Definitions in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Menorrhagia

uterine bleeding, excessive in amount and/or duration of flow occurring at regular intervals

Dysmenorrhoea

painful periods

Dyspareunia

pain on intercourse

Oligomenorrhoea

infrequent, irregular episodes of bleeding usually occurring at intervals of more than 40 days

Polymenorrhoea

frequent but regular episodes of uterine bleeding, usually occurring at intervals of less than 21 days

Metrorrhagia

uterine bleeding, usually not excessive but occurring at irregular intervals

Menometrorrhagia

uterine bleeding, usually excessive and prolonged occurring at frequent irregular intervals

Hypomenorrhoea

uterine bleeding, regular but decreased in amount

Intermenstrual bleeding

uterine bleeding, usually not excessive occurring between otherwise regular uterine cycles

Lie

relationship of long axis of baby to the mother, e.g. longitudinal, transverse, oblique

Presentation

which part of the baby is in or over the pelvic brim, e.g. cephalic, face, breech

Position

of denominator relative to fixed points of mother pelvis, e.g. occipito-posterior

Attitude

relationship of parts of baby to itself, e.g. flexed, extended

Station

lowest presenting diameter in relation to the ischial spines

Vertex

Engagement

where the widest diameter of the presentation part is over the pelvic brim

Dystocia

abnormal labour

Caput

oedema of foetal scalp

Moulding

bones of foetus slide over one another