Glossary of Medical Terms
Sometimes the medical lingo doctors throw around can be confusing. There can be two or three terms for the same thing, and very unintuitive words for simple concepts. Some of the words sound offensive to women with recurrent miscarriage, although the doctors rarely mean any harm. This glossary here covers some common phrases, tests, conditions, and other medical terms related to recurrent miscarriages. If you feel a term should be included here, please send an email. For more information on any of these terms, use the search box on the home page as most are included in the directory.
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Anovulatory bleeding
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A "period" that is lighter than normal after no egg was released during a particular cycle.
more information
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Antiphospholipid antibodies/syndrome
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Antibodies that can cause tiny blood clots deep in the veins. When they get stuck in the small blood vessels to your baby's placenta, they can block nutrients and oxygen from reaching the baby and cause miscarriage. Treatment includes low-dose aspirin and/or heparin.
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Anticardiolipin antibodies
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A type of antiphospholipid antibody.
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Basal Body Temperatures
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The first temperature you get when you wake up in the morning, via a basal thermometer. Charting BBTs can tell you when you have ovulated.
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Bicornuate uterus
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A uterus with two horns and a heart shape. Miscarriage rates can be increased because there are specific spots in the uterus where the blood flow is minimal, and if the baby implants there, it may not get adequate nutrients. Position of implantation can also complicate vaginal births or increase risks of premature birth.
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Cervical cerclage
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A stitch inserted in the cervix to prevent premature birth due to incompetent cervix.
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Clomiphene citrate (Clomid)
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A drug used to stimulate the ovaries to produce an egg. It is used in women who do not ovulate on their own, and some doctors believe it boosts the quality of ovulation in women who miscarry.
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D&C;
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Dilation & curettage; the procedure normally used in cases of a missed miscarriage.
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Factor V Leiden
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A hereditary blood coagulation disorder that can cause blood clots to deprive a developing baby of nutrients in a similar way to antiphospholipid syndrome.
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Fibroids
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Benign tumors in the uterus, usually made up of muscle tissue. They can disrupt the flow of nutrients to a developing baby.
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Habitual abortion
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A horrible, insensitive term used by doctors to refer to recurrent miscarriage. If you're a medical professional who's looking at this site, please do not use this term. It is hurtful and makes your patients feel bad to hear it.
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Heparin
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A injection-administered blood thinner frequently used to treat antiphospholipid syndrome and types of thrombophilia.
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Hysterosalpinogram (HSG)
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A testing procedure where dye is injected into the uterus and then X-rayed; this test demonstrates whether uterine abnormalities exist.
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Incompetent cervix
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An anatomical condition where the cervix does not stay closed under the weight of the baby and causes the baby to be born before it is ready to live outside its mom's body. Treatment is usually a cervical cerclage.
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Lupus anticoagulant (LA)
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A type of antiphospholipid antibody. Contrary to what the name sounds like, LA antibodies are only loosely associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosis, the disease. Having LA antibodies does not mean that you have lupus, although it can explain your miscarriages.
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Luteinizing Hormone
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The hormone that stimulates the ovaries to produce an egg each month.
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Septated uterus
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A uterus with a small section stretching down the middle, which can cause miscarriage if the baby implants on the septum.
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Spontaneous Abortion
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A very insensitive and often misleading term for a miscarriage. It means any baby that was expelled from the body spontaneously...although not all miscarriages are "spontaneously" aborted.
aka. recurrent SAB
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Threatened Miscarriage
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Bleeding in pregnancy that may or may not result in miscarriage.
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Venipuncture
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The act of drawing blood from a vein.
