Medical dictionary

What are recurrent miscarriages?   Recurrent or repeated miscarriages are when a woman has miscarried on three or more consecutive pregnancies. Miscarriage (also referred to as pregnancy loss) can be devastating if it happens once; sadly some individuals miscarry on multiple occasions, and if three or more consecutive pregnancies are lost a diagnosis of recurrent miscarriage can

What is robotic-assisted surgery?Robotic-assisted surgery, or robotic surgery, using the da Vinci System, the Mako system by Stryker, among other systems, allows surgeons to perform surgical procedures in a very accurate way. Operations are performed with more precision, flexibility and control, compared to using conventional techniques. Robotic-assisted surgery is commonly associated wi

What is sarcoma? Sarcoma is a unique form of cancer that originates in the body's connective tissues, encompassing a wide array of crucial components such as fat, blood vessels, nerves, bones, muscles, deep skin tissues, and even cartilage. While it predominantly affects the limbs, including both the upper and lower extremities, it's important to recognise that sarcoma's reach exten

How does scarring after childbirth occur? Scarring of the perineum after childbirth can occur in a variety of ways. The main, most common causes are: If a deep wound in the perineum has been left unstitched If the wound is deep and the wound is allowed to heal on its own, it will do so by forming significant scar tissue If the wound has not been approximated correctly or if there is a

What is sex therapy? Sex therapy is a form of counselling that focusses on any problems you are having with your sex life. Sex therapy can be individual or couple-based, and a typical session lasts around an hour. Who is sex therapy suitable for? Sex therapists see adults of all ages with a range of issues, such as: pain during sex loss of libido (interest in sex) probl

What is it?   A sexual dysfunction or disorder is a difficulty in normal sexual activity.   This can be: A decrease or loss of libido or sex drive Difficulty in performing sexual intercourse, due to vaginismus, dyspareunia or erectile dysfunction  Orgasm disorders, such as premature ejaculation, persistent delays or absence of orgasm   Se

What is sexual health?   Sexual health is too often seen in negative terms, and usually focuses on unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and abusive or violent relationships. Sexual health is about enjoying safe, happy sex and feeling good about the experiences without regretting anything. This includes being sensible in using contraception to prevent unwanted pr

What are sexually transmitted infections (STIs)? Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a set of infectious diseases that are transmitted from one person to another through sexual contact (vaginally, anally or orally). There are numerous types of STIs, including: Chlamydia Gonorrhoea Genital herpes HIV Genital warts HPV (human papillomavirus) Syphilis Trichomoniasis Pu

What is shockwave therapy? Shockwaves are high-powered sound waves that can be used to treat injured or painful tissues. Correctly applied, they have a therapeutic effect. Such treatments are primarily used for the treatment of conditions within orthopaedic and rehabilitative medicine.   What does shockwave therapy treat? Although shockwaves have multiple therapeutic benefits,