Post-partum: From 1 Different Sources
The term applied to anything happening immediately after childbirth: for example, postpartum haemorrhage. (See also PREGNANCY AND LABOUR.)
A pre?x signifying after or behind.... post
See MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS (ME).... post-viral fatigue syndrome
See “transitional care”.... post-acute care
Action taken to prevent CONCEPTION after sexual intercourse. The type of contraception may be hormonal, or it may be an intrauterine device (see below, and under CONTRACEPTION). Pregnancy after intercourse without contraception – or where contraception has failed as a result, for example, of a leaking condom – may be avoided with a course of ‘morning-after’ contraceptive pills. Such preparations usually contain an oestrogen (see OESTROGENS) and a PROGESTOGEN. Two doses should be taken within 72 hours of ‘unprotected’ intercourse. An alternative for the woman is to take a high dose of oestrogen on its own. The aim is to postpone OVULATION and to affect the lining of the UTERUS so that the egg is unable to implant itself.
Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) This, in e?ect, is a form of post-coital contraception. The IUCD is a plastic shape up to 3 cm long around which copper wire is wound, carrying plastic thread from its tail. Colloquially known as a coil, it acts by inhibiting implantation and may also impair migration of sperm. Devices need changing every 3–5 years. Coils have generally replaced the larger, non-copper-bearing ‘inert’ types of IUCD, which caused more complications but did not need changing (so are sometimes still found in situ). They tend to be chosen as a method of contraception (6 per cent) by older, parous women in stable relationships, with a generally low problem rate.
Nevertheless, certain problems do occur with IUCDs, the following being the most common:
They tend to be expelled by the uterus in women who have never conceived, or by a uterus distorted by, say, ?broids.
ECTOPIC PREGNANCY is more likely.
They are associated with pelvic infection and INFERTILITY, following SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STDS) – or possibly introduced during insertion.
They often produce heavy, painful periods (see MENSTRUATION), and women at high risk of these problems (e.g. women who are HIV positive [see AIDS/HIV], or with WILSON’S DISEASE or cardiac lesions) should generally be excluded – unless the IUCD is inserted under antibiotic cover.... post-coital contraception
A test for INFERTILITY. A specimen of cervical mucus, taken up to 24 hours after coitus (during the post-ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle), is examined microscopically to assess the motility of the sperms. If motility is above a certain level, then sperms and mucus are not interacting abnormally – thus eliminating one cause of sterility.... post-coital test
Also called an autopsy (and less commonly, necropsy), this is an examination of a body to discover the causes of death. Such an examination is sometimes required by law. An unnatural death; a death occurring in suspicious circumstances; or a death when a doctor feels unable to complete a certi?cate about the cause – all must be reported to the CORONER (in Scotland, to the procurator ?scal). He or she may order an autopsy to be carried out as part of the inquiry into cause of death. Sometimes doctors may request the permission of relatives to perform a post-mortem so that they may discover something of value for the improvement of medical care. Relatives may refuse consent. (See also DEATH, CAUSES OF.)... post-mortem examination
The period after an operation, the patient’s condition after operation, or any investigations or treatment during this time.... post-operative
A term introduced to PSYCHIATRY in 1980 after the Vietnam War. It is one of several psychiatric disorders that can develop in people exposed to severe trauma, such as a major physical injury, participation in warfare, assault or rape, or any event in which there is major loss of life or a threat of loss of life. Most people exposed to trauma do not develop psychiatric disorder; however, some develop immediate distress and, occasionally, the reaction can be delayed for many months. Someone with PTSD has regular recurrences of memories or images of the stressful event (‘?ashbacks’), especially when reminded of it. Insomnia, feelings of guilt and isolation, an inability to concentrate and irritability may result. DEPRESSION is very common. Support from friends and family is probably the best management, but those who do not recover quickly can be helped by antidepressants and psychological treatments such as COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY. Over the past few years, PTSD has featured increasingly in compensation litigation.... post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd)
Latin: after death. See autopsy.... post mortem
insidious numbness in muscles that develops 15–20 years after an attack of *poliomyelitis; the muscles may or may not have been previously affected. It may be caused by loss of nerve cells that have been under greater strain than normal as a result of the polio; there is no evidence of reactivation of the poliovirus. The syndrome also includes other symptoms, such as fatigue and pain, which may be due to secondary mechanical causes.... post-polio syndrome
n. (in radiology) the electronic manipulation of digitally acquired images (see digitization) following an examination in order to improve diagnostic accuracy or to improve and optimize visualization.... post-processing
a pregnancy that has gone beyond 42 weeks gestation or 294 days from the first date of the last menstrual period.... post-term pregnancy
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