Glossary of Health Terms

What is Abortion Pill Reversal? a medical protocol that is offered after taking the first abortion pill, mifepristone, but before taking the second medication, misoprostol. It uses progesterone, a natural pregnancy hormone, in an attempt to support the pregnancy. It...

Basal Body Temperature? The body's lowest temperature at rest, typically measured in the morning after several hours of uninterrupted sleep and before any physical activity. BBT is influenced by hormonal changes, particularly the rise in progesterone after ovulation,...

What is Boutique Points? program-based points earned by participating in classes that can be redeemed for baby items and essential baby supplies.

What is the Cervix? it's the lowest part of the uterus that ends at the top of the vagina. (birth canal)

Chlamydia A sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, characterized by its ability to infect the genital tract, and potentially leading to symptoms such as urethritis in men and cervicitis in women. If untreated, it may result in...

What are Consents? they are written authorization given by a client or patient to receive services and to allow the appropriate use or release of information as required for care, referrals, or program participation. Consents are important because they protect the...

What is a Doula? a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to women before, during, and after childbirth. Types of support include prenatal, labor & delivery, and post-partum. Doulas are not medical providers. They do not...

What is a Earn-As-You-Learn? an educational program that allows clients and patients to earn boutique points by participating in parenting, life-skills, and personal development classes.

What is Ectopic Pregnancy? a non-viable pregnancy that occurs when a fertilized egg implants and grows outside the main cavity of the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tubes

ENDOMETRIOSIS A disorder in which tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus, called endometrium, grows outside the uterus, causing pain, inflammation, and often leading to infertility. This tissue behaves like endometrial tissue, thickening, breaking down, and...

What is Estimated Due Date (EDD)? estimates the date of delivery the baby is expected to be born, calculated based on your last menstrual period (LMP) or ultrasound measurements

What is Fertility Education Medical Management? a natural, scientific approach to managing reproductive health, distinguishing between fertile and infertile days while identifying potential health risks. FEMM combines educational tools to identify ovulation and...

What is Fetal Heart Rate (FHR)? the baby’s heart rate measured while still in mommy’s uterus

What is Fundus? the top of the uterus

What is Gestational Age? the age of an embryo or fetus from the first day of the woman’s last period (LMP) to the current date

Gestational Diabetes A type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy, characterized by high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) that occur when the body is unable to produce enough insulin to meet the increased demands of pregnancy. Gestational diabetes typically...

Herpes A viral infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2), characterized by recurrent episodes of painful sores or blisters on the skin or mucous membranes. HSV-1 commonly results in oral herpes, presenting as cold sores around the...

HPV - Human Papillomavirus A group of more than 200 related DNA viruses that infect epithelial cells, including those of the skin and mucous membranes. HPV infections are typically classified into high-risk and low-risk types based on their oncogenic potential....

What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)? a severe form of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that is much more serious than typical morning sickness. HG is most common in the 1st trimester, but can persist throughout pregnancy in severe cases Key features of HG are:...

What is LMP Last Menstrual Period? the first day of your last period. This information is used to calculate gestational age in pregnancy and helps to estimate the due date

Medical Abortion Also called a chemical abortion. A non-surgical method of terminating pregnancy using pharmaceutical drugs. It involves the sequential administration of medications, typically mifepristone followed by misoprostol, to induce miscarriage and expel the...

Menopause The biological process marking the end of reproductive years and typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 with an average onset around 51. Menopause is characterized by the cessation of menstrual cycles and the decline in ovarian function. Menopause is...

Mifepristone A synthetic steroid compound that acts as a selective progesterone receptor antagonist. Mifepristone blocks the action of progesterone, a hormone necessary for maintaining pregnancy, leading to the detachment of the embryo / fetus from the uterine lining...

What is Miscarriage? the spontaneous loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation. Miscarriages are common and often occur naturally. Most miscarriages happen in the first trimester (before 12 weeks)

Misoprostol A synthetic prostaglandin E1 analog that is used for several medical purposes, including the prevention and treatment of gastric ulcers, induction of labor, and chemical abortion. Misoprostol acts by binding to prostaglandin receptors in the uterus,...

What is Obstetrician (OB)? a medical doctor who specializes in the care of a woman during her pregnancy, childbirth, and for a short amount of time, after childbirth

Ovarian Cancer A type of cancer that originates in the ovaries. The ovaries are the female reproductive organs responsible for producing eggs and female hormones. Ovarian cancer can arise from different cell types within the ovaries, including epithelial cells...

Ovarian Cyst The biological process marking the end of reproductive years and typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 with an average onset around 51. Menopause is characterized by the cessation of menstrual cycles and the decline in ovarian function. Menopause...

Ovulation The process by which a mature egg (ovum) is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube, where it can be fertilized by sperm. Ovulation is a key event in the menstrual cycle and is typically preceded by the maturation of an ovarian follicle containing...

PAP Smear An in office medical screening procedure used to collect cells from the cervix for examination under a microscope. Pap smears are performed to detect abnormal changes in cervical cells that may indicate cervical cancer or precancerous conditions. This...

PID - Pelvic Inflammatory Disease An infection of female reproductive organs, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, typically caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, but can also result from other types of...

PCOS - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome A hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age, defined by a combination of at least two of the following three criteria (Rotterdam criteria): (1) Oligo- or anovulation (irregular or absent menstrual periods), (2)...

Perimenopause The transitional phase preceding menopause, marked by hormonal changes and irregular menstrual cycles as the ovaries gradually decrease their production of estrogen and progesterone. Perimenopause typically begins in a biological woman's 40s, although it...

What is Placenta? during pregnancy, a temporary organ joining the mother and fetus. The placenta transfers oxygen and nutrients from mommy to the fetus and permits the release of carbon dioxide and waste products from the fetus. The placenta is expelled during the...

Plan B A type of emergency contraception that contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic progestin hormone, which works primarily by preventing ovulation and fertilization. Plan B is not intended for routine use as a regular contraceptive method and does not terminate an...

PMS - Premenstrual Syndrome A collection of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms that occur cyclically in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, starting after ovulation and typically resolving with the onset of menstruation. Symptoms of PMS can include mood...

What is Post Abortion Treatment and Healing (PATH)? safe, confidential, non-judgmental healing support for women who have had an abortion, are considering having an abortion, or for anyone who has been impacted by abortion. PATH provides an environment for women and...

Postpartum Depression A mood disorder that occurs in women after childbirth, characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that can interfere with daily functioning and the ability to care for oneself and one's baby. Postpartum depression...

Pregnancy Symptoms Physical and emotional changes in the body because of conception and early pregnancy. These symptoms are primarily caused by hormonal changes, including increased levels of estrogen and progesterone, as well as the physiological changes associated...

What is Prenatal? the time during pregnancy and before birth

What is Prenatal Care? specialized, comprehensive medical care a woman receives from conception until birth. Prenatal care includes regular check-ups, screenings, and education. Prenatal care should begin as early in pregnancy as possible to monitor development,...

Prenatal Vitamins Dietary supplements specifically formulated to provide essential vitamins and minerals needed during pregnancy to support the health and development of the fetus and to meet the increased nutritional needs of the mother. Prenatal vitamins typically...

What is Retroflexed Uterus? (aka Retroverted Uterus) – a common occurrence where the uterus is tilted backward toward the spine, rather than forward over the bladder (when the uterus tilts forward, it called an Anteverted Uterus). A retroflexed uterus affects...

Roe V Wade Roe v. Wade is a landmark legal case in the United States of America that ruled on the constitutionality of laws restricting abortion. The case was filed in 1970 by "Jane Roe," a pseudonym used for Norma McCorvey, who sought to terminate her unwanted...

What is Sagittal View of Uterus? an ultrasound image that shows the uterus from the side, lengthwise, dividing it into left and right halves.

STD - Sexually Transmitted Disease Infections that are primarily transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse. These diseases can be caused by a variety of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. STDs may...

STD Testing The diagnostic process used to detect the presence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in individuals who may be at risk of infection. STD testing involves various methods, including laboratory tests on samples of blood, urine, genital secretions, or...

STI - Sexually Transmitted Infection Infections that are primarily transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse. STIs can be caused by a variety of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. They may present with...

Surgical Abortion A medical procedure used to terminate a pregnancy by surgically removing the fetus and placenta from the uterus. Surgical abortion procedures may involve vacuum aspiration or dilation and evacuation (D&E), depending on the gestational age of the...

What is Transvaginal US (Transvag)? an internal pelvic ultrasound where a small ultrasound probe is inserted into the vagina to obtain clearer, detailed images of pelvic organs such as the uterus, endometrium, ovaries, cervix, the gestational sac, yolk sac, baby’s...

What is Transverse View of Uterus? an ultrasound image that shows the width of the uterus, slicing the uterus horizontally

What is Trimester? the 3-month periods of time in pregnancy 1st trimester: 0-13 weeks 2nd trimester: 14-27 weeks 3rd trimester: 28 weeks – birth

What is Uterus? a woman’s womb, or the hollow, pear-shaped organ located in woman’s lower abdomen between the bladder and the rectum

UTI - Urinary Tract Infection An infection caused by microbial pathogens, primarily bacteria, in any part of the urinary system. The majority of UTIs are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), which typically inhabits the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms can range from...

Yeast Infection A fungal infection caused by overgrowth of Candida species, particularly Candida albicans, in various parts of the body. It occurs when the normal balance of microorganisms is disrupted, allowing Candida to proliferate. Common forms include...

What is Yolk Sac? a small, round, fluid-filled circle inside of the gestational sac that provides nutrients to the developing embryo before the placenta is fully formed (around 10-12 weeks)