Obs & Gynae Definitions

Alpha-feto protein

Protein produced but the yolk sac & foetal liver

Amenorrhoea

Absence of menstruation.

Amniocentesis

Transabdominal, transuterine insertion of a needle into the amniotic cavity to extract amniotic fluid.

Amnion:

The inner fetal membrane.

Amniotic fluid:

The fluid surrounding the fetus.

Amniotomy:

Artificial creation of a hole in both fetal membranes (amnion and chorion); used to induce or accelerate labour (also called Artificial Rupture of Membranes (ARM) or puncture of membranes (POM).

Anovulation:E

Failure of the ovary to release an oocyte during a menstrual cycle.

Antepartum haemorrhage (APH):

Bleeding from the genital tract from 24+0 weeks of gestation to the birth of the baby.

Anti-D immunoglobulin:

Immunoglobulin G used to prevent Rhesus D antibody formation in Rhesus D negative women.

Apgar score:

A method of assessing the clinical condition of the neonate by scoring out of 10. Marks are given for heart rate (2), respiration (2), colour (2), tone (2) and reflex activity (2). Scores are usually given at 1 and 5 minutes of life.

Arias-Stella reaction:

A benign histological change of the endometrium present in ectopic pregnancy.

Ashermann’s syndrome

Amennorhoea due to adhensions within the uterine cavity

Asthenozoospermia

Reduced sperm motility

Asymptomatic bacteriuria:

Bacteria in a concentration of ≥ 105/ml of urine without symptoms of urinary tract infection.

Azoospermia

Absence of sperm in semen

Bartholin’s glands

Mucous-secreting paravaginal glands susceptible to cystic enlargement and abscess formation.

Biophysical profile

A method of assessing fetal well-being by ultrasound inspection of the fetal behaviour and amniotic fluid volume. A score out of 8 is given for fetal breathing movement (2), fetal tone (2), fetal gross body movement (2) and amniotic fluid volume (2). It is often used in conjunction with cardiotocography.

Bishop’s score

A method of recording the examination of the cervix.

Bradycardia (fetal)

A fetal heart rate below 100 beats per minute for 5 minutes.

Braxton Hick’s contractions

Painless sporadic contractions of the uterus.

Breech presentation

The situation when the fetal buttocks or lower limbs are closest to the maternal cervix. It is subdivided into:

• Complete breech (hips and knees flexed)

• Frank breech (hips flexed, knees extended)

• Footling (hips and knees extended)

Brow

The part of the fetal head between the root of the nose and the anterior fontanelle.

Caesarean section

The delivery of the fetus through a transabdominal transuterine incision.

Candidiasis

Clinical infection with the yeast Candida albicans.

Caput succedaneum

Soft tissue oedema of the baby’s scalp following delivery. A benign condition to be distinguished from cephalohaematoma (sub-periostial haematoma) and chignon (following vacuum extraction)

Cardio-tocography

Simulataneous recording of the fetal heart rate and uterine contraction. It is widely used to assess fetal well-being.

Cephalo-pelvic disproportion

Maternal pelvis of inadequate dimensions to accommodate passage of the fetal head.

Cervical incompetence

This is an imprecise clinical term applied to women with a history of second-trimester miscarriage where it has been assumed that the cervix was ‘weak’ and unable to remain closed during pregnancy.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

A potentially pre-malignant histological state of the cervix associated with colposcopic abnormalities

Chloasma

Brown discolouration of the face during pregnancy

Choriocarcinoma

Malignant tumour of the placenta usually preceded by a hydatidiform mole.

Chorion

Outer foetal membrane

Chorionic gonadotrophin

A hormone produced by synctiotrophoblast

Chocolate cyst

A cyst of the ovary containing old blood, and therefore brown in colour. It is often, but not exclusively, associated with endometriosis.

Chorionic villi

Branching tentacles of the placenta coming from the chorion allowing for maximum contact between the maternal & foetal circulation. Site of metabolic & gaseous exchange.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)

The procedure of obtaining a biopsy of the chorion villi for chromosomal or genetic analysis.

Climacteric

The phase of time around the end of the reproductive life in the female

Colostrum

This fluid secreted by breasts during the first days after delivery & before the production of milk. It is rich in immunoglobulin.

Colporrhaphy

Surgical procedure of the vagina to treat cystocele & rectocele

Colposcopy

Direct inspection of the cervix through magnifying lens

Cord prolapse

An obstetric emergency in which the umbilical cord is extruded through the cervix & usually into the valine while the foetus remains in the uterus.

Corpus luteum

Structure formed from the ovarian follicle following ovulation

Cotyledon

Lobes of placenta

Couvelaire uterus

A uterus in which blood has penetrated into the myometrium (and occasionally through the full thickness of the myometrium and into the peritoneal cavity) following severe placental abruption.

Cryptomenorrhoea

Menstrual blood retained within the uterus or vagina. It occurs because of a lower genital tract outflow obstruction, usually an imperforate hymen, and presents as primary amenorrhoea

Curettage

Surgical removal of the endometrium by scraping the uterus

Cystocele

Prolapse of bladder producing a bulge of the anterior vaginal wall

Cystometry

Technique for assessing the response of the bladder to increasing volume. Also known as Urodynamics

Cysto-uretrocele

Prolapse of the bladder and urethra

Decidua

Endometrium during pregnancy, which is shed following delivery

Dermoid Cyst

A benign teratoma of the ovary

Dizygotic twinning

Twin pregnancy resulting from two individual zygotes

Donor gamete

Sperm or oocyte collected from a donor & used in assisted reproduction

Doppler ultrasound

Use of ultrasound waves to assess velocity of blood flow.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding

Abnormal menstruation in the absence of demonstrable uterine or endocrine pathology.

Dysgerminoma

A germ cell tumour of the ovary

Dysmenorrhea

Painful menstruation

Dyspareunia

Painful sexual intercourse

Dystocia

Abnormal progress in labour

Ductus arteriosus

The connection between the foetal pulmonary artery & the descending arch of the aorta

Eclampsia

A disease of pregnancy causing seizures in the presence of new onset hypertension

Ectopic pregnancy

Implantation of a pregnancy outside the uterine cavity, most commonly in the fallopian tube

Endometriosis

Presence of endometrial tissue outside of the uterine cavity

Endometrium

The mucous membrane lining the uterus which responds to ovarian hormones during the menstrual cycle

Engagement

when the maximum diameter of the foetal head (subbocipito-bregmatic & biparietal, when the head is flexed) have passes through the pelvic inlet

Epidural analgesia

Injection or infusion of a local anaesthetic into the epidural space to effect analagesia.

Episiotomy

Incision of the perineum to facilitate childbirth & protect the anal sphincters from obstetric injury

Ergometrine

A primary ergot alkaloid used to effect contraction of the myometetrium

External cephalic version

Manual conversion of foetal position from breech to cephalic by manipulation of the maternal abdominal wall

Ferning

The typical pattern of cervical mucous at the time of ovulation. Pattern is also produced by amniotic fluid after rupture of the foetal membranes.

Foetal growth restriction

Failure of foetus to reach growth potential

First Trimester Screening

Screening test for trisomies 13, 18, & 21

Follicular cyst

Small, normal, cyst of the ovarian surface that develops from a Graafian follicle - usually <5cm in diameter & unilocular

Fontanelle

The space at the junction of three or more bones of the skull

Fourchette

Fold of skin formed by the merging of the labia minora & labia majora posteriorly

Gamete

Mature haploid cells ready for fertilisation; spermatozoa & oocyte

Gamete infra-fallopian transfer

An assisted reproduction technique involving the placement of oocytes and sperm in the fallopian tube following oocyte retrieval.

Gestational diabetes mellitus

Impaired glucose metabolism with onset or first recognition during pregnancy

Gonadal dysgenesis

Failure of the gonads to form normally

Grand multipara

A term used to describe a woman with a parity of greater than or equal to 4

Gravid

The number of pregnancies experiences irrespective of the pregnancy outcome & including the current pregnancy

Haematocolpos

Menstrual blood retained within the vagina. It occurs because of a lower genital tract outflow obstruction, usually an imperforate hymen, and presents as primary amenorrhoea

HELLP Syndrome

A variant of pre-eclampsia typified by haemolysis (H), elevated liver enzymes (EL) and low platelets (LP).

Herpes gestationis

An autoimmune bullous dermatosis of pregnancy unrelated to the herpes virus

Hydatidiform mole

An abnormal form of trophoblasticnprolieferation with malignant potential

Hydrops foetalis

Accumulation of fluid in at least 2 body compartments of the foetus & the subcutaneous tissues

Hyperemesis gravidarum

Excessive vomiting in pregnancy not secondary to any cause other than pregnancy

Hypospadia

A malformation of the male penis where the urethra opens on its under surface or on the perineum.

Hysterosalpingogram

An x-ray examination of the outline of the uterine cavity and lumina of the fallopian tubes following injection of radio-opaque dye through the cervix.

Hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy)

An ultrasound examination of the outline of the uterine cavity and lumina of the fallopian tubes following injection of radio-opaque dye through the cervix.

Hysterectomy

Surgical removal of the uterus

Hysteroscopy

Inspection of the uterine cavity through a fibre-optic endoscope

Implantation

Penetration of the endometrium by the blastocyst which becomes completely surrounded by decidua

Intermenstrual bleeding

Vaginal bleeding (other than postcoital) at any time during the menstrual cycle other than during normal menstruation.

Introitus

Entrance to the vagina

Inversion of the uterus

Uterus turned inside-out

Kernicterus

Brain dysfunction in a neonate due to high levels of bilirubin

Labour

The process by which the products of conception are expelled from the uterus via the birth canal after 24+0 weeks of gestation

Lactation

The production of milk by the mammalian breast

Laparoscopy

Inspection of the intra-abdominal structures using fibre-optic endoscope