Medical dictionary

What is gender reassignment surgery? Gender reassignment surgery is any surgical procedure involved in facilitating a male-to-female (MtF) or female-to-male (FtM) transition. Gender reassignment surgery is complex and can involve a number of separate procedures, carried out over several operations.   When is gender reassignment surgery required? Surgery is generally the last s

What is genetic testing? Genetic testing is a tool that is used to find out whether a person is carrying a specific altered (mutated) gene that causes a particular medical condition such as a disease.   What are the different types of genetic testing? The different types of genetic testing and their purpose include: Diagnostic genetic testing – to diagnose a per

What are genital warts?Genital warts (also known as condyloma) are a common type of sexually transmitted infection (STI), manifesting as small growths or lumps, usually pink in colour, around the genitals. They frequently occur in clusters, although sometimes there may be only a single wart. Spread by skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal or (occasionally) oral sex, genital warts are

What is gestational diabetes? Sometimes during pregnancy, women can develop high blood sugar levels, but typically this will disappear after giving birth. Gestational diabetes can occur at any point during pregnancy, however, it most commonly appears in the second half of pregnancy. A specialist consultant endocrinologist or obstetrician will help with the diagnosis and treatm

What is gynaecological cancer? Gynaecological cancer refers to any cancer that occurs in any of the organs of the female reproductive system, which is located in the pelvic region below the stomach and between the hips. There are five types of gynaecological cancer, differentiated by location: Cervical cancer Ovarian cancer Uterine cancer Vaginal cancer Vulvar cancer Symp

What is a gynaecological examination?A gynaecological examination is done to assess the overall health of the female reproductive system. During the exam, the gynaecologist will look at the external and internal reproductive organs, as well as at the breasts, to determine whether there are any problems or conditions present.  What does a gynaecological examination involve?During a gynaec

What are gynaecological infections? Gynaecological infections is a term that encompasses a number of conditions affecting the vagina and genital tract caused by pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi, or microscopic parasites that cause disease). Some common types of gynaecological infection include: Bacterial vaginosis Candida (yeast infection) Chlamydia Gonorrhoea Pelvic inflammato

What are heavy periods? It can sometimes be difficult to know if you have particularly heavy periods because what is normal changes from person to person. However, the following signs would suggest your periods are heavy: You have to get up in the night to change your sanitary products. You need to use more than one sanitary product at once (e.g. both a pad and a tampon). You have to

What is a high blood pressure pregnancy? If your blood pressure has consistently been going up since the end of the second trimester of pregnancy, you may have gestational hypertension. In a high blood pressure, it is essential that your blood pressure and your baby’s wellbeing are monitored, as in some cases, complications can occur in cases of gestational hypertension.