Contractions, uterine Health Dictionary

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Contractions, Uterine: From 1 Different Sources

Spasms of rhythmic, squeezing muscular activity affecting the walls of the uterus during childbirth. Regular contractions indicate the start of labour and increase in strength and frequency throughout the first stage.

(See also Braxton Hicks’ contractions.)

Health Source: BMA Medical Dictionary
Author: The British Medical Association

Uterine

adj. of or relating to the uterus.... uterine

Uterine Sedative

An agent that relaxes the muscles of the uterus... uterine sedative

Braxton Hicks’ Contractions

Short relatively painless contractions of the uterus during pregnancy.

They may be felt in late pregnancy and are sometimes mistaken for labour pains.... braxton hicks’ contractions

Uterine Muscle Relaxants

Drugs that are used to delay the premature delivery of a fetus. Beta2-adrenoceptor stimulants, such as salbutamol, relax the muscle of the uterus and may postpone labour for days or weeks in at-risk pregnancies of 24–33 weeks’ gestation. Delay of premature labour for up to 48 hours allows time for corticosteroid drugs to be given to the mother to help the fetal lungs to mature.... uterine muscle relaxants

Braxton Hicks Contractions

irregular painless contractions of the uterus that occur during pregnancy and may become stronger towards term. [J. Braxton Hicks (1825–97), British obstetrician]

BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes associated with susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer. Women with mutations in either of these genes have a 56–85% risk of developing breast cancer, and this form of the cancer tends to develop at a relatively young age. The risk of ovarian cancer is 36–66% in women with BRCA1 mutations and 10–20% with BRCA2. Targeted therapy specific to these mutations using a *PARP inhibitor is undergoing investigation.... braxton hicks contractions

Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

see menorrhagia.... dysfunctional uterine bleeding

Lower Uterine Segment

the lower portion of uterus, lying below the loose fold of peritoneum that lies between the uterus and bladder. This does not form until later in pregnancy and is less contractile than the rest of the uterus. A *Caesarean section is performed through the lower segment.... lower uterine segment

Uterine Artery Embolization

a method of embolizing the uterine artery under radiodiagnostic control (see embolization). It has been successful in controlling postpartum haemorrhage and can also be used in treating fibroids, correcting arterial or venous malformations of the genital tract, and terminating abdominal and cervical pregnancies.... uterine artery embolization

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