Word parts
What it means
The medical specialty that diagnoses and treats conditions of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, vagina, vulva and breasts. A gynecologist does routine screening such as Pap tests, and treats problems like heavy periods, infections, polycystic ovary syndromepol-ee-SIS-tik OH-vuh-ree SIN-drohmA hormone disorder in women in which the ovaries make more male hormones than usual and often do not release an egg each month.poly- manycyst/o sac-ic relating toFull entry and menopauseMEN-uh-pawzThe time in a woman's life when menstrual periods stop for good, counted once there has been no period for 12 months in a row.men/o month, menstruation-pause stopFull entry symptoms. It is often paired with obstetrics (care in pregnancy and birth) as OB-GYN.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | GYN; OB-GYN (obstetrics and gynecology) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | ginecología |
| Also written | GYN, gynaecology, gynecologic, gynecological |
Related terms
-logy
A word ending that means the study of something.
cervical cancer
Cancer that starts in the cells of the cervix, the lower, narrow end of the uterus that opens into the vagina.
menstrual cycle
The monthly series of hormone-driven changes in the ovaries and uterus that prepare the body for possible pregnancy.