Women's Health Care and Menstrual Disorders Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering topics from women's health nursing lectures, including menstrual disorders, infections, breast conditions, contraception, and infertility.

Primary Amenorrhea

The absence of menarche and secondary sex characteristics by age 13, the absence of menses by age 15 regardless of secondary sex characteristics, or the absence of menstruation within 5 years of breast development.

Secondary Amenorrhea

A 3 to 6 month absence of menses after a prior established period of menstruation.

Female Athlete Triad (FAT)

A condition associated with exercise-associated amenorrhea involving disordered/inadequate energy intake, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis due to estrogen deficiency.

Oligomenorrhea

Infrequent menstrual periods occurring at intervals of 40 to 45 days or longer without a period.

Hypomenorrhea

Abnormally short or scanty menstrual periods.

Metrorrhagia

Uterine bleeding occurring between regular menstrual periods.

Menorrhagia

Abnormally heavy menses characterized by menstrual blood loss exceeding $80\,ml$.

Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Irregular uterine bleeding occurring in the absence of recognizable pelvic pathology, general medical disease, or pregnancy.

Primary Dysmenorrhea

Pain during or shortly before menstruation associated with ovulatory cycles and excessive prostaglandin release, occurring most commonly in young nulliparas.

Secondary Dysmenorrhea

Acquired menstrual pain developing later in life, typically after age 25, characterized by dull lower abdominal pain radiating to the back.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

A severe variant of PMS requiring 5 or more specific physical, psychological, or behavioral symptoms present for at least 2 consecutive cycles.

Clue Cells

Vaginal epithelial cells coated in bacteria visible on a wet prep swab, indicative of Bacterial Vaginosis.

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)

A severe condition caused by strains of Staphylococcus aureus associated with prolonged tampon or barrier contraceptive use, causing sudden fever, hypotension, and a sunburn-like rash.

Chancre

A painless, shallow, indurated, clean ulcer that appears 5 to 70 days after infection as the primary lesion of Syphilis.

Endometriosis

The presence and growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus, leading to dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and bowel symptoms.

Danazol

A medication for endometriosis that inhibits menstrual cycle hormones, causing side effects such as weight gain, edema, oily skin, and voice deepening.

Bisphosphonates

A class of osteoporosis medications, such as Alendronate, that are potent esophageal irritants and must be taken first thing in the morning with water while remaining upright for 30 minutes.

Fibroadenoma

The most common benign, discrete, solitary breast lump measuring less than $3\,cm$ in diameter that is solid, rubbery, mobile, and painless in women aged 20 to 30 years.

Intraductal Papilloma

A benign papillary proliferation of lactiferous duct epithelium in terminal nipple ducts, presenting as a subareolar lump with bloody nipple discharge.

Diethylstilbestrol (DES)

A synthetic estrogen used between 1940 and 1971 linked to cervical cancer and fertility issues in in utero exposed offspring, and increased breast cancer in mothers.

Tamoxifen

An oral antiestrogen chemoprevention drug that reduces the risk of ER+ invasive breast cancer and strengthens bones, but increases the risk of uterine cancer and blood clots.

Spinnbarkeit

The stretchable property of thin, clear cervical mucus near ovulation that allows it to stretch up to $6\,cm$ or more.

ACHES

An acronym detailing danger signs for oral contraceptive pill users: Abdominal pain, Chest pain, Headaches, Eye visual changes, and Severe leg pain.

PAINS

An acronym detailing warning signs for IUD complications: Period late/abnormal bleeding, Abdominal pain, Infection exposure, Not feeling well (fever/chills), and String missing.

Azoospermia

A male factor infertility condition characterized by the complete absence of sperm cells in semen.

Oligospermia

A male factor infertility condition characterized by an abnormally low number of sperm cells in semen.

Hysterosalpingography

A radiographic x-ray examination using contrast to evaluate pelvic structures and fallopian tubes, performed 2 to 5 days after menses.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

An assisted reproductive procedure used for low sperm quality where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg.

Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)

An assisted reproductive procedure where retrieved unfertilized eggs and semen are transferred into the fallopian tube to allow natural fertilization.

Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT)

An assisted reproductive procedure where in vitro fertilized zygotes are placed directly into the fallopian tube.