(Note: This information is intended for general education purposes only, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice.)

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• Abortifacient: an agent that induces (causes) abortion.



• Abortion, Elective (induced): termination of a living pregnancy by choice.



• Abortion, Spontaneous: miscarriage, a pregnancy that ends naturally or on its own.

• Caesarean Section (C-section): a surgical delivery of the infant throught the mother's abdominal wall.



• Cervix: the lower segment of the uterus that connects with the vagina and dilates (stretches) during labor or abortion; this is the structure that is sampled during a pap test.



• Conception: the moment when an ovum (egg cell) is fertilized by a sperm; the beginning of human life; full complement of DNA present for human growth.



• Conceptus: smallest form of human life.

• Ectopic (Tubal) Pregancy: a pregnancy that lodges outside the uterus, often in the fallopian tube; can be life-threatening.



• Embryo: medical term for the unborn baby during the early stage of human development, takes place between the 3rd and 8th week post-conception (or the 5th and 10th week post-LMP) during which time all organs are formed.

• Fallopian Tubes: tube-shaped structures attached to the uterus that transport the egg from the ovary; the location where sperm fertilize the egg (conception).



• Fertilization: the fusion (joining) of a sperm with an ovum (egg cell) resulting in the formation of a new human life termed 'conceptus'; conception.



• Fetus: Latin for 'small one', the medical term used to describe the unborn baby during the stage of human development extending from 8 weeks to birth; organs get larger during this time.



• Forceps/Vaccuum Delivery: a delivery performed with the help of instruments.



• Full Term: any baby that is born between 37-41 weeks.

• Gestational Age: the dating of a pregnancy; signifies how far along a woman is in her pregnancy, for example: '10 weeks', or '2 1/2 months'.

• Infertility: the inability to produce offspring.

• Labor: the progressive dilatation (stretching) of the cervix in response to repetitive uterine contractions, leading to delivery of the baby and placenta.



• LMP: Last Menstrual Period; the date when a woman started her last period before pregnancy occurred. This is used to determine gestational age.

• Ovary: female reproductive organ that produces ova (egg cells) and hormones (mainly estrogen and progesterone).



• Ovulation: the release of the ovum from the ovary; typically occurs mid-cycle.



• Ovum (egg): female cell that contains half the DNA (blueprint) for a human being.

• Placenta: Latin for 'circular cake', this pancake-like structure originates from fetal tissues and serves as the source of oxygen and nourishment from mother to baby. Maternal blood flows through the placenta and transfers oxygen and nutrients into the fetal bloodstream through the umbilical cord.



• Premature/Preterm: any baby born between 20-36 weeks.



• Products of Conception: all pregnancy-related tissues including the fetus, membranes and placenta.

• Semen: the thick, milky fluid that is released from the penis during ejaculation; contains sperm from the testes and fluid from the seminal vesicles.



• Seminal Vesicles: male glands that produce the fluid contained in the semen.



• Sperm: male cell that contains half the DNA (blueprint) for a human being.



• Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery: a birth that occurs after natural labor (not induced).

• Testes: the male reproductive organs that produce sperm and the hormone testosterone.



• Trimesters: pregnancy is divided into 3 trimesters, each lasting about 13 weeks.



• Tubal Pregnancy: see Ectopic Pregnancy

• Uterine Lining: inner surface of uterus that is shed with each menstrual cycle; also, the location where the embryo attaches and the placenta grows.



• Uterus (womb): hollow, pear-shaped muscular organ located between the bladder and rectum in the female pelvis; the location where a pregnancy grows.

• Vagina (birth canal): female organ that serves as a passageway during birth; receives the penis during vaginal intercourse.



• VBAC: Vaginal Birth After Caesarean; a vaginal birth that occurs after a prior history of C-section delivery.