Glossary of GYN
Abortion
A term meaning interruption of pregnancy prior to 20 weeks gestation. Most people associate the word abortion with voluntary disruption of a pregnancy. However, the medical term for miscarriage is “spontaneous abortion” and the term for bleeding in early pregnancy is “threatened abortion.”
Anemia
Low blood count due to inadequate iron intake, blood loss, or other medical problems.
Barrier Method of Contraception
Condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap
Bioidentical hormones
A marketing term used to describe hormones that are chemically identical to your body’s own hormones. These hormones are no safer than FDA approved hormones, and may not be as safe because they have been studied less than most FDA approved hormonal preparations.
Ca125
A blood test for a cancer antigen that is used in the diagnosis and follow-up of ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, this is not a good screening test for ovarian cancer in asymptomatic low-risk women because it usually only becomes positive after the cancer is fairly advanced. It also has a high false positive rate, i.e. abnormal results when the patient does not have ovarian cancer.
Cervical dysplasia
A potentially precancerous condition of the cervix.
Colonoscopy
A test performed by a gastroenterologist or other specialist to evaluate your colon. This test is recommended for everyone beginning at age 50, sooner if you have risk factors for colon cancer. Just having the test done can prevent colon cancer!
Colposcopy
A test done in the office to look at your cervix closely through a magnifying scope in order to determine the cause of an abnormal PAP smear.
D&C
D&C Stands for dilatation and curettage, which means dilating the cervix and sampling or removing the lining or contents of the uterus.
Dysmenorrhea
Cramping or pain with your menses.
Dyspareunia
Pain during intercourse.
Emergency contraception
“Plan B”
Endometriosis
A common disease in which endometrial tissue that normally lines the uterus is growing in an abnormal place. Endometriosis is a common cause of pelvic pain and infertility.
Endometrium
The tissue that lines the uterus and that is shed during a menstrual cycle.
Endometrial Ablation
A procedure for heavy menstrual bleeding in which the lining of the uterus is destroyed.
Estrogen
A hormone produced by the ovaries that stimulates growth of the lining of the uterus (endometrium).
Fibroids
Benign smooth muscle tumors of the uterus. Fibroids are very common, occuring in 25-50% of all women.
Gardisil Received at your local pharmacy
A vaccination that protects against the most common 2 subtypes of HPV that cause genital warts, the 2 most common high-risk subtypes that cause cervical cancer. www.gardasil.com
Hepatitis A
A viral infection that affects the liver. Hepatitis A is usually transmitted by eating contaminated food. It rarely causes serious disease.
Hepatitis B
A viral infection that affects the liver. Hepatitis B is transmitted by sexual contact or other close personal contact, and by blood transfusions, sharing needles, etc. Some patients completely clear the infection; others become chronic carriers of the infection. Vaccination prevents this disease.
Hepatitis C
The most serious type of Hepatitis, transmitted by contact with blood, sharing needles, sexual contact.
Herpes
A viral infection that causes genital blisters or oral fever blisters. There are two types of Herpes Simplex virus, Type I which usually causes oral lesions, and Type II which usually causes genital lesions.
HPV
Human papilloma virus. There are over 100 subtypes. This virus causes genital warts. The high-risk types cause precancerous lesions of the cervix and cervical cancer.
IUD
Intrauterine device. A small device placed inside of the uterus which prevents pregnancy.
Kegel exercises
Exercising the pelvic floor muscles. www.mayoclinic.com/health/kegel-exercises
Menopause
The condition that occurs when the ovaries cease making the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Menses cease in women who have not had a hysterectomy. If a woman has had a hysterectomy, but her ovaries were not removed, she will still go through menopause, but will not have cessation of menses to tell her when it has occurred.
Natural Family Planning
Also called the rhythm method, this birth control method relies on avoiding intercourse during the “fertile” times of the woman’s cycle. The failure rate is high.
Osteoporosis
Decreased bone density which increases a woman’s chance of fractures.
Ovarian cancer
Cancer which begins in the ovaries. It is difficult to diagnose because it often does not cause symtpoms until it is already very advanced.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
This term refers to infection of the tubes and other pelvic structures and is usually due to chlamydia or gonorrhea.
Perimenopause
The years before menopause when women experience symptoms of irregular menses, hot flashes, or other symptoms.
PMS (Premenstrual syndrome)
Symptoms which occur during the week or so prior to the beginning of the menses, and which resolve when the menses begins. Also called PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder).
Plan “B”
See Emergency Contraception.
Polycystic ovary syndrome
A condition of the ovaries characterized by multiple small cysts, poor ovulation, etc.
Sexually transmitted disease (STD)
An infection such as herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HPV, some types of hepatitis, and HPV that are transmitted from person to person by sexual contact.
Sterilization
Rendering a man or woman incapable of having a child.
Uterine artery embolization
A method of treating fibroid tumors of the uterus that involves catheterization and blockage of the main blood supply to the uterus. This can cause shrinkage of the tumors and uterus in many women with fibroids.
Vaginitis
Irritation and vaginal discharge, usually caused by yeast, bacterial overgrowth, or reaction to chemicals, laundry detergent, or perfumes.
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