Med Terms - Female Reproductive System

Gynecology

Specialty in diagnosis and treatment of the female reproductive system

Gynecologist

Specialist that includes surgical and non-surgical expertise

Obstetrics

Branch of medicine and surgery dealing with pregnancy and childbirth (care of mother and fetus throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and immediate postpartum)

Obstetrician

Specialist

Commonly practiced along with gynecology (so termed obstetrics and gynecology OB-GYN)

Neonatology

Branch of medicine dealing with care of the neonate (specialist → neonatologist)

Female Reproductive System

Internal organs of reproduction

• Ovaries (produce female sex hormones)

• Fallopian tubes

• Uterus

• Vagina

External genitalia (vulva)

Mons pubis

Labia majora and minora

Clitoris

Bartholin glands

Female Reproductive Organs Functions

• Produce and transport female reproductive cells (OVA)

• Discharge ova from body if not fertilized

• Nourish and place for developing fetus

Amni/o

Amnion (amniotic sac)

Amniocentesis → surgical puncture of the amniotic sac

Cervic/o

Neck; cervix uteri (neck of uterus)

Cervicitis → inflammation of the cervix

Colp/o

Vagina

Colposcopy → examination of the vagina and cervix with an optical instrument

Vagin/o

Vagina

Vaginocele → herniation of the vagina

Lact/o

Milk

Lactogen → Formation or production of milk

Galact/o

Milk

Galactorrhea → discharge of milk

Gynec/o

Woman, female

Gynecologist → physician specialist for disorders of the female reproductive system

Hyster/o

Uterus (womb)

Hysterectomy → excision of the uterus

Uter/o

Uterus (womb)

Uterovaginal → pertaining to the uterus and vagina

Metr/o

Uterus (womb); measure

Endometritis → inflammation of the endometrium

Mamm/o

Breast

Mammogram → radiography of the breast

Mast/o

Breast

Mastopexy → surgical fixation of the breast

Men/o

Menses, Menstruation

Menorrhagia → heavy menstrual bleeding

Nat/o

Birth

Prenatal → pertaining to period before birth

Oophor/o

Ovary

Oophoroma → tumor of the ovary

Ovari/o

Ovary

Ovariotomy → incision of an ovary

Episi/o

Vulva

Episiotomy → incision of the perineum to widen the vagina

Vulv/o

Vulva

Vulvopathy → disease of the vulva

Perine/o

Perineum

Perineorrhaphy → suture of the perineum

Salping/o

Tube (fallopian)

Salpingectomy → excision of the Fallopian tube

-arche

beginning

Menarche → initial menstral period

-cyesis

Pregnancy

Pseudocyesis → condition in which a female believes she is pregnant but is not

-gravida

Pregnant Woman

Primigravida → woman during her first pregnancy

-para

to bear (offspring)

Multipara → woman who has delivered more than one infant

-tocia

Childbirth, labor

Dystocia → painful, difficult childbirth

-salpinx

Tube (fallopian)

Hematosalpinx → blood in the Fallopian tube

Retro-

Backward, behind

Retroversion

Abortion (AB)

Termination of pregnancy by removing or expulsion of an embryo or fetus before it can survive outside of the uterus

(spontaneous → miscarriage; unplanned loss of pregnancy)

(therapeutic → induced due to woman’s health endangered or other personal reason)

Candidiasis

Vaginal fungal infection caused by Candida albicans

Cervicitis

inflammation of the uterine cervix

usually caused by infection or STI

Down syndrome

Congenital - Extra chromosome 21

Causes → intellectual impairment, physical abnormalities

Ectopic Pregnancy

Fertilized ovum implanted outside of uterine cavity → commonly in Fallopian tube (tubal pregnancy)

Fetus is not viable → salpingectomy performed to remove embryo and Fallopian tube

Endometriosis

Presence of endometrial tissue outside (ectopic) uterine cavity

Fibroid

Benign neoplasm in uterus composed of fibrous tissues

Fistula

Abnormal tunnel between two body cavities

Causes:

• injury

• infection

• inflammation

Vesicovaginal

Abnormal duct between bladder and vagina

Causes → severe urine loss from vagina

Gestational

Potentially life threatening high blood pressure → usually developing after 20th week of pregnancy

Preeclampsia

Nonconvulsive form of gestational hypertension

If untreated may lead to eclampsia → convulsive form of gestational hypertension (med emergency. life threatening to mother, baby, or both)

Sterility

Inability of a women to become pregnant

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Rare

Potentially fatal

Staphylococcal infection → generally occurs in menstruating women (most using vaginal tampon)

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Any disease affecting male or female reproductive system

Acquired as a result of sexual intercourse or intimate contract with infected individual

Chlamydia

STI

Caused by chlamydia trachomatis bacteria

Causes: cervicitis for women; urethritis for men

Genital Wart

STI caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) → possible association with cervical cancer

Gonorrhea

STI caused by Neisseria Gonorrhea Bacteria

Affects: genitourinary tract, pharynx, rectum

Herpes Genitalis

STI

Infection with herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2)

Affects: genital and anorectal skin and mucosa; could be transmitted via placenta during delivery

Syphilis

Chronic STI

Skin lesion

Affects: genitals, rectum, mouth

Could have long term complications (ex death) if untreated

Colposcopy

Examination of the vagina and cervix with optical magnifying instrument

Hysterosalpingography

Radiography of the uterus and Fallopian tubes after injection of contrast

Laparoscopy

Create one or more small incisions in the abdominal wall and examine with laparoscope

Mammography

Radiography of the breasts to diagnose tumors

Papanicolaou Test

Analysis of a biopsy from the cervix and vagina to detect. carcinoma

Cerclage

Performed to prevent spontaneous abortion in cases of incompetent cervix

Surgically placing a non absorbable suture at the cervix

Dilation and Curettage (D&C)

Surgical Procedure

Widening the cervical canal then curetting the endometrium

to stop heavy/prolonged bleeding

biopsy for diagnosis of uterine abnormalities

Hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy

Surgical removal of the uterus, one Fallopian tube, and one ovary

Lumpectomy

excision of a small breast tumor

Mastectomy

Complete or partial excision of a breast(s)

Modified Radical Mastectomy

excision of entire breast and axillary lymph nodes

Radical Mastectomy

Excision of entire breast, all axillary lymph nodes, and chest wall muscles under breast

Total Mastectomy

Excision of entire breast, nipple, areola, involved overlying skin

Reconstructive Breast Surgery

Reconstruction of removed breast → commonly immediately after mastectomy

Tissue Expansion

Breast reconstruction → balloon expander inserted, saline solution injected to increase size, expander then replaced with more permanent implant

Transverse Rectus Abdominis Muscle (TRAM) Flap

Surgically creating a skin flap passed under skin to the breast area; shaped into a natural looking breast

Tubal Ligation

Blocking Fallopian tubes via cutting or burning and tying them off

Antifungal

to treat vaginal fungal infection

Estrogens

To treat symptoms of menopause

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Synthetic hormone to correct deficient levels (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone)

Oral Contraceptives

To prevent ovulation to avoid pregnancy