Definitions of Terms in Gynecology

ABNORMAL UTERINE BLEEDING

Any bleeding outside the normal volume, duration, regularity, or frequency.

ABORTION

The extraction or expulsion of the product of conception ≤500 g (WHO definition) OR the expulsion of a fetus before the age of viability with no signs of life after separation from the mother.

The expulsion or extraction of the product of conception from its mother before the age of viability or when the fetus weighs less than 500 g.

ADENOMYOSIS

The presence of endometrial glands and stroma within the myometrium of the uterus.

ASPERMIA

Absence of ejaculate.

ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY (ART)

Any treatment or technique that involves the in-vitro handling of oocytes, spermatozoa, or embryos with the goal of establishing pregnancy.

ASTHENOZOOSPERMIA

A condition where less than 50% of spermatozoa have forward progression or less than 32% have rapid linear progression.

AZOOSPERMIA

The absence of sperm in the ejaculate.

CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN

A constant or intermittent pelvic pain lasting more than six months, not related to pregnancy, menstruation, or intercourse.

CLIMACTERIC

The transitional period in a woman’s life when reproductive capacity ceases.

COITARCHE

The first sexual intercourse.

CONTRACEPTION

The voluntary prevention of pregnancy by interrupting the events leading to conception, despite coitus.

The intentional prevention of pregnancy by artificial or natural means despite coital activity.

CRYPTOMENORRHEA

Menstruation that is not visible due to outflow obstruction.

CRYPTOZOOSPERMIA

A condition where sperm concentration is so low that it cannot be reliably measured.

DYSPAREUNIA

Pain experienced during sexual intercourse.

DYSFUNCTIONAL UTERINE BLEEDING (DUB)

Abnormal bleeding from the endometrium not due to pelvic pathology, medication, systemic disease, or pregnancy complications. A diagnosis of exclusion.

ECTOPIC PREGNANCY

The implantation and development of a fertilized ovum outside the normal endometrial cavity.

ENDOMETRIOSIS

The presence of endometrial-like tissue in sites outside the endometrial cavity.

Chronic pelvic pain with infertility caused by the presence of endometrial stroma and glands in sites other than the endometrium.

FAMILY PLANNING

A service that enables individuals and couples to anticipate and achieve their desired number of children, as well as the spacing and timing of births, through contraceptive use.

A way of thinking and living voluntarily adopted based on knowledge, attitudes, and responsible decisions by individuals and couples to promote family health and welfare, contributing to social development (WHO definition).

FECUNDABILITY

The probability of achieving pregnancy in one menstrual cycle.

FECUNDITY

The probability of having a live birth within a single menstrual cycle.

HEMATOCOLPOS

Accumulation of blood within the vagina.

HEMATOMETRA

Accumulation of blood within the uterus.

HYPOMENORRHEA

Unduly scanty bleeding lasting less than two days within a normal cycle length.

HIRSUTISM

The development of male-pattern body hair in a female, caused by hormonal dysfunction.

INDUCED ABORTION

The artificial termination of pregnancy before the age of viability.

INFECUNDITY

The inability of a couple to achieve a live birth after one year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse.

INFERTILITY

The inability of a couple to achieve spontaneous pregnancy despite regular, unprotected sexual intercourse for at least one year.

INTERSEX

A condition of imperfect sexual differentiation, where an individual does not fit typical male or female biological definitions.

LAPAROTOMY

A surgical procedure involving an incision through the abdominal wall to access the abdominal cavity.

LEUKORRHEA

Excessive normal vaginal discharge.

LONG-ACTING REVERSIBLE CONTRACEPTIVE (LARC)

A contraceptive method that provides contraception for at least 28 days with a single dose.

LONG-TERM CONTRACEPTION

Any contraceptive that prevents conception for at least 28 days following a single use.

MENARCHE

The first occurrence of menstruation.

MENOPAUSE

The permanent cessation of menstruation. A retrospective diagnosis made after one year of complete cessation of menstruation.

• Natural menopause is confirmed after 6 months of amenorrhea in a woman ≥45 years.

MENORRHAGIA

Cyclic bleeding at normal intervals that is excessive in amount (>80ml) or lasts longer than seven days, or both.

MENSTRUATION

The periodic physiological bleeding from the uterus due to the cyclical shedding of the endometrial lining.

METRORRHAGIA

Regular intermenstrual bleeding.

MISSED ABORTION

Failure of the uterus to expel a non-viable fetus.

NECROSPERMIA

The presence of a large number of non-living sperm in the ejaculate.

OLIGOMENORRHEA

Irregular or infrequent menstrual periods with intervals exceeding 35 days.

OLIGOZOOSPERMIA

Sperm concentration of less than 15 million per milliliter (15×10⁶/ml).

PEARL INDEX

The number of contraceptive failures per 100 woman-years of exposure.

PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID)

An ascending infection of the upper genital tract from the lower genital tract, not caused by pregnancy, tumors, or surgery.

PELVIC INFECTION

A genital tract infection occurring during pregnancy or a pregnancy-related event.

POLYMENORRHEA

Menstrual cycles occurring at intervals <21 days.

POSTERIOR ASYNCLITISM

The sagittal suture is closer to the sacrum.

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME (PMS)

A cyclical occurrence of somatic and psychological symptoms that worsen as menses approaches and improve with the onset of menstrual flow.

A psychoneuroendocrine disorder of unknown etiology, often noticed just before menstruation.

PRIMARY AMENORRHEA

The failure of spontaneous menstruation by age 16 in the presence of secondary sexual characteristics or by age 14 in the absence of secondary sexual characteristics.

PUBERTY

The period when a woman becomes functionally able to reproduce, marked by physical and psychological development.

PYOMETRA

Accumulation of pus within the uterus.

RECURRENT ABORTION (HABITUAL ABORTION)

The occurrence of three or more consecutive spontaneous abortions before the age of viability.

SECONDARY AMENORRHEA

• Absence of menstruation for ≥6 months in a woman with a previously normal cycle.
• Absence of menstruation for 1 year in a woman with oligomenorrhea.

SEPTIC ABORTION

Any abortion associated with clinical evidence of infection in the uterus and its contents.

SIGNIFICANT BACTERIURIA

Presence of ≥10⁵ colony-forming units (CFU) per mL of the same microorganism in a urine sample (Kass Criterion).

STRESS INCONTINENCE

The involuntary leakage of urine from the urethra when the intravesical pressure exceeds the maximal urethral closure pressure, in the absence of detrusor activity.

TERATOZOOSPERMIA

Less than 4% of spermatozoa with normal morphology.

TUMOR MARKERS

Proteins selectively produced by tumor cells and released into the circulation, measurable in peripheral blood.

UNSAFE ABORTION

The termination of an unwanted pregnancy by unskilled personnel or in an environment lacking minimal medical facilities, or both.

URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI)

Presence of bacteria in the urine, with or without symptoms.

VAGINISMUS

Spasm of the vaginal muscles.

VAGINITIS

Inflammation of the vagina.

VULVODYNIA

Chronic pain or discomfort in the vulva.