MENSTRUAL CYCLE GLOSSARY

Obstetrician / Gynecologist

(OBGyn) A physician (MD) who specializes in the medical care of women with specialized training and skill in pregnancy, childbirth, and other matters related to the female reproductive system. Many women use OB/Gyn's as their primary care physician.

Oligomenorrhea

Menstrual periods with abnormally light flow.

Oligoovulation

Very irregular ovulatory cycles.

Ovarian Cyst

A collection of fluid surrounded by a very thin membrane, occurring within or on the surface of an ovary. Ovarian cysts can be as small as 2 centimeters or as large as an orange.

Virtually every woman will have some occurrence of ovarian cysts, and some women's ovaries are very cystic and produce them often. Most are benign (not malignant) and are often related to the reproductive cycle.

Ovary

Female reproductive organ located in the pelvis. There are two ovaries, one of the right side of the uterus, the other on the left side. Produces eggs (ova) and the female hormones.

Oviduct

Another word for Fallopian tube.

Ovulation

Release of a mature egg from one of the two ovaries. Occurs approximately midway between the menstrual cycle. The egg is released into the Fallopian tube, where it is available for fertilization.

Ovulation is the second phase of the menstrual cycle, with Follicular being phase one, and Luteal being phase three.

Ovum

Female reproductive cell, the ovum (also known as the egg) is produced by the ovaries. Ova is plural for ovum.

Pap Test

Abbreviated reference to the Papanicolaou test (after the physician who created the test), sometimes called a pap smear, commonly performed annually during a regular gynecological examination. The Pap's purpose is to screen for cancerous cells of the cervix.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Refers to infection and inflammation of the pelvic region, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, or the surrounding abdominal region.

Often the result of chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other sexually transmitted diseases, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) can damage internal organs, thereby creating painful conditions, infertility, and higher chances of ectopic pregnancy.

Perimenopause

Transitional period of several years before menopause. Hormone level fluctuations (gradual decrease in estrogen) can result in irregular menstrual cycles, hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms.

Period

An occurrence of menstruation.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Most often called PCOS, less often referred to as PCO, PCOD, functional ovarian hyperandrogenism, and the condition's original name, Stein-Leventhal syndrome.

A common, hormonally-based female condition that can result in infertility, is sometimes inadequately diagnosed, yet often easily treatable. Common names utilizing the term cyst can be misleading because not all women with this condition experience numerous cysts on their ovaries.

The most recent consensus of worldwide endocrinology experts (from 2003) concludes that a diagnosis of the condition depends on two of these three criteria: oligoovulation or anovulation, excess androgen activity, polycystic ovaries (by ultrasound view) where other hormonal disorders are eliminated as a cause.

Polymenorrhea

Menstrual periods that are abnormally frequent.

Premature Ovarian Failure

May also be called premature menopause, 'primary' ovarian failure or POF. Condition in which a woman's ovarian function - notably the presence of follicles containing eggs - slows markedly or ceases at any time prior to age 40. The most common symptom is irregular or absent menstrual periods. Some women also experience the full range of well-known menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, irritability, insomnia, decreased libido, and dry vaginal tissues.

Sometimes hereditary, POF can be the result of a number of conditions, such as Fragile X syndrome or carriers (a genetic condition.) Often, the exact cause is undetermined.

POF symptoms can be treated, but there is no guaranteed way to medically reverse the trend of slowed ovarian function. Some women have conceived with their own eggs when stimulated with fertility medications, while more commonly, women with POF can use a donor's eggs to become pregnant and give birth.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is believed to be a severe, disabling form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), thought to occur in about 5 percent of women in their reproductive years.

When five or more of the following symptoms regularly occur prior to menstruation and recede or cease with or after menstruation, PMDD may be the diagnosis: sadness/despair, tension/anxiety, panic, mood swings, irritability/anger, trouble concentrating, fatigue, insomnia, sensation of loss of control, physical symptoms (breasts swelling, abdominal bloating, headaches).

Current research points to a predisposition, possibly inheritable, that may be altered by a woman's hormonal cycle (although no overall differences in reproductive hormone levels have been found in research comparing women with and without PMDD).

Premenstrual Syndrome

A combination of physical and mood related symptoms that occur after ovulation and usually terminate at the start of the menstrual period or shortly thereafter. Many symptoms have been attributed to Premenstrual Syndrom (PMS), including mood changes, bloating, acne, fatigue, anxiety and irritability, breast swelling and tenderness.

Primary Infertility

A diagnosis referring to a woman who has never conceived a pregnancy, as compared to secondary infertility.

Progesterone

Female hormone produced by the corpus luteum; responsible for preparing and maintaining the uterus for pregnancy.