Glossary
For additional information about each topic, click on the link at the end of the explanation.
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". www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp090.cfm
Advanced maternal age: age 35 or greater during pregnancy. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp060.cfm
Amniocentesis: a test that can be done during pregnancy (at around 16 weeks gestation) to test the baby's chromosomes to rule out certain birth defects. A small amount of amniotic fluid is removed with a needle, and the baby's skin cells are grown in tissue cultures and then tested. Amniocentesis is offered to all pregnant women who are 35 years or older, or who have an increased risk of fetal problems that can be diagnosed by this test. There is a small risk of miscarriage associated with amniocentesis. For more information, visit: http://www.genzymegenetics.com/pdf/amnio_patient_brochure.pdf www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp164.cfm
Anemia: low blood count due to inadequate iron intake, blood loss, or other medical problems.
APGAR score: this is a system to assess the baby at birth to determine need for supportive measures, breathing assistance, or other resuscitation. The baby is scored at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth; the score includes 1-2 points each for heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflexes, and color. A score of 10 is perfect but uncommon; most babies will have scores of 7, 8 or 9.
Barrier Method of Contraception: Condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp022.cfm
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. www.mayoclinic.com/health/bioidentical-hormones/AN01133 www.endo-society.org/advocacy/policy/upload/BH_Position_Statement_final_10_25_06_w_Header.pdf
Biophysical profile: this is a test to assess the baby's wellbeing before birth. Like the APGAR score after birth, points are assigned. The BPP includes 2 points each for fetal movement, fetal tone, fetal breathing movements, and amniotic fluid volume. 2 additional points can be assigned for a nonstress test (NST).
Bloody show: a small amount of bleeding, with or without mucous, in early labor. This is normal. If you have a large amount of bright red blood, call your care provider.
Braxton-Hicks contractions: irregular contractions that do not cause the cervix to open. These contractions cause your uterus to tighten and feel more firm, and can sometimes be uncomfortable. They are perfectly normal, but if you notice regular or painful contractions that do not go away when you drink a large glass of water and lie down, call your provider. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp004.cfm
Breech position: rather than descending head first into the pelvis, another body part of the baby is down. Breech position is further classified according to which body part is lowest in the mother's pelvis: frank breech - buttocks, footling breech - one foot, double footling breech - both feet are down, complete breech - both feet and buttocks. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp079.cfm
Brethine: Terbutaline, a medication commonly used for asthma, that is also sometimes used to treat premature labor.
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 assymptomatic low risk women because it usually only becomes positive after the cancer is farily advanced. It also has a high false positive rate, i.e. abnormal results when the patient does not have ovarian cancer. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp096.cfm
Cesarean section: delivery through an abdominal incision rather than through the vagina. There are various types of incisions in the uterus which can impact whether it is safe to consider vaginal birth after a previous C-section. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp006.cfm
Cerclage: a procedure or stitch placed around the cervix to avoid abnormal early opening of a weakened or "incompetent" cervix. Cerclage is not used to treat or prevent premature labor.
Cervical dysplasia: a potentially pecancerous condition of the cervix. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp161.cfm
Chorioamnionitis: an infection of the amniotic fluid and membranes.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): a test that can be done to test the baby's chromosomes to rule out birth defects such as Down's syndrome. This test can be done at 10-12 weeks of pregnancy (earlier than amniocentesis), but must be done at a tertiary care center such as Baylor College of Medicine. This test also carries a small risk of miscarriage. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp164.cfm, or www.genzymegenetics.com/pdf/cvs_patient_brochure.pdf
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! www.screen4coloncancer.org
Colostrum: early breast secretions produced before the breast milk comes in. Colostrum is high in antibodies and proteins and is very valuable to the newborn. Colostrum may be noticed during pregnancy, well before birth.
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. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp135.cfm
Cord Blood Banking: saving your baby's umbilical cord blood which is very high in stem cells and potentially can be used in the future to treat many diseases. www.cordblood.com or www.viacord.com
Cystic Fibrosis: an inherited disease that causes abnormally thick secretions in the lungs and digestive track. Caucasians have a 1 in 25 chance of carrying the cystic fibrosis gene. If both parents are carriers, the baby could potentially inherit a gene from each parent and would have a 1 in 4 chance of having the disease, which is currently fatal in the teenage or young adult years. Cystic fibrosis testing is offered to all caucasian patients and to other patients at high risk for the disease. www.cff.org or www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/cf001.cfm
D&C: stands for dilatation and curettage, which means dilating the cervix and samplling or removing the lining or contents of the uterus. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp062.cfm
Doula: labor assistant who provides support, encouragement, and coaching during the entire labor and delivery experience. Doulas are not supplied by the birthing center; they must be hired separately.
Dysmenorrhea: cramping or pain with your menses. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp046.cfm
Dyspareunia: pain during intercourse. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp020.cfm
Eclampsia: seizures during pregnancy caused by pregnancy induced hypertension or one of the related syndromes. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp034.cfm
Ectopic pregnancy: a pregnancy which is growing in an abnormal location rather than inside the uterus. The most common type is a tubal pregnancy. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp155.cfm
Effacement: thinning of the cervix that occurs in preparation for labor and delivery.
Emergency contraception: "Plan B" www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp022.cfm
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. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp013.cfm
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. www.Novasure.com www.uterus1.com/care/uterusprocedure20.cfm/15?CFID=122416366&CFTOKEN=66318868 www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp134.cfm
Epidural: used for pain control during labor and delivery. a hormone www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp086.cfm
Episiotomy: an incision in the perineum, the area between the vagina and the anus, used to facilitate vaginal delivery. Once used routinely, episiotomies are rarely done now, and only for specific indications
Essure: a technique of female sterilization that involves blocking the tubes by inserting tiny coils through the cervix using a hysteroscope. This procedure is not uncomfortable and can be performed in the office. www.Essure.com
Estrogen: a hormone produced by the ovaries that stimulates growth of the lining of the uterus (endometrium).
Exercise during pregnancy: www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp119.cfm
False labor: contractions that do not dilate the cervix. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp004.cfm
Fetal alcohol syndrome: small size, mental deficiency, and multiple birth defects, caused by regular alcohol consumption during pregnancy. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp170.cfm
Fetal Fibronectin: a substance produced during pregnancy prior to labor. The fFN or FFN test can be used to determine a patient's risk of preterm delivery. www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/143321149.asp www.acog.org/pulbications/patient education/bpo87.cfm
Fibroids: benign smooth muscle tumors of the uterus. Fibroids are very common, occuring in 25-50% of all women. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp074.cfm www.uterinearteryembolization.com
First Gyn exam: what to expect and when to have one www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp150.cfm
First Study: a noninvasive test done in the first trimester to determine risk of Down's syndrome and Trisomy 18. Test consists of an ultrasound to measure the baby's neck fold thickness (NT) and a blood test. www.genzymegenetics.com/pdf/firstscreen_patient_brochure.pdf
First Trimester: the first one third of pregnancy, usually defined as lasting until 12-13 weeks gestation.
Gardisil: a vaccination that protects against the most common 2 subtypes of HPV that cause genital warts, the the 2 most common high risk subtypes that cause cervical cancer. www.gardasil.com www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp167.cfm
German measles (Rubella): a childhood infection. If contracted during pregnancy, Rubella can cause serious birth defects. Most women have been immunized (the MMR vaccination), but if you are not immune, you should be vaccinated prior to pregnancy. If already pregnant and not immune, avoid contact with sick children, especially those with a rash. acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp146.cfm www.mayoclinic.com/health/rubella/DS00332/DSECTION=complications
Gestational diabetes: glucose intolerance caused by pregnancy. Gestational diabetes resolves after delivery, but if you have gestational diabetes, you have a fairly high risk of developing Type II diabetes in the future. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp051.cfm
GBS (Group B Strep): a very common bacteria often located in the vagina or rectum. About 10% of all healthy women are "carriers" of GBS. If exposed to GBS during labor and birth, the infant can occasionally develop pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis. Women are routinely treated during labor if the delivery prematurely, are known carriers, or if other high risk situations are present. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp105.cfm
HELLP syndrome: a severe condition, variation of preeclampsia or pregnancy induced hypertension. The initials stand for hemolysis, hepatic enzyme elevation, and low platelets. www.aafp.org/afp/990901ap/829.html www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp034.cfm
Hepatitis A: a viral infection that affects the liver. Hepatitis A is usually transmitted by eating contaminated food. It rarely causes serious disease. www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/diseases/hepatitis/a/index.htm
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. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp125.cfm www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp093.cfm
Hepatitis C: the most serious type of Hepatitis, transmitted by contact with blood, sharing needles, sexual contact. www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/Diseases/hepatitis/c/fact.htm
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. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp054.cfm www.herpes.com
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. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp073.cfm
HTA: Hydrothermal ablation, a method to improve abnormal heavy menstrual bleeding www.uterus1.com/care/htasystem.cfm
Induction of labor: the use of medication or other methods to start labor when desired (elective induction) or needed, i.e. when it is safer than waiting (medical induction) www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp154.cfm
IUD: Intrauterine device. A small device placed inside of the uterus which prevents pregnancy. www.paragard.com www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp014.cfm www.mirena-us.com
Jaundice: a yellow coloration of the skin caused by too much bilirubin, a waste product usually cleared by the liver. Jaundice is commonly seen in patients with hepatitis, and in newborns whose parents have different blood types. www.medicinenet.com/jaundice/page4.htm
Kegel exercises: exercising the pelvic floor muscles. www.mayoclinic.com/health/kegel-exercises/WO00119 www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp131.cfm
Meconium: the first few BMs that a newborn passes are thick and green, called meconium. The baby sometimes passes meconium prior to birth. In this case, the amniotic fluid will have "meconium staining" which can cause respiratory problems if the baby inhales this fluid. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002262.htm
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 occured. www.menopause.org/Consumers.aspx www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp047.cfm www.mayoclinic.com/health/menopause/DS00119
Mirena: an intrauterine device which contains and releases tiny amounts of progestin. The efficacy is over 99% and once inserted, it lasts for 5 years. www.mirena-us.com
Molar pregnancy: an abnormal pregnancy which consists of abnormal placental tissue. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp038.cfm
Morning Sickness: Nausea and vomiting that occur in early pregnancy. These symptoms can happen at any time of the day; they are caused by the pregnancy hormones. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp126.cfm
Mucous plug: mucous collects in the cervix during pregnancy. It serves no purpose, but is often shed during the last few weeks of pregnancy. It does not mean that you are going into labor if you see your mucous plug and you do not need to notify your care provider that you have passed it.
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. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp024.cfm
Novasure: a method of endometrial ablation to treat heavy bleeding www.Novasure.com
Osteoporosis: Decreased bone density which increases a woman's chance of fractures www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp048.cfm
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. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp096.cfm
Pelvic inflammatory disease: also called PID, this term refers to infection of the tubes and other pelvic structures and is usually due to chlamydia or gonorrhea www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp077.cfm
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 call PMDD (premenstural dysphoric disorder) www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp057.cfm
Plan "B": see Emergency Contraception.
Polycystic ovary syndrome: a condition of the ovaries characterized by multiple small cysts, poor ovulation, etc www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp121.cfm www.4woman.gov/faq/pcos.htm www.mayoclinic.com/health/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/DS00423 - 24k
Postdates pregnacy: a pregnancy that goes past the due date. The definition is 2 weeks past the due date (the due date is 40 weeks gestation, postdates is 42 weeks). Most patients who have not delivered by the due date will deliver spontaneously within the next few days. If the pregnancy continues past 41 weeks, complications rapidly increase with each passing day. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp069.cfm
Postpartum Sterilization: Tubal ligation can be performed immediately after delivery, but the failure rate is slightly higher than if performed after the postpartum recovery period. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp052.cfm
Preeclampsia: "toxemia", PIH ( prenancy induced hypertension). Common in first pregnancies, the disorder consists of high blood pressure, swelling or edema, and protein in the urine. It is usually mild, but can be very severe and associated with life threatening complications. www.preeclampsia.org www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp034.cfm
Preterm delivery: delivery prior to 37 weeks gestation. The earlier the delivery, the more potential complications the premature infant may have. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp087.cfm
Sexually transmitted disease: 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 www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp009.cfm www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp071.cfm www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp073.cfm
Sterilization: rendering a man or woman incapable of having a child. www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp035.cfm www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp011.cfm www.Essure.com www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp052.cfm
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. www.uterinearteryembolization.com
Vaginitis: Irritation and vaginal discharge, usually cause by yeast, bacterial overgrowth, or reaction to chemicals, laundry detergent, perfumes www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp028.cfm
