Reproductive health and pregnancy

Maternity and children (29)

Amniotic Fluid — Líquido amniótico

Amniotic fluid is the protective liquid that surrounds your baby inside the amniotic sac (the "bag of waters") during pregnancy.

Apgar Score — Puntuación de Apgar

The Apgar score is a quick health check given to your newborn at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth.

Breastfeeding — Lactancia materna

Breastfeeding is feeding your baby with milk produced by your own body.

Circumcision — Circuncisión

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin — the skin that covers the tip of the penis — typically performed on newborn boys within the first few days of life.

Colostrum — Calostro

Colostrum is the first milk produced by the breasts, starting in late pregnancy and available for the first several days after birth before mature milk comes in.

Developmental Milestones — Hitos del desarrollo

Developmental milestones are skills and behaviors that most children reach by certain ages, including physical (rolling over, walking), language (babbling, saying words), social (smiling, playing with others), and cognitive (problem-solving) skills.

Due Date — Fecha probable de parto

Your due date is the estimated date when your baby is expected to be born — usually 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period.

Fetal Monitoring — Monitoreo fetal

Fetal monitoring tracks your baby's heart rate during pregnancy or labor to check for signs of distress.

Gestational Age — Edad gestacional

Gestational age is how far along your pregnancy is, measured in weeks starting from the first day of your last menstrual period — not from conception.

Gestational Diabetes — Diabetes gestacional

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy in people who did not have diabetes before.

Labor Induction — Inducción del parto

Labor induction is a medical process to start labor artificially before it begins on its own.

Lactation Consultant — Consultora de lactancia

A lactation consultant is a healthcare professional — often certified as an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) — who specializes in breastfeeding support.

Morning Sickness — Náuseas del embarazo

Morning sickness refers to nausea and vomiting that are common during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester.

Neonatal Jaundice — Ictericia neonatal

Neonatal jaundice is a yellowing of a newborn's skin and eyes caused by a buildup of bilirubin, a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown.

Newborn Screening — Tamizaje neonatal

Newborn screening is a public health program that tests every baby born in the US for a set of serious but treatable health conditions.

Otitis Media (Ear Infection) — Otitis media

Otitis media is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear — the space behind the eardrum.

Pediatric Growth Chart — Gráfica de crecimiento pediátrico

A pediatric growth chart is a standardized graph that tracks your child's height, weight, and head circumference over time compared to other children of the same age and sex in the US.

Pediatric Strep Throat — Faringitis estreptocócica pediátrica

Pediatric strep throat is a bacterial throat infection caused by Group A Streptococcus (GAS).

Pediatrician — Pediatra

A pediatrician is a medical doctor (MD or DO) who specializes in the care of infants, children, and adolescents from birth through age 18.

Placenta Previa — Placenta previa

Placenta previa occurs when the placenta — the organ that feeds your baby — lies low in the uterus and partially or completely covers the cervical opening.

Placental Abruption — Desprendimiento de placenta

Placental abruption happens when the placenta separates from the uterus wall before delivery.

Preeclampsia — Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure (at or above 140/90 mmHg) and signs of organ stress such as protein in the urine, severe headaches, vision changes, or swelling.

Prenatal Care — Atención prenatal

Prenatal care is the medical care you receive from a doctor, midwife, or nurse-midwife during pregnancy.

Preterm Labor — Trabajo de parto prematuro

Preterm labor is regular uterine contractions that begin before 37 weeks of pregnancy, causing the cervix to open.

SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) — SMSL (Síndrome de Muerte Súbita del Lactante)

SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby under one year of age, usually during sleep.

Trimester — Trimestre

A trimester is one of the three roughly equal stages of pregnancy, each lasting about 12 to 14 weeks.

Umbilical Cord — Cordón umbilical

The umbilical cord is the lifeline connecting your baby to the placenta during pregnancy, carrying oxygen and nutrients to the baby and removing waste.

Vaginal Delivery — Parto vaginal

Vaginal delivery is the birth of a baby through the vagina, the most common way babies are born.

Well-Child Visit — Visita de niño sano

A well-child visit is a routine checkup with your child's pediatrician to monitor growth and development, administer vaccines, and screen for problems before symptoms appear.

Conditions (9)

Breast Cancer — Cáncer de mama

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that begins in the breast tissue, most commonly in the milk ducts or lobules.

Cervical Cancer — Cáncer de cuello uterino

Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.

Endometriosis — Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or pelvic lining.

Ovarian Cancer — Cáncer de ovario

Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumor of the ovaries, the organs that produce eggs and hormones in women.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) — Síndrome de ovario poliquístico (SOP)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder common in women of reproductive age, characterized by irregular or infrequent menstrual periods, excess androgen (male hormone) levels, and multiple small cysts on the ovaries.

Prostate Cancer — Cáncer de próstata

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor of the prostate gland, a walnut-sized gland in men that produces seminal fluid.

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) — Infección de transmisión sexual (ITS)

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections spread primarily through sexual contact.

Uterine Cancer — Cáncer de útero

Uterine cancer, most commonly endometrial cancer, is a malignant tumor that begins in the lining of the uterus (the endometrium).

Uterine Fibroids — Fibromas uterinos

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years.

Tests (8)

Amniocentesis — Amniocentesis

Amniocentesis is a prenatal procedure in which a thin needle is inserted through the abdomen into the uterus to withdraw a small sample of amniotic fluid, which contains fetal cells.

Genetic Testing — Prueba Genética

Genetic testing analyzes your DNA to identify changes or mutations in genes, chromosomes, or proteins that may indicate a risk for certain inherited diseases or conditions.

HPV Test (Human Papillomavirus Test) — Prueba de VPH (virus del papiloma humano)

The HPV test detects the presence of human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted virus that can infect the cervix and increase the risk of cervical cancer.

Mammogram — Mamografía

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast used to screen for or diagnose breast cancer and other abnormalities.

Pap Smear (Pap Test) — Prueba de Papanicolaou

A Pap smear (also called a Pap test or cervical cytology) screens for cervical cancer and abnormal cervical cells that could become cancerous if untreated.

Prenatal Ultrasound — Ecografía Prenatal

A prenatal ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your baby and uterus during pregnancy.

PSA Test (Prostate-Specific Antigen) — Prueba de PSA (antígeno prostático específico)

The PSA test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced by the prostate gland, in your blood.

Ultrasound — Ecografía

An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of organs, blood vessels, and tissues inside your body.

Anatomy (8)

Cervix — Cuello uterino

The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus that connects to the vagina.

Diaphragm — Diafragma

The diaphragm is a large dome-shaped muscle that sits just beneath your lungs and separates your chest from your abdomen.

Fallopian Tube — Trompa de Falopio

The fallopian tubes are two narrow tubes, one connected to each side of the uterus, that serve as the pathway for eggs released from the ovaries to reach the uterus.

Ovary — Ovario

The ovaries are two small, almond-sized organs in a woman's pelvis, one on each side of the uterus.

Placenta — Placenta

The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy.

Prostate — Próstata

The prostate is a small walnut-sized gland found only in men, located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum.

Urethra — Uretra

The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.

Uterus — Útero

The uterus, commonly called the womb, is a hollow, pear-shaped organ in a woman's lower abdomen between the bladder and the rectum.

Symptoms (6)

Burning Sensation — Sensación de ardor

A burning sensation is a feeling of heat or fire in a specific area of the body without an external heat source.

Dull Ache — Dolor sordo

A dull ache is a steady, low-grade, persistent pain that is less intense than sharp pain but can be constant and wearing.

Hot Flashes — Bochornos

Hot flashes are sudden feelings of intense warmth, often spreading over the face, neck, and chest, followed by sweating and sometimes chills.

Lump or Mass — Bulto o masa

A lump or mass is an abnormal swelling or growth that can appear anywhere in or on the body.

Pelvic Pain — Dolor pélvico

Pelvic pain is discomfort in the lower abdomen or pelvis, which is the area between the belly button and groin.

Tenderness — Sensibilidad al tacto

Tenderness is pain or discomfort that occurs when pressure is applied to a specific area of the body, even if the area does not hurt without being touched.

Procedures (5)

Cesarean Section — Cesárea

A cesarean section, also called a C-section, is a surgical procedure in which a baby is delivered through incisions made in the mother's abdomen and uterus.

Cryotherapy — Crioterapia

Cryotherapy uses extreme cold — typically liquid nitrogen — to freeze and destroy abnormal or unwanted tissue.

Epidural — Epidural

An epidural is a type of regional anesthesia in which medication is injected into the epidural space of the spine to numb a large area of the body, typically from the waist down.

Hysterectomy — Histerectomía

A hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus.

Mastectomy — Mastectomía

A mastectomy is surgery to remove one or both breasts, partially or completely.

Medications (1)

Hormone Therapy — Terapia Hormonal

Hormone therapy involves medications that add, block, or alter hormone levels in the body.

Guides that use these terms

• Giving Birth in Japan: A Guide for Foreign Residents

Other areas of the glossary

• Heart and circulation — Corazón y circulación
• Lungs and breathing — Pulmones y respiración
• Digestive system — Sistema digestivo
• Brain and nerves — Cerebro y nervios
• Mental health — Salud mental
• Bones, joints and muscles — Huesos, articulaciones y músculos
• Blood and immune system — Sangre y sistema inmunitario
• Hormones, diabetes and metabolism — Hormonas, diabetes y metabolismo
• Skin, hair and nails — Piel, cabello y uñas
• General care: tests, procedures and medicines — Atención general: pruebas, procedimientos y medicamentos