Gravidity

Gravidity refers to the number of times a woman has been pregnant, regardless of whether these pregnancies were carried to term. It is a term used in obstetrics that is contrasted with parity, which refers to the number of pregnancies carried to term, whether the child was stillborn or lived to birth.

Definition

Gravidity is defined as the number of times a woman has been pregnant. This includes all pregnancies, not just those that resulted in a live birth. For example, if a woman has been pregnant three times, her gravidity is three. This is regardless of whether she carried the pregnancies to term or not.

Gravidity and Parity

Gravidity is often used in conjunction with parity to provide a more complete picture of a woman's obstetric history. Parity refers to the number of pregnancies that a woman has carried to term. This includes pregnancies that resulted in a stillbirth.

For example, a woman who has been pregnant three times and carried all three pregnancies to term has a gravidity of three and a parity of three. A woman who has been pregnant three times but only carried one pregnancy to term has a gravidity of three and a parity of one.

Clinical Significance

Understanding a woman's gravidity and parity can be important in assessing her health and the health of her pregnancy. Women with high gravidity may be at increased risk for certain complications, such as preterm labor and preeclampsia.

See Also

• Pregnancy
• Obstetrics
• Parity
• Preterm labor
• Preeclampsia

Gravidity Resources
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