Gynaecology definitions

Question 1

ingrowth of endometrium into the myometrium, and glandular and stromal tissue are to be found amongst uterine muscle fibres. The lesion is surrounded by muscle but, as it is thought to arise by direct growth of the endometrium, it is likely that a connection exists to the endometrium.

Answer 1

adenomyosis

Question 2

derived from the Greek klimakter ( the rung of the ladder) and is applied to the 5-15 years before the menopause, when the endocrine and other changes begin, and to the 5-15 years after the menopause

Answer 2

climacteric

Question 3

defined as the presence of spontaneous or provoked detrusor contractions during the filling phase when the patient is attempting to inhibit micturition

Answer 3

detrusor instability

Question 4

Abnormal bleeding from the uterus in the absence of organic disease of the genital tract.

Answer 4

dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB)

Question 5

It is a condition in which tissue similar to normal endometrium in structure and function is found in sites outside the uterine cavity. It is most commonly found in the pelvis, on the ovary, the peritoneum, the fallopian tubes and broad ligaments, or it may be seen in other remote sites.

Answer 5

endometriosis

Question 6

Collection of menstrual blood due to an imperforate membrane that may exist at the lower end of the vagina, which is loosely referred to as the imperforate hymen, although the hymen can usually be distinguished separately.

Answer 6

haematocolpos

Question 7

Excessive menstrual blood loss which interferes with the woman’s physical, emotional, social and material quality of life. This can occur alone or with other symptoms.

Answer 7

heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB)

Question 8

This is often used two describe excessive regular menstrual bleeding

Answer 8

Menorrhagia

Question 9

excessive growth of hair in an abnormal position of the body or a degree of hair growth that worries the patient.

Answer 9

hirsutism

Question 10

failure to conceive over 12 months of exposure. This affects approximately 1 in 7 couples. A woman of reproductive age who has not conceived after 1 year of unprotected vaginal sexual intercourse, in the absence of any known cause of infertility, should be offered further clinical assessment and investigation along with her partner.

Answer 10

infertility

Question 11

the permanent cessation of menstruation due to loss of ovarian activity.

Answer 11

menopause

Question 12

term used to described a woman who had cessation of menstruatuion for at least 12 months.

Answer 12

post-menopause

Question 13

a reduction in bone mass per unit volume such that the fractures may occur on minimal of trivial trauma’. It implies an abnormal state with an increased risk of fractures

Answer 13

osteoporosis

Question 14

A condition which manifests with distressing physical, behavioural and psychological symptoms, in the absence of organic or underlying psychiatric disease, which regularly recurs during the luteal phase of each menstrual (ovarian) cycle and which disappears or significantly regresses by the end of menstruation’.

Answer 14

premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Question 15

a patient of any age who has never menstruated.

Answer 15

primary amenorrhoea

Question 16

, derived from the Latin procidere which means to fall. Prolapse is the bulging or herniation of one or more pelvic organs into or out of the vagina. POP is classified according to which organ has heniated into the vagina.

Answer 16

pelvic organ prolapse

Question 17

refers to herniation of the bladder in to anterior vagina wall.

Answer 17

cystocoele

Question 18

refers to herniation of the bladder and urethra into the vagina.

Answer 18

cysto- urethrocoele

Question 19

refers to herniation of the small intestine into the posterior vaginal wall

Answer 19

enterocoele (posterior prolapse)

Question 20

refers to herniation of the rectum into the posterior vaginal wall.

Answer 20

rectocoele (posterior prolapse)

Question 21

occurs when the uterus herniates into the vagina. This is the second most common form of POP.

Answer 21

uterine prolapse (apical prolapse)

Question 22

complete utrovaginal prolapse.

Answer 22

procidentia

Question 23

Congenital absence of the uterus and vagina.

Answer 23

rokitansky syndrome

Question 24

cessation of the periods after menstruation has been established.

Answer 24

secondary amenorrhoea

Question 25

‘the complaint of any involuntary leakage of urine’.
may occur as a result of a number of abnormalities of function of the lower urinary tract or as a result of other illnesses, which tend to cause leakage in different situations. Conversely continence is the ability to hold urine within the bladder at all times except during micturition.

Answer 25

urinary incontinence (UI)

Question 26

involuntary urine leakage on effort or exertion or on sneezing or coughing

Answer 26

stress UI

Question 27

involuntary urine leakage accompanied or immediately preceded by urgency (a sudden compelling desire to urinate that is difficult to delay).

Answer 27

urgency UI

Question 28

involuntary urine leakage associated with both urgency and exertion, effort, sneezing or coughing.

Answer 28

mixed UI

Question 29

urgency that occurs with or without urgency UI and usually with frequency and nocturia

Answer 29

overactive bladder (OAB)
occurs with incontinence is known as 'OAB wet'. OAB that occurs without incontinence is known as 'OAB dry'. These combinations of symptoms are suggestive of the urodynamic finding of detrusor overactivity, but can be the result of other forms of urethrovesical dysfunction.

Question 30

describes several investigations which are employed to determine bladder function.

Answer 30

urodynamics