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Medical Terms Explained
Medical Terms Explained
Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP)
Amnion
Anencephaly
Artificial Insemination
Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)
Biparietal Diameter (BPD)
Blighted ovum
Cervix
Chorion
Choriocarcinoma
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
Chromosome
Complete miscarriage
Corpus luteum
Crown-rump Length (CRL)
Delayed Miscarriage (Missed miscarriage)
Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21)
Ectopic Pregnancy
EDD
Embryo
Empty sac (blighted ovum)
Endometriosis
Endometrium
Evacuation of retained products of conception (ERPC)
Fallopian Tube
Fertilization
Fetal Anomaly
Fetus
Follicle
Gestation
Gravidity
Human Chorionic Gonadatropin (hCG)
Hydatidiform mole (Molar pregnancy)
Hydrocephalus
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Incomplete miscarriage
Inevitable Miscarriage
In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
Last menstrual period (LMP)
Methotrexate
Miscarriage
Misoprostol
Missed miscarriage
Molar pregnancy
Neural Tube Defects
Oestrogen
Ovulation
Parity
Pica
Pregnancy of unknown location (PUL)
Progesterone
Relaxin
Rhesus (Rh) Factor
Spina Bifida
Teratogens
Threatened miscarriage
Transabdominal scan (TAS)
Transvaginal scan (TVS)
Trimester
Uterus
Zygote
A protein produced by a growing fetus that is present in amniotic fluid and, in smaller amounts, in the mother's blood. Larger than normal amounts are found in the maternal bloodstream if neural-tube defects are present in the fetus.
One< of the fetal membranes. It surrounds the fetus and is inside the chorion. By approximately 16 weeks, the amnion fuses to the chorion to form a unified double membrane, the "chorio-amniotic" membrane.
A type of neural tube defect that occurs when the fetus's head and brain do not develop normally.
Placing of sperm in the vagina near cervix or into the uterus, often used in combination with ovulation drugs to improve timing and conditions.
A generic term for procedures involving pregnancy attempts involving work with sperm and eggs.
A measurement used to determine fetal age.
See empty sac.
The neck of the uterus, which creates an opening between the uterus and the vagina.
One of the fetal membranes. It surrounds the fetus and is outside the amnion. By approximately 16 weeks, the amnion fuses to the chorion to form a unified double membrane, the "chorio-amniotic" membrane.
A very rare but curable form of cancer where the placenta becomes malignant. It can arise from a molar pregnancy or an otherwise normal pregnancy or miscarriage.
A procedure in which a small sample of cells is taken from the placenta and tested.
Each cell has twenty-three pairs of chromosomes. They carry the genes, which carry all the inherited characteristics.
This is when the pregnancy has been lost, the uterus is now empty and the cervix is closed.
Area in the ovary where the egg is released at ovulation.
Measurement from the top of the baby's head (crown) to the buttocks of the baby (rump).
A type of miscarriage where tissue has yet been passed. No fetal heart activity is seen, the gestational sac is intact and the cervix is closed.
A genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome (number 21) and characterized by mental retardation, abnormal features of the face, and medical problems such as heart defects.
A pregnancy in which the fertilized egg begins to grow in a place other than inside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes.
May be calculated from the last menstrual period or by ultrasound.
Refers to the unborn baby up until the eighth week after conception.
This is a type of miscarriage, where the pregnancy failed to develop from an early stage. No embryo is seen within the gestaional sac.
A condition in which tissue similar to that normally lining the uterus is found outside the uterus, usually on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic structures.
The lining of the uterus.
A surgical procedure to remove any productions of conception (pregnancy tissue) from the uterus.
Tube that leads from the cavity of the uterus to the area of the ovary.
Joining of the sperm and egg.
Fetal malformation or abnormal development
Refers to the unborn baby after eight weeks of gestation until birth.
Fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries that contain the eggs.
Period of intrauterine development from conception through birth; pregnancy.
Number of pregnancies a woman has had.
Hormone produced in early pregnancy. Measured in a pregnancy test.
This is a complication of pregnancy that occurs when there is a problem with fertilization. In a complete mole the nucleus of the mother’s egg becomes lost or inactivated during fertilization. As a result the fertilized egg has none of the mother’s chromosomes. To compensate the father’s chromosomes are doubled and this prevents an embryo from forming. Abnormal placental tissue then forms and fills the uterus. In a partial mole, two sperm fertilize one egg. This causes an abnormal embryo to form with 69 chromosomes, instead of 46. As well as abnormal placental tissue, there may be some normal placental tissue and membranes with the uterus.
Excessive accumulation of fluid around the brain of the baby. Sometimes called "water on the brain."
Severe nausea, dehydration, and vomiting during pregnancy. Occurs most frequently during the first trimester.
This is when a miscarriage has started but there is some tissue still left in the uterus.
This describes bleeding in early pregnancy where the cervix is found to be open, suggesting the pregnancy will be lost.
Procedure where multiple eggs are produced with the use of fertility drugs and retrieved from the ovaries. These eggs are fertilized by sperm in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are placed into the uterus.
Date of the first day of the last period.
A drug that is used to treat some cases of ectopic pregnancy and is sometimes required to treat a molar pregnancy.
The spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks gestation.
A drug used for the medical management of a miscarriage. It is also sometimes used to open the cervix prior to performing an ERPC.
See delayed miscarriage.
See hydatidiform mole.
Abnormalities in the development of the spinal cord and brain in the fetus. See Anencephaly; Hydrocephalus; Spina bifida.
A female hormone produced in the ovaries that stimulates the growth of the lining of the uterus.
Cyclic production of an egg from the ovary.
The number of deliveries (live or still born) after 24 weeks gestation a woman has had.
The urge to eat non-food items during pregnancy.
A term used to classify a pregnancy, when a transvaginal scan has been performed and no pregnancy has been visualised either in the uterus or outside of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy).
A steroid hormone secreted by the ovary and produced by the placenta in large quantities during pregnancy.
A water-soluble protein hormone secreted by the corpus luteum that causes relaxation of the pelvic bones and cervical dilatation.
Antigens present on the surface of blood cells that make the blood cell incompatible with blood cells that do not have the antigen.
A neural tube defect that results from improper closure of the fetal spine.
Agents that can cause birth defects when a woman is exposed to them during pregnancy.
This refers to any vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy, where the cervix is found to be closed.
An ultrasound examination performed with the transducer on the abdomen.
An ultrasound examination in which a probe is inserted into the vagina. Commonly used in early pregnancy.
Any of the three 3-month periods into which pregnancy is divided.
The organ in which the embryo/fetus grows. Also called a womb.
Cell that results from the union of a sperm and egg at fertilization.
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