| Adhesions: |
Scars
that bind together affected surfaces of the tissues
inside the abdomen or uterus.
|
| Alpha-Fetoprotein
(AFP): |
A
protein produced by a growing fetus; it is present
in amniotic fluid and, in smaller amounts, in
the mother's blood. |
Amniocentesis:
|
A
procedure in which a small amount of amniotic
fluid is taken from the sac surrounding the fetus
and tested. |
| Amniotic
Fluid: |
Water
in the sac surrounding the fetus in the mother's
uterus. |
| Anesthesia:
|
Relief
of pain by loss of sensation. |
Benign:
|
Not
a cancer; does not spread to other parts of the
body. |
Biopsy:
|
A
minor surgical procedure to remove a small piece
of tissue that is then examined under a microscope.
|
Breast
Implants:
|
Sacs
filled with saline or silicone gel that are placed
in the chest or breast area. |
| Cervix:
|
The
lower, narrow end of the uterus, which protrudes
into the vagina. |
| Chorionic
Villi: |
Microscopic,
fingerlike projections that make up the placenta.
|
| Chorionic
Villus Sampling (CVS): |
A
procedure in which a small sample of cells is
taken from the placenta and tested. |
| Chromosomes:
|
Structures
that are located inside each cell in the body
and contain the genes that determine a person's
physical makeup. |
Collaborative
Practice:
|
A
type of practice where care is given by a team
of professional. |
| Colposcopy:
|
Viewing
of the cervix, vulva, or vagina under magnification
with an instrument called a colposcope. |
| Cone
Biopsy: |
Surgical
removal of cone-shaped wedges of cervical tissue.
|
| Cryosurgery:
|
A
freezing technique used to destroy diseased tissue;
also known as "cold cautery." |
Dilation
and Curettage (D&C):
|
A
procedure in which the cervix is opened and tissue
is gently scraped or suctioned from the inside
of the uterus. |
| Down
Syndrome: |
A
genetic disorder caused by the presence of an
extra chromosome and characterized by mental retardation,
abnormal facial features, and medical problems
such as heart defects. |
| Dysplasia:
|
A
noncancerous condition that occurs when normal
cells on the surface of the cervix are replaced
by a layer of abnormal cells. Dysplasia is classified
as mild, moderate or severe. |
Ectopic
Pregnancy:
|
A
pregnancy in which the fertilized egg begins to
grow in a place other than inside the uterus,
usually in the fallopian tubes. |
| Electrocautery:
|
A
procedure in which an instrument works with electric
current to destroy tissue. |
Endometrial
Ablation:
|
Removal
of the lining of the womb. Removing the uterine
lining decreases menstrual flow or stops it completely.
Ablation means removal or excision, usually surgically.
The word comes from the Latin ablatum meaning
to carry away. The endometrium is the inner layer
of the uterus (womb), the uterine lining which
is normally shed monthly in response to the hormonal
changes of the menstrual period. |
Endometrial
Hyperplasia:
|
A
condition characterized by overgrowth of the lining
of the uterus. Hyperplasia means overgrowth. The
endometrium is the inner layer of the uterus. |
Endometriosis:
|
The
presence and growth of functioning endometrial
tissue in places other than the uterus that often
results in severe pain and infertility. |
Episiotomy:
|
A
surgical procedure for widening the outlet of
the birth canal to facilitate delivery of the
baby and to avoid a jagged rip of the perineum
(the area between the anus and the vulva, the
opening to the vagina). |
Fibroids:
|
Benign
(noncancerous) growths that form on the inside
of the uterus, on its outer surface, or within
the uterine wall itself. |
| Genes:
|
DNA
"blueprints" that code for specific
traits, such as hair and eye color. |
Gram's
Stain:
|
A
method of identifying bacteria by staining a specimen
with dye and using a microscope to observe the
cell. This test is used to identify gonorrhea
bacteria but is only positive in about half of
all cases in women, so it cannot be used alone
as a definitive diagnosis. |
Gynecology:
|
The
branch of medicine that involves care of women's
health, including the reproductive system and
breasts. |
Hemophilia:
|
An
inherited blood disorder caused by a defect in
the clotting ability of blood cells. People with
hemophilia bleed profusely and easily, either
spontaneously and/or with injury. |
| Hormones:
|
Substances
produced by the body to control the functions
of various organs. |
Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV):
|
A
virus that attacks certain cells of the body's
immune system and causes acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS). |
Human
Papillomavirus (HPV):
|
The
common name for a group of related viruses. Some
of these viruses cause genital warts and are linked
to cervical changes and cancer. |
Hysterosalpingography
(HSG):
|
A
special X-ray procedure in which a small amount
of fluid is injected into the uterus and fallopian
tubes to detect abnormal changes in their size
and shape or to determine whether the tubes are
blocked. |
| Infertility: |
The
inability to conceive a child. There can be multiple
causes of infertility in both men and women. A
major cause of infertility is scar tissue due
to infection of the upper genital tract caused
by sexually transmitted diseases that go untreated.
A condition in which a woman has been unable to
get pregnant after 12 months without the use of
any form of birth control. |
| Laparoscopy:
|
A
surgical procedure in which a slender, light-transmitting
instrument, the laparoscope, is used to view the
pelvic organs or perform surgery. |
| Laser:
|
A
small, intense beam of light used as a surgical
tool. |
Lumpectomy:
|
Excision
of breast tissue with a limited amount of surrounding
tissue. |
Mammogram:
|
A
photograph of the breasts made by X rays |
| Mastectomy: |
Simple:
a mastectomy in which the breast, associated skin,
nipple and areola are removed. Radical: a simple
mastectomy including the removal of the axillary
lymph nodes and pectoral muscles.Modified-Radical:
a radical mastectomy without removing the pectoral
muscles. |
| Menopause: |
The
process in a woman's life when ovaries stop functioning
and menstruation stops.
Miscarriage: The spontaneous loss of a pregnancy
before the fetus can survive outside the uterus.
|
Mucus
Penentrance Test:
|
A
test to determine sperm function by evaluating
sperm's ability to move through the woman's cervical
mucus. |
| Myomectomy: |
Surgery
to remove a fibroid from the uterus. A fibroid,
or leiomyoma, is a benign tumor that arises from
the myometrium, the muscular wall of the uterus. |
| Neural
Tube Defect (NTD): |
A
fetal birth defect that results from improper
development of the brain, spinal cord, or their
coverings. |
Obstetrician-Gynecologist:
|
A
doctor with special skills, training, and education
in women's health care. |
Obstetrics:
|
The
branch of medicine that involves care of a woman
during pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and after
the baby is born. |
Osteoporosis:
|
A
preventable and treatable disease that thins and
weakens your bones, making them fragile and more
likely to break. |
| Ovaries:
|
Two
glands, located on either side of the uterus,
that contain the eggs released at ovulation and
produce hormones. |
| Pap
Test: |
A
test in which cells are scraped off the cervix
and examined for abnormalities; used to detect
changes that might precede cervical cancer and
to diagnose viral infections such as herpes simplex. |
| Pelvic
Inflammatory Disease (Pid): |
Inflammation
of the female reproductive tract and especially
the fallopian tubes that is caused especially
by sexually transmitted disease, occurs more often
in women using intrauterine devices, and is a
leading cause of female sterility. |
Perimenopause:
|
The
time before menopause, usually beginning three
to five years before the final period. |
Placenta:
|
Tissue
that connects woman and fetus and provides nourishment
to and takes away waste from the fetus. |
| Polycystic
Ovarian Disease: |
Also
known as hyperandrogenic anovulation, this is
a condition where multiple cysts are found on
your ovaries. It typically prevents ovulation. |
Post-Coital
Test:
|
A
test which evaluates the sexual compatibility
of a man and woman. |
| Pre-Menstrual
Syndrome (PMS): |
A
varying constellation of symptoms manifested by
some women prior to menstruation that may include
emotional instability, irritability, insomnia,
fatigue, anxiety, depression, headache, edema,
and abdominal pain |
| Progesterone:
|
A
female hormone that is produced in the ovaries
and makes the lining of the uterus grow. When
its level falls, menstruation occurs. |
Saline-Infusion
Sonogram (SIS):
|
Involves
administering sterile saline into the uterine
cavity under sonographic guidance, allowing evaluation
of the endometrial contour. |
Sexually
Transmitted Disease (STD):
|
A
disease that is spread by sexual contact, including
chlamydia infection, gonorrhea, genital warts,
herpes, syphilis, and infection with human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV, the cause of acquired immunodeficiency
disease [AIDS]). |
| Speculum:
|
An
instrument used to spread the walls of the vagina
so that the cervix can be seen. |
Squamous
Intraepithelial Lesion (SIL):
|
A
condition that occurs when normal cells on the
surface of the cervix are replaced by a layer
of abnormal cells. SIL is classified as high grade
or low grade. It is not cancer. |
| Ultrasound: |
High-frequency
sound waves. Ultrasound waves can be bounced off
of tissues using special devices. The echoes are
then converted into a picture called a sonogram.
Ultrasound imaging, referred to as ultrasonography,
allows physicians and patients to get an inside
view of soft tissues and body cavities, without
using invasive techniques. Ultrasound is often
used to examine a fetus during pregnancy. There
is no convincing evidence for any danger from
ultrasound during pregnancy. |
Uterus:
|
A
muscular organ that is located in the female abdomen
and contains and nourishes the developing embryo
and fetus during pregnancy. |
Vulva:
|
The
lips of the external female genital area. |
Western
Blot:
|
A
laboratory test for specific antibodies to confirm
repeatedly reactive results on the HIV ELISA or
EIA test. In the United States, Western blot is
the validation test used most often for confirmation
of these other tests. |
