Dictionary of Gynecology

The Dictionary of Obstetrics and Gynecology is an expansive resource detailing terms and concepts related to the fields of obstetrics and gynecology. It encompasses medical terminology, procedures, conditions, and anatomy relevant to women's reproductive health.

A[edit | edit source]

Amenorrhea - The absence of menstruation in a woman of reproductive age.
Amniocentesis - A medical procedure used in prenatal diagnosis to obtain a sample of amniotic fluid.

B[edit | edit source]

Braxton Hicks contractions - Irregular uterine contractions that occur during pregnancy.
Breast cancer - A malignant tumor that develops from breast cells.

C[edit | edit source]

Cervical cancer - A type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix.
Cesarean section - A surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus.

D[edit | edit source]

Dysmenorrhea - Painful menstruation that interferes with daily activities.
Dilation and curettage (D&C) - A surgical procedure to remove tissue from inside the uterus.

E[edit | edit source]

Ectopic pregnancy - A pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus.
Endometriosis - A painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside the uterus.

F[edit | edit source]

Fibroids - Noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years.
Fetal monitoring - The ongoing assessment of the fetus's condition during labor.

G[edit | edit source]

Gestational diabetes - A form of high blood sugar affecting pregnant women.
Gynecological examination - A routine inspection of the female reproductive organs.

H[edit | edit source]

Human papillomavirus (HPV) - A virus linked to the development of cervical cancer and genital warts.
Hyperemesis gravidarum - Severe, persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

I[edit | edit source]

In vitro fertilization (IVF) - A complex series of procedures used to assist with the conception of a child.
Intrauterine device (IUD) - A form of long-term birth control that is inserted into the uterus.

J[edit | edit source]

Jaundice in newborns - A common condition in infants, causing yellowing of the skin and eyes.

K[edit | edit source]

Kegel exercises - Pelvic floor exercises that support the pelvic organs.
Klinefelter syndrome - A genetic condition that occurs in men who have an extra X chromosome.

L[edit | edit source]

Labor induction - Stimulating the uterus to begin labor before it starts naturally.
Laparoscopy - A surgical diagnostic procedure used to examine the organs inside the abdomen.

M[edit | edit source]

Mammography - A specific type of breast imaging that uses low-dose x-rays to detect cancer early.
Menopause - The time that marks the end of the menstrual cycles, diagnosed after 12 months without a menstrual period.

N[edit | edit source]

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) - An intensive care unit specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants.
Nuchal translucency screening - A prenatal test that helps identify genetic abnormalities.

O[edit | edit source]

Obstetric ultrasonography - The use of ultrasound scans in pregnancy.
Ovarian cancer - A type of cancer that begins in the ovaries.

P[edit | edit source]

Pap smear - A procedure to test for cervical cancer in women.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - A hormonal disorder causing enlarged ovaries with small cysts on the outer edges.

Q[edit | edit source]

Note: Q is often not used as a starting character for obstetric and gynecologic terms, so this section might be minimal or not included in a standard dictionary.

R[edit | edit source]

Reproductive endocrinology - A sub-specialty of obstetrics and gynecology that addresses hormonal functioning as it pertains to reproduction.
Rh incompatibility - A condition that occurs during pregnancy if a woman has Rh-negative blood and her baby has Rh-positive blood.

S[edit | edit source]

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) - Infections commonly spread by sex, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex, and oral sex.
Stillbirth - The birth of an infant that is not alive.

T[edit | edit source]

Tubal ligation - A surgical procedure for female sterilization which involves severing and tying the fallopian tubes.
Toxoplasmosis - An infection caused by a parasite, which can be dangerous for pregnant women.

U[edit | edit source]

Uterine prolapse - Occurs when pelvic floor muscles and ligaments stretch and weaken, providing inadequate support for the uterus.
Ultrasonography in obstetrics - The application of medical ultrasonography to obstetrics, in which sonography is used to visualize the embryo or fetus in the womb.

V[edit | edit source]

Vaginal delivery - The process of giving birth through the vagina, also known as a natural birth.
Vulvodynia - Chronic pain or discomfort around the opening of the vagina, for which there's no identifiable cause.

W[edit | edit source]

Women's health - An example of population health, where health is defined by the World Health Organization as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".

X[edit | edit source]

X-linked recessive inheritance - A mode of inheritance in which a mutation in a gene on the X chromosome causes the phenotype to be expressed in males.

Y[edit | edit source]

Note: Y is often not used as a starting character for obstetric and gynecologic terms, so this section might be minimal or not included in a standard dictionary.

Z[edit | edit source]

Zika virus - A virus spread by mosquitos that can cause birth defects if a woman is infected during pregnancy.

List of gynecology and obstetrics articles[edit | edit source]

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