Glossary

Abscess: An infected wound that has pus in it.

Abdomen: The part of the body below the ribs and above the pelvis.

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

Benign: Not cancer (noncancerous).

Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: The removal of both fallopian tubes and both ovaries.

Biopsy: A minor surgical procedure during which a small tissue specimen is removed and examined for the presence of disease, often cancer.

Bladder: A sac-like organ in the pelvic region where urine is stored before it leaves the body.

Cancer: A disease of the body's cells. Cells become abnormal and grow out of control. They can also spread to other parts of the body.

CAT scan: A special kind of body imaging that is processed by a computer and displayed on a screen for viewing. Also called a body section radiograph (x-ray).

Cervix: The lower, narrow end (or neck) of the uterus.

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

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").

D & C (dilation and curettage): A surgical procedure that involves dilating (opening) the cervix and scraping the uterine lining (endometrium).

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding: Abnormal uterine bleeding that is not associated with a tumor, inflammation, or pregnancy.

Dysplasia: The growth of abnormal cells. Dysplasia is a precancerous condition that may or may not turn into cancer at a later time.

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

Endometrial ablation: A surgical procedure in which lasers and electrical currents are used to remove the endometrium.

Endometrial biopsy: A sample of endometrial tissue is removed and examined for abnormal cells. (See "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.

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.

Fertilization: The moment at which sperm penetrates an egg and a baby begins to grow.

Fibroids: Noncancerous growths that occur most often in the walls of the uterus.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH): A hormone sometimes prescribed to shrink fibroid tumors.

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

Hyperplasia: An overgrowth 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.

Hysterectomy: Surgical removal of the uterus. Sometimes, the cervix and/or ovaries and fallopian tubes are also removed.

Hysteroscope: A thin, lighted tube that is inserted into the vagina to examine the cervix and inside of the uterus.

Intrauterine device (IUD): A device inserted by a physician in a woman's uterus to prevent pregnancy. Two types of IUDs are used in the United States. One releases a hormone and must be replaced each year. The other type is not medicated and can be left in place for up to 6 years.

Kegel exercises: Special exercises to tighten the pelvic muscles. These exercises are one method used to treat uterine prolapse and urinary incontinence (losing urine when you don't want to).

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.

Leiomyoma: The technical term for a fibroid tumor.

Ligaments: A band of tissue that can stretch and that supports other parts of the body.

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

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").

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

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): An imaging technique that allows the soft tissues of the body to be seen.

Myomectomy: An operation to remove fibroid tumors.

Oophorectomy: Surgical removal of an ovary.

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

PAP test: A painless 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.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): An infection caused by bacteria, 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). Sometimes, the infection that causes PID is spread through use of an intrauterine device (see IUD, above) or during childbirth or abortion.

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 and other conditions.

Prolapse: To fall or tilt, 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, or AIDS.

Sonogram: An imaging procedure in which echoes from sound waves passing through tissues create pictures of structures deep within the body.

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

Uterus: The organ where babies grow; the womb.

Vagina: The tube-like opening leading away from the uterus to the outside of the body.

von Willebrand Disease: A bleeding disorder that runs in families. Call the National Hemophilia Foundation 1-800-424-2634 for more information.

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.

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