Female Reproductive System Terminology

Vocabulary flashcards covering medical terms related to surgical procedures, treatments, contraceptives, and pregnancy/obstetric status in the female reproductive system.

lumpectomy

excision of a breast tumor without removing any other tissue or lymph nodes; usually followed by radiation or chemotherapy if the tumor is cancerous

mastectomy

removal of a breast

simple mastectomy

removal of an entire breast but with the underlying muscle and axillary lymph nodes left intact

chemotherapy

treatment of malignancies, infections, and other diseases with chemical agents that destroy selected cells or impair their ability to reproduce

radiation therapy

treatment of neoplastic disease using radiation to deter the proliferation of malignant cells

hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

use of a hormone (e.g., estrogen or progesterone) to replace a deficiency or to regulate production

hormonal contraceptives

hormones used to prevent conception by suppressing ovulation

oral contraceptive pill (OCP)

birth control pill

contraceptive injection

injection of a contraceptive hormone (e.g., Depo-Provera) into the body

contraceptive implant

insertion of a contraceptive capsule under the skin to provide a continual infusion over an extended period

barrier contraceptives

products that provide a physical barrier to prevent conception (e.g., condoms or diaphragms)

intrauterine device (IUD)

contraceptive device inserted into the uterus that prevents implantation of a fertilized egg

spermicidals

creams, jellies, lotions, or foams containing agents that kill sperm (cid/o = to kill)

gravida

a pregnant woman; gravida followed by a number indicates the number of pregnancies

nulligravida

having never been pregnant

primigravida

first pregnancy

para

to bear; a woman who has produced one or more viable (live outside the uterus) offspring; para followed by a number indicates the number of times a pregnancy has resulted in a single or multiple birth

nullipara

a woman who has not borne a child (nulli = none; para = to bear)

primipara

first delivery (primi = first; para = to bear)

multipara

a woman who has given birth to two or more children (multi = many; para = to bear)

cervical effacement

progressive obliteration of the endocervical canal during delivery