Adhesion: Scar tissue present in the abdominal cavity, fallopian tubes or uterus that maycause fertility complications.
Amenorrhea: The complete absence of a menstrual cycle.
Cervix: The opening between the uterus and vagina that opens during labor to allowbirth.
Cilia: Tiny hairlike projections lining the fallopian tubes that direct the egg towardthe uterus.
Clitoris: The female sex organ that contains a large number of sensory nerves.
Dilation andCurettage: A surgical procedure where the cervix isintentionally dilated and the interior of the uterine cavity is scraped with acurettage (a surgical instrument) to remove growths or collect tissue samples.
Dysmenorrhea: Abnormally painful menstruation.
Embryo: An early stage of a developing fetus, before the parts are able to bedifferentiated.
Endometrium: The soft tissues lining the uterus, designed to nourish an embryo. When groupsof cells resembling the endometrium appear outside the uterus, it is acondition known as endometriosis.
Fallopian Tube: A duct through which the egg travels from the follicle to the uterus. This is acommon site of conception.
Fetus: An unborn baby after the embryo stage, when discernable parts develop.
Follicle: A fluid-filled sac where eggs are stored and then released when ready forfertilization.
Gamete: A reproductive cell (sperm in men, eggs in women).
Gestation: Pregnancy.
Gynecologist: A medical specialist dealing with women’s issues, particularly reproductive andurological disorders.
Hysterectomy: A surgical procedure involving removing the uterus, as well as other possiblereproductive organs, such as the fallopian tubes or ovaries.
Incontinence: The loss of ability to voluntarily control an organ.
Infertility: The inability to conceive, or the inability to bring a pregnancy to term.
Laparascopy: The examination of the abdominal cavity by use of a laparoscope, a thin, metal,telescope-like device.
Menorrhagia: An abnormally heavy or prolonged menstrual cycle.
Menstruation: The periodic expulsion of uterine lining through the vagina.
Myomectomy: A surgical procedure to remove cystic fibroids.
Obstetrician: A medical specialist whose focus is the care of pregnant women and deliveringbabies.
Oligomenorrhea: The condition of having infrequent menstrual cycles.
Ovaries: The two organs on both sides of the pelvis where eggs are produced.
Pap Smear: A routine gynecological screening that tests for potentially cancerousindications in the cervix.
Penis: The male sex organ.
Placenta: The tissue that provides nourishment and oxygen to the developing fetus.
Puberty: The point at which the body begins producing adult levels of hormones, causingmany bodily changes associated with sexual maturity.
Ultrasound: A process that uses sound waves to produce an image of organs inside a body, orto produce an image of a fetus.
Urethra: The tube connecting the bladder to outside the body that allows urine to beexpelled.
Uterus: The abdominal cavity that houses a fetus during pregnancy.
Vagina: The canal connecting the cervix to outside the body.
Vaginitis: A condition indicating yeast or bacterial infection of the vagina.
Zygote: A fertilized egg which has not yet divided - the stage of fetal development before the embryo.