Glossary

Abnormal uterine bleeding
Irregular or heavy uterine bleeding.

Adhesion
A band of scar tissue.

Anemia
A blood condition in which red blood cells, hemoglobin, or total volume is low.

Angina
Spasms of intense suffocative pain.

Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (ASC-US)
Term for a Pap test with inconclusive results. The squamous cells do not look entirely normal, but neither do they look entirely abnormal.

Azoospermia
Cause of infertility in men in which no sperm are produced.

Balloon Endometrial Ablation
The insertion of a small triangular balloon which is inserted into the uterus and filled with fluid and heated, causing the destruction of the uterus lining.

Benign
Not recurrent or progressive.

Biopsy
Removal of a sample of tissue that is then examined under a microscope to confirm the presence of abnormal or cancerous cells exist.

Cervical Intrapithelial Neoplasia (CIN)
Term used to describe the growth of abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix.

Cervicitis
Inflammation of the cervix due to bacterial infection.

Cervix
The lower end of the uterus that forms a narrow canal connecting the uterus to the vagina.

Colposcopy
A procedure in which the vagina and surface of the cervix are examined through a lighted microscope to look for signs of precancerous cells or cancer.

Cystoscopy
Examination of the bladder with a cystoscope.

Dysmenorrhoea
Painful menstrual cycles.

Dysplasia
Abnormal, or pre-cancerous cells in the cervix which may progress into cancer if not treated in time.

Ectopic Pregnancy
An abnormally located or positioned pregnancy.

Electrucautery
A procedure in which tissue is cauterized using an electric current to generate heat.

Embryo
A fertilized egg that has divided.

Endoimetrial hyperplasia
Excessive growth of the tissue lining the uterus.

Endometrosis
Tissue and/or glands and the foundation-supporting tissues of the uterus existing outside the uterus.

Estradiol
The most powerful and fertility-impacting of two types of estrogen.

Estrone
The weakest of two types of estrogen.

Fibroid
Areas of overgrown muscle in the womb.

Fibromyoma
A tumor containing muscle and muscle.

Gynecology
The field of medicine that focuses on the care of the female reproductive system.

Hemorrhage
Excessive bleeding.

High-Grand Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (HSIL)
Moderate to severe Dysplasia, most always requiring treatment.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)
One of the most commonly sexually transmitted infections, affecting about eighty percent of all adults at one time or another by the age of fifty. HPV includes more then 100 types, about thirty percent of which are transmitted through sexual intercourse or intimate skin-to-skin contact.

Hysterectomy
A surgical procedure in which the uterus is removed, often including the cervix.

Hysteroscope
An instrument used to magnify and directly examine the uterine cavity.

Hysteroscpoy
Minor surgery that uses a hysteroscope to inspect the cavity of the uterus which evaluates and/ or determines the cause of infertility, repeated miscarriages, or to locate polyps and fibroids.

Immune System
The body’s defense against disease, infection, etc. consisting of antibodies and other “soldier” cells.

Laparascope
A thin tube attached to a light source, allowing a minimally invasive view of the pelvic and abdominal organs.

Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
A type of hysterectomy in which a scope is inserted through the abdominal area to assist in the removal of the uterus. It is the least invasive type of hysterectomy.

Libido
Sexual desire or drive.

Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LISL)
Mildly abnormal cells.

Malignant
Growing worse, resisting treatment; threatening death, usually in reference to cancer.

Menorrhagia
Heavy menstrual cycles.

Myoma
A benign fibroid tumor in the uterus.

Ologospermia
Cause of infertility in men in which few sperm are produced.

Pap smear
A test during which a sample of cervical cells are removed and viewed under a microscope to check for abnormalities.

Pelvic relaxation
Muscles and ligaments surrounding the uterus weaken, causing a prolapse of the uterus.

Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
A systematic approach to improving the strength and function to the muscles which support the bladder, urethra, and other organs within the bones of the pelvis.

Pre-cancerous
Not yet cancerous cells, but over time may become cancerous without treatment.

Salpingitis
Untreated cervicitis that spreads to the fallopian tubes

Speculum
An instrument of various sizes that is inserted into the vagina to facilitate exams.

Supracervical Hysterectomy
A type of hysterectomy which preserves the cervix.

Testosterone
The primary, stronger male hormone.

Thyroid
A gland located in the base of the neck which regulates the body’s metabolism.

Toxic Shock Syndrome
An infection that can occur when a tampon is worn for more than eight hours.

Urinary retention
The inability to pass urine.