Glossary of Terms

Amniocentesis. Laboratory analysis of amniotic fluid. About two tablespoons worth of amniotic fluid is removed from
the sac surrounding the baby, inside the mothers womb, to determine if any genetic abnormalities exist. The test,
typically performed during the second trimester, is extremely reliable and can also be used to determine the babys
sex.
Antepartum. Before labor or delivery.
Anti- !amma !lobulin. "mmunoglobulin for prevention of #h-sensiti$ation.
Apgar %core. &hysical assessment of a newborn baby' usually conducted at one minute and five minutes after birth.
Basal body temperature (BBT). A womans body temperature at rest' used for detection of ovulation.
Blood count. A test used to detect anemia and infection.
Brea*through bleeding. +onorganic endometrial bleeding during the use of oral contraceptives.
,ervical ectropion or eversion. -igration of cells from the lining of the endocervical canal (endocervix) to the outer
portion of the cervix (ectocervix). %ometimes inaccurately called erosion or abrasion, which implies damage. ,ervical
ectropion is a normal condition and is common in young women and women ta*ing birth control pills.
,esarean %ection. A surgical procedure, during which the fetus is delivered through an incision in the lower abdomen
and the uterine wall.
,holesterol test. A blood test performed to chec* levels of cholesterol, a substance that helps transport fat through the
blood.
,olposcopy. .xamination of the vagina and cervix by using an instrument that provides low magnification.
.mbryo. A developing baby during the first trimester.
.pidural. Type of anesthesia administered through the bac* during labor. +ot the same as a /spinal.0
.stimated ate of ,onfinement (.,). Also *nown as the due date. ,alculated as 12 wee*s3about nine months3from
the first day of the last menstrual period (L-&). 4eep in mind, though, that any delivery within 56 to 17 wee*s is
considered normal. The term comes from the fact that pregnant women were once confined during the last trimester of
pregnancy.
8ecal 9ccult Blood Test. Test in which a stool sample is chec*ed for blood that could indicate colon or rectal cancer.
8etus. A developing baby after the first trimester.
!estation. &regnancy.
!ynecology. The branch of medicine that involves care of womans health, including the reproductive system and
breasts.
Laparoscopy. irect visuali$ation of the peritoneal cavity, ovaries, and the outer surfaces of the fallopian tubes and
uterus by using a laparoscope. A laparoscope is a slender instrument3essentially a miniature telescope3with a fiber
optic system that can illuminate the inside of the abdomen.
L-&. 8irst day of a womans last menstrual period before pregnancy' important to *now when calculating
the estimated date of confinement (the /due date0).
-ammography (-ammogram). An :-ray of the breast, used to detect breast cancer.
-enopause. &ermanent cessation of the menses, either naturally caused by ovarian failure or resulting from surgical
removal of the ovaries.
-ucus, ,ervical. %ecretion of the cervical mucous glands' the ;uality and ;uantity of these secretions are influenced
by estrogen and progesterone. .strogen ma*es secretions abundant and clear, with spinnbar*eit and afernpattern on
drying. &rogesterone ma*es secretions scant, opa;ue and cellular, without a fern pattern on microscopic examination.
9bstetrician-!ynecologist. A doctor with special s*ills, training, and education in womens health care.
9bstetrics. Branch of medicine that involves care of a woman during pregnancy, labor, childbirth and after the baby is
born.
9steoporosis. Atrophy of bone caused by deminerali$ation.
&ap Test. A test in which cells are ta*en from the cervix and examined in a lab for abnormalities that could signal
cancer.
&reeclampsia. A dangerous condition uni;ue to pregnancy, characteri$ed by elevated blood pressure, protein in the
urine and severe swelling (edema). &reeclampsia can occur anytime after 72 wee*s of pregnancy and up to six wee*s
after birth. Approximately seven percent of pregnant women in the <.%. develop the condition. .clampsia, which can
be fatal, occurs when the above symptoms are followed by sei$ures. About one in 72 preeclampsia cases develops into
eclampsia.
&ost partum. After delivery, or childbirth.
#esidency. The period of training in a specific medical specialty that occurs after graduation from medical school. The
length of residency can vary from three to seven years, depending upon the specialty.
#ho!A-. #h immunoglobulin (#h"g), also *nown as #ho!A-, is a special blood product that can prevent an #h-
negative mothers antibodies from reacting to #h-positive cells. =omen diagnosed as #h-negative receive an initial
#h"g dose at about the 76th wee* of pregnancy and a second dose within >7 hours after delivery.
#is* factors. "ndividual attributes (such as age, gender and family history) and habits (such as sexual activity,
smo*ing and drug abuse) that are more common among people who contract a particular disease than in people who
do not contract the disease.
#ubella (!erman -easles). An acute exanthematous viral disease that may cause fetal malformation if contracted
during the first trimester of pregnancy.
%alpingectomy. %urgical removal of a fallopian tube.
%alpingo-oophorectomy. %urgical removal of a fallopian tube and ovary.
%exually Transmissible isease. A disease that spreads by sexual contact, including chlamydia infection, gonorrhea,
genital warts, herpes, syphilis, and infection with human immunodeficiency virus (?"@, the cause of ac;uired
immunodeficiency syndrome AA"%B).
%chiller Test. Application of a solution of iodine to the cervix. The iodine is ta*en up by glycogen in normal vaginal
epithelium, giving it a brown color. Areas lac*ing in glycogen are white or whitish-yellow, and may indicate leu*opla*ia
(white lesions) or cancerous tissue. Although the test is not diagnostic of cancer, it can aid in choosing a precise
location for biopsy.
%igmoidoscopy. Test in which a slender device is placed into the rectum and lower colon to loo* for cancer.
Trimester. A time period of three calendar months. !estation is divided into three trimesters.
Tubal ligation. &ermanent sterili$ation by surgically cutting and tying the fallopian tubes. ,ommonly referred to as
having ones /tubes tied.0 ,an be performed at the same time as a cesarean section, which eliminates the need for a
second surgery, or six wee*s or more after a vaginal delivery. "n the latter case, a small incision is made near the
bellybutton.
<rinalysis. A test for signs of chemical changes in the urine that can signal a health problem.
<rine dip-stic*. A chemically sensitive strip that can be immersed in a urine sample to provide immediate test results'
used to screen for such conditions as diabetes, infection, or preeclampsia.
@aricella. @irus that causes chic*en pox.
@ulva. The lips of the external female genital area.