Woman's Health Terms Glossary

In discussing women's health issues, you may come across the following terms. You can also find more terms in the breast cancer glossary (Read about "Breast Cancer Glossary") and cancer glossary (Read about "Cancer Glossary"), as well as in the links listed below. Follow this link to learn about "Female Genital Health".

Abdominal hysterectomy: Surgical removal of the uterus through an incision in the abdomen. (Read about "Hysterectomy")

Adhesions: Places where tissue grows together in an abnormal way; internal scar tissue.

Benign: Not cancer (noncancerous). (Read about "Cancer: What It Is")

Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: The removal of both fallopian tubes and both ovaries. (Read about "The Ovaries")

Biopsy: A surgical procedure during which a small tissue specimen is removed and examined for the presence of disease. (Read about "Biopsy")

Bladder: A sac-like organ in the pelvic region where urine is stored before it leaves the body. (Read about "The Urinary System")

Cancer: A general name for more than 100 diseases in which abnormal cells grow out of control. Cancer cells can invade and destroy healthy tissues, and they can spread through the bloodstream and the lymphatic system to other parts of the body. (Read about "Cancer: What It Is")

CAT scan: also called computed tomography (CT) scanning: An imaging technique that uses a computer to organize the information from multiple x-ray views and construct a cross-sectional image of areas inside the body. (Read about "CT Scan - Computerized Tomography")

Cervix: The lower, narrow end (or neck) of the uterus. (Read about "Cervical Cancer")

Cesarean section: Surgical delivery of a baby through an incision (cut) in the abdomen and uterus. (Read about "Childbirth")

Chronic condition: A condition that lasts or keeps coming back over a long period of time.

Cystectomy: Surgical removal of an ovarian cyst, usually done along with laparoscopy (see "Laparoscopy"). (Read about "Endoscopy" "The Ovaries" "Polycystic Ovary Syndrome")

D & C (dilation and curettage): A surgical procedure that involves dilating (opening) the cervix and scraping (curetting) the uterine lining (endometrium). A D&C may be used to diagnose or treat a number of conditions including uterine bleeding, fibroids and other conditions. (Read about "Menstrual Disorders" "Uterine Fibroids")

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding: Abnormal uterine bleeding that is not associated with a tumor, inflammation, or pregnancy. (Read about "Menstrual Disorders")

Dysplasia: The growth of abnormal cells. Dysplasia can be a precancerous condition that may or may not turn into cancer at a later time. (Read about "Cervical Cancer")

Electric cauterization: The destruction of tissue with a special type of electric current.

Endometrial ablation: A surgical procedure in which lasers, heat, cold or electrical currents are used to remove the endometrium. It can be used in treatment of menstrual disorders. (Read about "Menstrual Disorders")

Endometrial biopsy: A sample of endometrial tissue is removed and examined for abnormal cells. (Read about "Biopsy")

Endometriosis: A condition in which the same kind of tissue that lines the walls of the uterus grows outside the uterus in the pelvic cavity or some other area of the body. (Read about "Endometriosis")

Endometrium: The tissue that lines the inside of the uterus.

Estrogen: A hormone produced in the ovaries that affects the growth and health of female reproductive functions and organs.

Fallopian tubes: Tubes located on either side of the uterus that carry eggs from the ovary to the uterus.

Fibroids: Noncancerous growths that occur most often in the walls of the uterus. (Read about "Uterine Fibroids")

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH): A hormone sometimes prescribed to shrink fibroid tumors, treat endometriosis or severe premenstrual syndrome. (Read about "Uterine Fibroids" "Endometriosis" "Premenstrual Syndrome")

Hormone: A chemical produced by the body that regulates certain bodily functions. Synthetic (man-made) hormones are used in medicines to treat certain conditions.

Hyperplasia: An overgrowth or crowding of the uterine lining, probably caused by excess estrogen. This is sometimes considered to be a precancerous condition, particularly in women who are near or through menopause. (Read about "Menopause")

Hysterectomy: Surgical removal of the uterus. (Read about "Hysterectomy") Sometimes, the cervix and/or ovaries and fallopian tubes are also removed. (see "Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy")

Hysteroscope: A thin, lighted tube that is inserted into the vagina to examine the cervix and inside of the uterus. (Read about "Endoscopy")

Kegel exercises: Special exercises to tighten the pelvic muscles. These exercises are one method used to treat uterine prolapse and urinary incontinence. (Read about "Pelvic Floor Disorders" "The Urinary System" "Incontinence")

Laparoscopy: A surgical procedure that allows the doctor to look inside the pelvic cavity by inserting a tube-like instrument through a small cut in the abdomen. (Read about "Endoscopy")

Leiomyoma: The technical term for a fibroid tumor. (Read about "Uterine Fibroids")

Ligaments: A band of tissue that can stretch and that supports other parts of the body. (Read about "Sprains")

Menopause: "The change"; the time when a woman stops having a period (menstruating). (Read about "Menopause")

Menstrual cycle: The 4-week period each month when an egg develops in the ovary, the lining of the uterus thickens, and the egg is released. If the egg is not fertilized, the cycle is completed when the lining of the uterus is shed through menstruation (a woman's "period"). (Read about "Premenstrual Syndrome")

Menstruation: The shedding of the lining of the uterus that occurs each month when a woman does not become pregnant. A woman's "period." (Read about "Menstrual Disorders")

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): An imaging technique that allows the soft tissues of the body to be seen. (Read about "MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging")

Myomectomy: An operation to remove fibroid tumors. (Read about "Uterine Fibroids")

Oophorectomy: Surgical removal of an ovary. (Read about "The Ovaries")

Ovaries: Small organs that produce hormones, such as estrogen, and eggs. One ovary is located on each side of the uterus. (Read about "The Ovaries")

Pap test: A procedure in which cells are removed from the cervix during a vaginal exam, placed on a slide and examined through a microscope to look for cancer or precancerous conditions. (Read about "Cervical Cancer")

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): An infection caused by bacteria (Read about "Microorganisms"), usually from a sexually transmitted disease (see "Sexually transmitted disease," below). PID can affect the uterus, ovaries, and/or fallopian tubes. PID can cause persistent pelvic pain and, if not treated, can lead to infertility (the inability to become pregnant). (Read about "Infertility")Sometimes, the infection that causes PID is spread during childbirth. (Read about "Pelvic Inflammatory Disease")

Progesterone: The hormone that prepares the lining of the uterus (endometrium) to receive a fertilized egg. The man-made form of this hormone may be used to treat very heavy menstrual bleeding. (Read about "Menstrual Disorders")

Prolapse: To fall, as a uterus or bladder might if the ligaments holding it in place become stretched.

Rectum: The bottom portion of the large intestine.

Reproductive system: The organs of the body that allow a woman to become pregnant and carry and give birth to a child. These include the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and vagina.

Sexually transmitted disease (STD): A disease that can be given from one person to another during sexual contact; for example, syphilis, gonorrhea, HPV, herpes or AIDS. (Read about "STD's" "Cervical Cancer" "Herpes" "HIV / AIDS")

Sonogram: An imaging procedure, also known as an ultrasound, in which echoes from sound waves passing through tissues create pictures of structures deep within the body. (Read about "Ultrasound Imaging")

Speculum: A metal or plastic instrument the doctor inserts into the vagina to help examine the vagina and cervix.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE): Also called Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE): Cutting off the blood supply as a way to shrink uterine fibroids. (Read about "Uterine Fibroids")

Uterus: The organ where babies grow; the womb.

Vagina: The tube-like opening leading away from the uterus to the outside of the body. (Read about "Vaginal Cancer" "Genital Health - Female")

Vaginal hysterectomy: Surgical removal of the uterus through the vagina. (Read about "Hysterectomy")

Watchful waiting: The doctor sees the patient regularly to keep track of the condition, talk about any changes in the condition, and make sure symptoms are being relieved.

Womb: Another name for the uterus.

This information is adapted from material developed by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) with collaboration and support from the U.S. Public Health Service's Office on Women's Health.