Female Abbreviations, Combining Forms, and Terms

AROM

Artificial rupture of membranes

BSE

Breast self-examination

C-section

Cesarean Section

D&C

Dilation & curettage

ERT

Estrogen replacement therapy

FHR

Fetal heart rate

FTND

Full-term normal delivery

G1, grav 1

First pregnancy

GYN

Gynecology

HPV

Human papillomavirus

HRT

Hormone replacement therapy

IUD

Intrauterine device

IVF

In vitro fertilization

LMP

Last menstrual period

NB

Newborn

NST

Nonstress test

OB

Obstetrics

OB-GYN

Physician practicing both obstetrics and gynecology

OCPs

Oral contraceptive pills

P1, para 1

First birth

PID

Pelvic inflammatory disease

PIH

Pregnancy-induced hypertension

PMS

Premenstrual syndrome

SB

Stillbirth

TAH-BSO

Total abdominal hysterectomy-bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

TSS

Toxic shock syndrome

Abort/o

To miscarry

Amni/o

Amnion

Cervic/o

Cervix

Coit/o

A coming together

Colp/o

Vagina

Embry/o

Embryo

Episi/o

Vulva

Fet/o

Fetus

Fibr/o

Fibrous tissue

Gynec/o

Female

Hyster/o

Womb, uterus

Mamm/o

Breast

Mast/o

Breast

Men/o

Month, menses, menstruation

Metr/o

Womb, uterus

Nat/o

Birth

O/o

Ovum, egg

Oophor/o

Ovary

Ovari/o

Ovary

Salping/o

Fallopian tube

Uter/o

Uterus

Vagin/o

Vagina

Abruptio placentae

Emergency condition where the placenta tears away from the uterine wall prior to the birth of the fetus.

Adnexa

Accessory part of a structure; adnexa uteri refers to the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Amenorrhea

Lack of the monthly menses.

Bartholinitis

Inflammation of the Bartholin glands.

Cervicitis

Inflammation of the cervix

Cesarean section

Delivery of the fetus through an incision created in the abdominal cavity and the uterus.

Colposcope

Medical instrument used to examine the vagina and cervix using a magnifying lens.

Contraception

Process of preventing conception

Dysmenorrhea

Difficult or painful menses

Dyspareunia

Difficult or painful sexual intercourse.

Eclampsia

Complication of severe pre-eclampsia that involves seizures

Fibrocystic breast

Benign cysts in breast tissue.

Fibroma

Fibrous tissue tumor; also called uterine fibroids or leiomyomas; the most common benign tumor found in women.

Gestational diabetes

Development of high blood sugar and difficulty with glucose metabolism that occurs during pregnancy. Typically resolves after birth.

Gravida

Used to document any pregnancy in the medical record. A woman who has never been pregnant is nulligravida; primigravida refers to a woman who is pregnant for the first time; and multigravida refers to a woman who has been pregnant more than once.

Hormone replacement therapy

Medications used to replace hormones that are secreted by the ovaries either due to menopause or loss of ovaries.

Hysterectomy

Surgical removal of the uterus.

Intrauterine

Pertaining to within the uterus.

Laser ablation

Procedure used to destroy the uterine lining. Also called endometrial ablation.

Linea nigra

A dark line on the abdomen that runs from above the umbilicus to the pubis that develops during pregnancy.

Lochia

Vaginal discharge that occurs after childbirth, it lasts for 2-4 weeks.

Mammoplasty

Surgical repair of the breast.

Mastitis

Inflammation of the breast.

Mastectomy

Surgical removal of the breast.

Menorrhagia

Excessive menses, either in the number of days or the amount of blood or both.

Menorrhea

Normal monthly menses.

Mittelschmerz

Abdominal pain that occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle at ovulation.

Myometritis

Inflammation of the muscular layer of the uterus.

Oligomenorrhea

Scanty monthly menses.

Oogenesis

Formation of the ovum.

Oophorectomy

Surgical excision of the ovary.

Papanicolaou smear

Also called a pap smear; test for early detection of cervical cancer where cells are removed from the cervix and then examined under a microscope.

Para

Means to bear or bring forth; used in the medical record to refer to a woman who has given birth after 20 weeks gestation.

Perimenopause

Period of gradual changes that leads to menopause.

Placenta previa

The placenta is improperly implanted in the lower section of the uterus causing the fetus to receive less oxygen and the mother to be at a higher risk for bleeding and infection.

Postcoital

Pertaining to after sexual intercourse.

Pre-eclampsia

Complication of pregnancy with hypertension, proteinuria, and edema.

Premenstrual syndrome

The regular monthly experience of physiologic and emotional distress that women of reproductive age may experience. Symptoms include bloating, breast pain, headache, irritability, depression, inability to concentrate, lethargy, and food cravings.

Rectovaginal

Pertaining to the rectum and vagina.

Salpingectomy

Surgical excision of a fallopian tube.Salpingitis: Inflammation of a fallopian tube.

Salpingo-oophorectomy

Surgical excision of an ovary and a fallopian tube,

Toxic shock syndrome

A serious bacterial infection caused by staphylococcus aureus

Tubal ligation

Surgical tying off the uterine tubes to prevent pregnancy.

Vaginitis

Inflammation of the vagina.