Uterine Health Glossary - Terms to Know

Abdominal hysterectomy: A surgical procedure in which the uterus is removed through an incision in the abdomen. See hysterectomy.

Androgens: Sex hormones found naturally in a woman's body that are produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands (glands on top of the kidneys), and other tissues. Androgens play a key role in regulating certain bodily functions, including the growth spurt at puberty, and are believed to regulate the function of many organs, including the reproductive tract, kidneys, liver, and muscles. During menopause, androgen levels drop by more than 50 percent, which can result in a decreased sex drive, among other things. Androgens also can promote male characteristics, such as hair formation and a deepening voice.

Anemia: A condition in which there is too little iron in the blood, which can lead to excessive fatigue, shortness of breath, and fainting. Women who experience excessively heavy or lengthy menstrual periods can become anemic. See Menorragia.

Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes. When only one ovary is removed, the procedure is called unilateral oophorectomy. It may be done through a full abdominal incision or through smaller incisions with the aid of a laparoscope, a thin fiber optic camera used to visualize the abdominal and pelvic cavities. See laparoscopy.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: The development of precancerous cells (cells that, by their appearance, have the potential to turn into cancer) in the cervix.

Cervix: The lower part of the uterus that connects it with the vagina.

Cryomyolysis: A surgical procedure that involves using a freezing probe to remove uterine fibroids. It can be done laparoscopically, with the assistance of a fiber optic tube inserted through a small incision in the abdomen. See laparascopy.

Dilation and curettage (D & C): A procedure that involves widening the cervical canal with a dilator and scraping the uterine cavity with a curette. It can be used to remove tissue for further examination, or to remove part of the uterine lining to treat excessive bleeding. This procedure usually only offers temporary relief from heavy bleeding.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding: Unusually heavy or long menstrual bleeding severe enough to interfere with normal activities. Also called Menorragia.

Dysmenorrhea: The technical term for menstrual pain that is severe enough to keep a woman from her normal activities. If it has a definite underlying cause, such as uterine fibroids or endometriosis, it is referred to as secondary dysmenorrhea. If not, it is primary dysmenorrhea, which is believed to result from the release of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that trigger uterine muscle contractions.

Endometrial ablation: A procedure that uses a laser, electrocautery instrument, or thermal balloon to destroy nearly all of the lining of the uterus (endometrium). This procedure is used to treat menorrhagia (excessively heavy or lengthy periods). Following treatment, a very light menstrual flow is common. Because not all of the lining is destroyed, getting pregnant is still possible. It is very important for women who have this treatment to use some type of contraception after treatment. However, this procedure is not intended for women who want to have children in the future because pregnancy after endometrial ablation is considered risky for both mother and fetus.

Endometrial biopsy: A procedure that involves taking a sample of endometrial tissue and examining it under the microscope to determine whether cancer or some other condition is present.

Endometrial resection: A procedure that uses an electrosurgical wire loop to destroy the lining of the uterus. This procedure is used to treat excessively heavy or prolonged periods - also known as menorrhagia. It is very important for women who have this treatment to use some type of contraception after treatment. Though most of the uterine lining is destroyed, it is still possible for a pregnancy to occur. However, this procedure is not intended for women who want to have children in the future because pregnancy after endometrial resection is considered risky for both mother and fetus.

Endometriosis: A condition that occurs when the same type of tissue that makes up the uterine lining (endometrium) starts growing outside of the uterus, attaching itself to other organs or structures in the pelvic region. Just as the endometrium builds up with blood and tissue each month during a woman's menstrual cycle, this displaced tissue also thickens and bleeds. Unlike the uterine lining, however, it cannot be released during menstruation. Instead, it continues to grow and causes scar tissue to form. Symptoms of endometriosis can include pelvic and abdominal pain and heavy and/or unusual uterine bleeding.

Endometrium: The inner layer of the uterus that builds up with blood and tissue each month, in preparation for the possible implantation of a fertilized egg. If the egg is not fertilized, this blood and tissue is released during a woman's menstrual period.

Estrogen: A sex hormone found naturally in a woman's body that is produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands above the kidneys, and other tissues. Estrogen plays a key role in maintenance of many tissues throughout the body. It also plays a role in menstruation and fertility.

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT): Therapy that replaces estrogen that is lost during and after natural menopause or surgical menopause (menopause caused by removal of the ovaries). While ERT can relieve symptoms such as hot flashes and prevent bone loss, recent research suggests that these benefits may be outweighed by certain health risks. See hormone replacement therapy.

Fallopian tube: One of two tubes that connects the uterus with the ovaries. In premenopausal women, the egg that is released by one of the ovaries each month travels through this tube into the uterus.

Fibroid: A ball of muscular tissue that can grow inside the uterus, on its surface, or inside the uterine wall. In most cases fibroids are not cancerous and require no treatment, and they do tend to subside as a woman approaches menopause. Fibroids can be treated if they cause symptoms such as pain, heavy or unusual uterine bleeding, infertility, and/or complications during pregnancy. Also known as myomas.

Follicle: A spherical mass of cells within the ovary that contains the ovum, or egg, before it is released into the fallopian tube.

GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) agonists: A class of hormone-based medications that lower a woman's estrogen levels. They can offer temporary relief from uterine conditions that are driven by estrogen, such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids. Typically they are reserved for short-term use because of their side effects, which include the menopausal symptoms triggered by estrogen deprivation: hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and some bone loss.

Homeopathy: Homeopathy is a natural, noninvasive system of medical treatment based on the theory that substances that cause certain symptoms in a healthy person can, in diluted amounts, cure those symptoms in an unhealthy person.

Hormonal contraceptives: A form of birth control that uses small amounts of estrogen and progestin (and sometimes just progestin, a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone) to prevent ovulation in a woman. Most commonly a hormonal contraceptive is taken orally, in pill form, but it also comes in transdermal form (a patch worn on the skin) or can be injected or implanted under the skin. These contraceptives can be used to treat uterine conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, severe menstrual pain, and heavy periods.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): now, more commonly referred to as "menopausal hormone therapy (HT)," this therapy combines estrogen and progestin, a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone, to replace the hormones depleted after natural or surgical menopause Estrogen and progestin therapy is prescribed to women with an intact uterus because estrogen alone is known to increase the risk of uterine cancer. The addition of progestin mitigates estrogen's effects on the uterine lining, thus reducing this risk. HT is also available as "estrogen alone" therapy for women who no longer have a uterus. Menopausal hormone therapy is available in a wide variety of applications - from tablets taken orally, to patches worn on the skin, to lotions and a gel formulation. It is approved to treat hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Current FDA recommendations suggest that any form of HT be used in the smallest effective dose for the shortest amount of time possible because of potential risks associated with the therapy.

Hormones: The body's chemical messengers. Estrogen and progesterone are the primary female reproductive hormones, though women's bodies also produce testosterone, commonly referred to as a "male" hormone.

Hysterectomy: A surgical procedure in which the uterus is removed. After a hysterectomy, a woman will no longer menstruate and will be infertile. The procedure may or may not include removal of the ovaries, called an oopherectomy. If the ovaries are removed as well, a premenopausal woman will experience sudden menopause, since the ovaries are the source of the hormone estrogen. If the ovaries are left intact, they continue to produce eggs and release hormones until menopause occurs naturally. See also radical hysterectomy, total hysterectomy, and partial hysterectomy.

Hysterosalpingography: An imaging test in which dye is injected into the uterus and x-ray images are taken to examine its structures.

Hysteroscope: A small camera on the end of a long tube that is inserted through the vagina and cervix into the uterus. It enables healthcare professionals to look directly into the uterus.

Hysteroscopy: Direct visual inspection of the cervix and uterine cavity with an instrument (hysteroscope) passed directly into the uterus through the vagina and cervix. No incision is necessary for this procedure, which can be used to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of abnormal growths such as fibroids.

Intramural fibroids: These fibroids are confined within the uterine wall and may cause symptoms similar to fibroids in other parts of the uterus. See fibroid.

Intrauterine device (IUD): A small, plastic, T-shaped birth control device inserted into the uterus. In some women it can cause unusual pain or bleeding.

Laparoscope: A long, thin, fiber optic device that can be inserted through a small incision in the abdomen to see inside the abdominal and pelvic cavities. This can be helpful in diagnosing certain conditions that affect the uterus and other pelvic organs, and it also allows doctors to perform minimally invasive surgery (surgery done through small incisions).

Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy: A procedure in which a small fiber optic device (laparoscope) is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen to assist a surgeon in removing the uterus through the vagina. Other instruments may be inserted through abdominal incisions to perform parts of the hysterectomy, but most of the procedure is completed through the vagina.

Laparoscopy: A procedure in which a laparoscope is inserted to get a close look at the inside of the abdomen and pelvis. It is performed under general anesthesia and may be used as part of a diagnostic or surgical procedure. See laparoscope.

Menopause: When a woman's monthly menstrual periods end permanently, signifying the end of her childbearing years. It is one day in a woman's life when, after 12 months of not having a period, she is considered "menopausal." Although the average age for menopause in the United States is 51, some women experience menopause earlier due to natural causes or following surgery, illness, or other treatments that lessen ovarian function.

Menorragia: Unusually heavy or lengthy menstrual periods. Menorragia typically is diagnosed when a woman's periods require her to change her tampon or pad every hour, or the periods last a week or longer. This condition can be caused by an imbalance of the hormones that control menstruation, or it may be a symptom of underlying conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids.

Myolysis: A surgical procedure that involves delivering electric current via small needles to remove uterine fibroids by cutting off the blood supply feeding them. The procedure can be done laparoscopically. See laparoscope.

Myoma: A tumor that originates in the muscle, such as a uterine fibroid.

Myomectomy: A surgical treatment for uterine fibroids that removes just the fibroids and leaves the uterus intact, preserving a woman's ability to have children. A myomectomy can be performed through a long abdominal incision, laparoscopically (through tiny incisions in the abdomen), or hysteroscopically (through the cervix with no incision). The form of surgery depends on the size and location of the fibroids, the patient's medical history, and surgeon's preference.

Ovaries: The pair of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed. The ovaries are located in the lower abdomen, one on each side of the uterus. These 1 ½-inch long, walnut-shaped organs also release hormones that help to control the menstrual cycle.

Pap test: A test that involves collecting a sample of cells from the cervix to detect the presence of cancer, inflammation, or infection

Parasitic myomas: Fibroids which receive their blood supply from structures outside the uterus.

Partial, subtotal, or supracervical hysterectomy: Surgery in which the body of the uterus alone is removed and the cervix is left intact.

Pelvic exam: A manual exam in which a healthcare professional uses two hands, one placed inside the vagina and the other placed outside on the lower abdomen, in an attempt to feel the pelvic organs for any abnormalities.

Pelvic inflammatory disease: A bacterial infection of the pelvic organs that is usually sexually transmitted.

Perimenopause: The time before menopause, usually beginning two to eight (most often between three to five) years before a woman's final menstrual period. Also known as the "menopause transition."

Pituitary: A small gland at the base of the brain that secretes the hormones involved with a number of bodily functions, including growth, sexual maturation, and ovulation.

Polycystic ovary syndrome: A condition characterized by excessive production of androgen hormones in women, resulting in symptoms such as acne, increased facial and body hair growth, irregular menstrual cycles and infertility. The syndrome is often accompanied by enlarged ovaries containing multiple cysts that are the result of incomplete ovulations.

Polyp: A small growth that projects from the mucous membrane that lines many internal organs.

Primary dysmenorrhea: Severe menstrual pain that typically begins at the onset of menstruation and disappears by the end of flow. This form of menstrual pain is believed to result from the release of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances involved in pain and inflammation, which trigger uterine muscle contractions. In some women, the pain is severe enough to interfere with daily life, in which case they should see a health care professional. It is most common in adolescents who have just begun menstruating and women who are approaching menopause.

Progesterone: Produced by the ovaries, rising levels of this hormone signal the body to prepare the uterus with a lining of tissue in preparation for a fertilized egg. If no egg is fertilized, levels of this hormone fall, signaling the body to shed the lining and menstruation to take place.

Radical hysterectomy: Surgery that involves removing the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, supporting ligaments and tissues, the upper portion of the vagina, and the pelvic lymph nodes (oval structures that filter lymph, which plays a role in fighting infection and making blood cells). Generally it is performed for certain cancers of the reproductive organs.

Reproductive endocrinologist: A gynecologist (a physician with focused training in women's health) who specializes in treating problems related to a woman's endocrine, or hormonal, system, which affects health matters relating to the reproductive system.

Retrograde menstruation: A condition that occurs when menstrual blood and endometrial tissue does not flow downward and out of the uterus as it should. Instead, it backs up into the uterus and through the fallopian tubes into the pelvic cavity. It is believed to play an important role in the development of endometriosis.

Secondary dysmenorrhea: Excessively heavy or lengthy menstrual periods that have a definite underlying physical cause, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids.

Seedling myomas: Very small fibroids that have a diameter of less than or equal to four millimeters.

Sonohysterography: An imaging test that that involves injecting saline (salt water) into the uterus and then takes ultrasound pictures to visualize the uterine cavity. See ultrasound.

Submucosal fibroids: Fibroids that grow from the uterine wall into the uterine cavity, sometimes distorting it, which can cause pain, abnormal bleeding, and infertility.

Subserosal fibroids: These fibroids grow from the uterine wall to the outside of the uterus and can push on the bladder, bowel, or intestine causing bloating, abdominal pressure, cramping and pain.

Testosterone: One of four types of androgen hormones, mistakenly thought of as only a male sex hormone. Androgen also is natural to the female body, where it is produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands, and other tissues. See androgen.

Total hysterectomy: Surgery that removes the uterus and cervix and may or may not involve removing the ovaries.

Ultrasound: An imaging test that uses high-pitched sound waves to create pictures of the body's internal structures.

Uterine artery embolization: A non-surgical treatment for uterine fibroids that cuts off the blood supply to the arteries. It involves placing a catheter (a small hollow tube) into an artery in the leg, guiding that catheter via x-ray pictures to the arteries of the uterus, and then blocking off the major blood vessels.

Uterus: The pear-shaped reproductive organ that carries the fetus during pregnancy.

Vagina: The canal that joins the cervix, or lower part of the uterus, to the outside of the body.

Vaginal hysterectomy: A surgical procedure in which the uterus is removed through an incision in the vagina.