasonography (US) | High-frequency sound waves directed at soft tissue and reflected as "echoes" to produce an image on a monitor of internal body structure; also called ultrasound, sonography and echo. |
laparoscopy | Visual examination of the abdominal cavity with a laparoscope through one or more small incisions in the abdominal wall, usually at the umbilicus. |
colposcopy | Visual examination of the vagina and cervix with an optical magnifying instrument. |
| White vaginal discharge. |
dilatation & curettage (D&C) | Widening of the cervical canal with a dilator and scraping of the uterine endometrium with a curette. |
introuterine | Within the uterus. |
hymen | A fold partially or completely covering the vaginal opening. |
obstetrician | A physician who specializes in dealing with pregnancy, labour and puerperium. |
nuliparous | A woman who has never produced a viable offspring. |
therapeutic abortion | Abortion induced legally for medical or other reasons. |
ovaries | Almond-shaped glands located in the pelvic cavity wich produce the ovum and various hormones. |
uterine fibroids | Benign tumors of muscle and fibrous tissue that develop in the uterus; also called leiomyomas, myomas or fibroids. |
reduction | Breast reduction to reduce the size of a large, pendulous breast. |
menorrhagia | Bursting forth of menses. |
spermicides | Chemically destroy sperm by creating a highly acidic environment in the uterus. |
breech presentation | Common abnormality of delivery with the fetal buttocks or feet present first rather than the head. |
tissue (skin) expansion | Common breast reconstruction technique - a balloon expander beneath the skin and chest muscle, saline solution is gradually injected to increase size, and the expander is then replaced with a more permanent implant. |
pregnancy | Condition in which a fertilized ovum develops in the uterus. |
atresia | Congenital absence or closure of a normal body opening, such as the vagina. |
reconstructive breast surgery | Creation of a breast-shaped mound to replace a brease that has been removed due to cancer or other disease. |
Papanicolaou (Pap) test | Cytological study used to detect abnormal cells sloughed from the cervix and vagina, usually obtained during routine pelvic examination. |
insufflation | Delivery of pressurized air or gas into a cavity, chamber or organ to allow visual examination, remove an obstruction or apply medication. |
conization | Excision of a cone-shaped piece of tissue, such as mucosa of the cervix, for histological examination. |
lumpectomy | Excision of a small primary breast tumor and some of the normal tissue that surrounds it. |
mastectomy | Excision of the entire breast. |
radical mastectomy | Excision of the entire breast, all underarm lymph nodes, and chest wall muscles under the breast. |
modified radical mastectomy | Excision of the entire breast, including the lymph nodes in the underarm. |
total (simple) mastectomy | Excision of the entire breast, nipple, areola and the involved overlying skin; also called simple mastectomy. |
hymenectomy | Excision of the hymen. |
hysterectomy | Excision of the uterus. |
vulvectomy | Excision of the vulva. |
pseudocyesis | False pregnancy. |
galactorrhea | Flow of milk. |
Down syndrome | Genetic condition in which a person has 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46 (extra copy of chromosome 21), which causes delays in development of a child mentally and physically; also called trisomy 21. |
total hysterectomy | Hysterectomy where the cervix is removed but the ovaries and fallopian tubes remain; also called complete hysterectomy. |
subtotal hysterectomy | Hysterectomy where the cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes remain. |
sterility | Inability of the female to become pregnant or the male to impregnate the female. |
cesarean section | Incision of the abdomen and uterus to remove the fetus; also called C-section. |
hydrocephalus | Increased accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the ventricles of the brain. |
oxytocics | Induce labour at term by increasing the strength and frequency of uterine contractions. |
cystitis | Inflammation of the bladder. |
cervicitis | Inflammation of the cervix. |
endocervicitis | Inflammation of the mucous lining of the cervix uteri. |
oophoritis | Inflammation of an ovary. |
vaginitis | Inflammation of the vagina. |
augmentation | Insertion of a breast prosthesis beneath the skin or beneath the pectoralis major muscle. |
gestation | Length of time from conception to birth. |
choriocarcinoma | Malignant neoplasm of the uterus or at the site of an ectopic pregnancy. |
dysmenorrhea | Menstrual pain. |
pelvimetry | Measurement of pelvic dimensions to determine whether the head of the fetus will be able to pass through the bony pelvis at allow delivery. |
eclampsia | Most serious form of toxemia during pregnancy. |
os | Mouth or opening. |
orifice | Mouth; entrance or outlet of any anatomical structure. |
vagina | muscular tube extending from the cervix to the exterior of the body |
placenta previa | obstetric complication in which the placenta is attached close to or covers the cervical canal that results in bleeding during labour when the cervix dilates |
dyspareunia | occurrence of pain during sexual intercourse |
gynecologist | one who specializes in the study of the female |
uterus | organ that contains and nourishes the embryo from the time of fertilization until birth |
natal | pertaining to birth |
labial | pertaining to the lip |
ectopic pregnancy | pregnancy in which the fertilized ovum does not reach the uterine cavity but becomes implanted on any tissue other than the lining of the uterine cavity, such as a fallopian tube, an ovary, the abdomen or even the cervix uteri |
abruptio placentae | premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before the third stage of labour; also called placental abruption |
tubal ligation | procedure that ties the fallopian tubes to prevent pregnancy |
cryosurgery | process of freezing tissue to destroy cells; also called cryocautery |
lactation | production and release of milk by mammary glands |
mammography | radiographic examination of the breast to screen for breast cancer |
hysterosalpingography (HSG) | radiography and, usually, flouroscopy of the uterus and uterine tubes following injection of a contrast medium |
mammary | relating to the breast |
endometrial biopsy | removal of a sample of uterine endometrium for microscopic study |
cordocentesis | sampling of fetal blood drawn from the umbilical vein and performed under ultrasound guidance |
chorionic villus sampling (CVS) | sampling of placental tissues for prenatal diagnosis of potential genetic defects |
kernicterus | serious condition involving mental retardation, jaundice and brain damage |
pruritus vulvae | severe itching of the external female genitalia |
external genitalia | sex, or reproductive, organs visible on the outside of the body; also called genitals |
intrauterine device (IUD) | Small T-shaped device inserted by a physician inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy |
colpocleisis | surgical closure of the vaginal canal |
transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) | Surgicle creation of a skin flap using skin and fat from the lower half of the abdomen which is passed under the skin to the breast area, and then shaping abdominal tissue in to a natural looking breast and suturing it into place |
mammoplasty | surgical reconstruction of the breast(s) to change the size, shape or position |
colporrhaphy | suture of the vagina |
cerclage | suturing of the cervix to prevent it from dilating prematurely during pregnancy, thus decreasing the chance of a spontaneous abortion |
oral contraceptives | synthetic hormones used to prevent pregnancy and treat menstrual disorders |
prostaglandins | terminate pregnancy |
abortion | termination of pregnancy before the embryo or fetus is capable of surviving outside the uterus |
tubal insufflation | test for patency of the uterine tubes made by transuterine insufflations with carbon dioxide; also called Rubin test |
menopause | the end of menstruation for the remainder of a woman's life |
total plus bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy | total hysterectomy, including removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries |
amniocentesis | transabdominal puncture of the amniotic sac under ultrasound guidance using a needle and syringe to remove amniotic fluid |
estrogens | treat symptoms of menopause through hormone replacement therapy |
antifungals | treat vaginal yeast infection by altering the yeast cell membrane or interfering with a metabolic process |
retroversion | turning or state of being turned back; especially an entire organ, such as the uterus, being tipped from its normal position |
transvaginal ultrasound | US of the pelvic area performed with a probe inserted into the vagina, which provides sharper images of pathological and normal structures within the pelvis |
ultrasonography (US) | use of high-frequency sound waves directed at soft tissue and reflected as "echoes" to produce an image on a monitor of internal body structure; also called ultrasound, sonography, and echo |
laparoscopy | visual examination of the abdominal cavity with a laparoscope through one or more small incisions in the abdominal wall, usually at the umbilicus |
colposcopy | visual examination of the vagina and cervix with an optical magnifying instrument |
leukorrhea | white vaginal discharge |
dilatation and curettage (D&C) | Widening of the cervical canal with a dilator and scraping of the uterine endometrium with a curette |
intrauterine | within the uterus |