Medical dictionary

What is pre-eclampsia? Pre-eclampsia is a condition that causes high blood pressure (hypertension) and high levels of protein in the urine (proteinuria) in some pregnant women, usually from the 20th week of their pregnancy or after the baby has been born, a condition known as postpartum pre-eclampsia.     What are the symptoms of pre-eclampsia? Normally, a pr

What is Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)? Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a medication taken by individuals who are at significant risk of HIV infection. It works by inhibiting the replication of the virus in the body if it is encountered. PrEP is a vital component of modern HIV prevention. How is PrEP administered? PrEP is typically administered in the form of a once-daily oral

What is pregnancy?   Pregnancy is the physiological condition of a woman, starting from the moment of conception of the foetus, including the baby’s growth, until birth. Pregnancy is usually categorised by weeks (for a total of 40) and lasts around 280 days. Under particular circumstances, the baby can be born before (premature birth) or after the estimated due date.  

How does pregnancy affect heart health? Pregnancy requires the heart to work harder, in order to provide the mother and the unborn baby with the necessary oxygen and nutrients. During pregnancy: blood volume increases by 30% to 50% blood flow increases heart rate increases by 20 beats per minute plasma volume in the blood increases blood pressure decreases, during the firs

How does kidney disease affect someone who is pregnant?The effect on your pregnancy depends on the severity of the kidney disease you have. Generally, having kidney disease can increase your risk of:having a miscarriagedelivering a baby with low birth weightpre-eclampsiapremature birthstillborn childIf you have mild kidney disease, you only have a 20 per cent chance of pre-eclampsia, but if y

What is pilates?Pilates is a form of exercise that aims to strengthen the body, particularly the core muscles. It can be done by beginners as well as experts, and is suitable for all ages. In a similar way to yoga, pilates involves a series of movements and positions, but the focus is on the core, including the abdominal, back, and pelvic floor muscles.  How can pilates he

What is being analysed? The Pregnancy Test, specifically focusing on the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone, is a diagnostic tool used to determine pregnancy. This hormone is produced by the placenta after a fertilised egg attaches to the uterine lining.  How is it used? The test is commonly performed using urine or blood samples. It detects the presence and quantit

What is preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)? Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a technique used to detect genetic diseases or defects in embryos being used for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) before they are implanted in the uterus. Following advice from a fertility specialist, PGD might be offered to a couple that may know of genetic disorders running in their families, or to test th

What is a premature baby?Premature or preterm babies are babies who are born before week 37 of pregnancy (the normal duration of gestation is around 40 weeks). Premature babies are generally weaker and statistically suffer from more complications during their first weeks of life.  What are the symptoms experienced by a premature baby?The main sign of a baby being premature is their weigh