Uterine Fibroids Glossary of Terms

1. Take the Endometriosis Quiz
2. Infertility Treatment Slideshow
3. Pelvic Pain Slideshow

Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the...

Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

Abdominal cavity: The cavity within the abdomen, the space between the abdominal wall and...

Abdominal pain: Pain in the belly. Abdominal pain can be acute or chronic. It may reflect ...

Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Acne: Localized skin inflammation as a result of overactivity of the oil glands at the ba...

Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be...

Androgenic: Pertaining to the development of male characteristics, including body hair, th...

Artery: A vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to the far...

Back pain: Pain felt in the low or upper back. Causes of pain in the low and upper back in...

Benign: Not malignant. A benign tumor is one that does not invade surrounding tissue or sp...

Biopsy: The removal of a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope to check for ...

Birth control: Birth control is the use of any practices, methods, or devices to prevent p...

Bladder: A hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. The kidneys filter waste f...

Blood clots: Blood that has been converted from a liquid to a solid state. Also called a t...

Blood count: The calculated number of white or red blood cells (WBCs or RBCs) in a cubic m...

Bone density: Bone density is the amount of bone tissue in a certain volume of bone. It ca...

Bowel: The small and large intestine.

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

Catheter: A thin, flexible tube.

Cervical: Having to do with any kind of neck, including the neck on which the head is perc...

Cervix: The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb). The uterus, a hollow, ...

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

Constipation: Infrequent and frequently incomplete bowel movements. Constipation is the op...

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. 2. A time withou...

Curettage: Removal of tissue with a curette from the wall of a cavity or another surface. ...

Depression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Dilation: The process of enlargement, stretching, or expansion. The word "dilatation" mean...

Dilation and curettage: A minor operation in which the cervix is expanded enough (dilatio...

Dizziness: Painless head discomfort with many possible causes including disturbances of ...

Embolization: A treatment that clogs small blood vessels and blocks the flow of blood, suc...

Emergency contraception: The prevention of pregnancy after unprotected vaginal intercourse...

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

Endometrial biopsy: A common procedure for sampling the inner lining of the uterus (the en...

Enzyme: A protein (or protein-based molecule) that speeds up a chemical reaction in a livi...

Estrogen: A female steroid hormone that is produced by the ovaries and, in lesser amounts,...

Family history: The family structure and relationships within the family, including inform...

FDA: Food and Drug Administration.

Femoral: Having to do with the femur.

Femoral artery: The continuation of the external iliac artery after it passes under the in...

Fertility: The ability to conceive and bear children, the ability to become pregnant throu...

Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

Fibroid: A common benign tumor of the uterus. Fibroids can be present without symptoms. Ho...

Fibroids: Fibroids are common, benign tumors of smooth muscle in the uterus (womb). Uterin...

Fibroma: A benign tumor consisting of a mass of connective tisue cells that have a spindle...

Gland: A group of cells that secrete a substance for use in the body. For example, the thy...

Gonadotropin: Hormones that are secreted by the pituitary gland, and that affect the func...

HDL: High density lipoprotein.

Hemorrhoids: Dilated (enlarged) veins in the walls of the anus and sometimes around the re...

Hirsutism: Having excessive facial and bodily hair. Hirsutism can be a side effect of cert...

Hormone: A chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activit...

Hot flashes: A sudden wave of mild or intense body heat caused by rushes of hormonal chang...

Hysterectomy: An operation to remove the uterus. Hysterectomies are most commonly performe...

Hysteroscopy: A procedure to see inside the uterus (the womb) using a viewing scope that i...

Ibuprofen: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used to treat pa...

Incision: A cut through skin or other tissue performed by a health care professional.

Infertility: Diminished or absent ability to conceive and bear offspring. A couple is cons...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Interventional: Pertaining to the act of intervening, interfering or interceding with the ...

Interventional radiologist: A radiologist who uses image guidance methods to gain access t...

Laparoscopy: A type of surgery in which small incisions are made in the abdominal wall thr...

Laxative: Something that promotes emptying of the bowels. Laxatives are used to combat con...

Leg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an...

Leiomyoma: A benign tumor of smooth muscle, the type of muscle that is found in the heart...

Lightheadedness: A feeling you are "going to faint." Lightheadedness is medically distinc...

Lipoprotein: A molecule that is a combination of lipid and protein. Lipids do not travel i...

Liver: The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on t...

Malignancy: A tumor that is malignant (cancerous), that can invade and destroy nearby tiss...

Menopause: The time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop; it is also...

Menorrhagia: Excessive uterine bleeding occurring at the expected intervals of the menstru...

Menstrual: Pertaining to menstruation (the menses), as in last menstrual period, menstrua...

Menstrual cycle: The monthly cycle of changes in the ovaries and the lining of the uteru...

Menstruation: The periodic blood that flows as a discharge from the uterus. Also called me...

Mifepristone: The French abortion pill, also known as RU-486.

Miscarriage: Inadvertent loss of a pregnancy before the fetus is viable. A considerable pr...

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

Myoma: A tumor of muscle. Myoma can refer specifically to a benign tumor of uterine muscle...

Myomectomy: Surgery to remove a fibroid from the uterus.

Night sweats: Severe hot flashes that occur at night and result in a drenching sweat. Nigh...

Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

Onset: In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness as, for ex...

Oral contraceptive: A birth control pill taken by mouth. Most oral contraceptives include...

Osteoporosis: Thinning of the bones, with reduction in bone mass, due to depletion of calc...

Ovarian: Of or pertaining to the ovary.

Overweight: The term "overweight" is used in two different ways. In one sense it is a way ...

Ovulation: The release of the ripe egg (ovum) from the ovary. The egg is released when the...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Pelvic: Having to do with the pelvis, the lower part of the abdomen, located between the h...

Pelvic exam: An examination of the organs of the female reproductive system.

Pelvic pain: : Pain perceived in the area of the pelvis, the lower part of the abdomen loc...

Pituitary: 1. As an adjective, pertaining to the pituitary gland or its hormonal se...

Pituitary gland: The main endocrine gland. It is a small structure in the head. It is ca...

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Preoperative: Before surgery. As opposed to postoperative, after surgery.

Probe: (1) In surgery, a probe is a slender flexible rod with a blunt end used to e...

Progesterone: A female hormone, the principal hormone that prepares the uterus to receive ...

Radiologist: A physician specialized in radiology, the branch of medicine that uses ionizi...

Receptor: 1. In cell biology, a structure on the surface of a cell (or inside a cel...

Rectum: The last 6 to 8 inches of the large intestine. The rectum stores solid waste until...

RU-486: The French abortion pill, also known as mifepristone.

Salpingo-oophorectomy: Removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Shortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnea. Shortness ...

Smooth muscle: Along with skeletal and cardiac muscle, one of the types of muscle tissue i...

Surgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Tobacco: A South American herb (Nicotiana tabacum) whose leaves contain 2 to 8 percent nic...

Transvaginal ultrasound: The creation of a picture called a sonogram by sending sound wave...

Tubes: The "tubes" are medically known as the Fallopian tubes. There are two Fallopian tub...

Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue. Tumors are a classic sign of inflammation, and can be ...

Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves. Ultra-sound waves can be bounced off tissues by us...

Ureter: One of the two tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Each ureter...

Uterine fibroids: Uterine fibroids are benign tumors of the uterus (the womb). They are th...

Uterus: A hollow, pear-shaped organ that is located in a woman's lower abdomen, between th...

Vagina: The muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. It is ...

Womb: The womb (uterus) is a hollow, pear-shaped organ located in a woman's lower abdomen ...

X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used...