Medical dictionary

Three weeks after the first day of your last period, your fertilised egg (ovum) moves slowly towards the uterus. From that moment on and for the following 35 weeks, the embryo develops and becomes a foetus. The baby will continue to grow inside the uterine cavity up until the delivery date. You’ll probably start to feel your baby moving about from weeks 15 to 22.   Month 1

What is it? A foetal echocardiography/echocardiogram is a scan that allows a specialist or doctor to see how a baby’s heart is functioning during pregnancy. The scan is carried out to discover any possible congenital cardiac anomalies. If the baby is found to have a heart problem, the echocardiography helps monitor the baby’s heart until the mother gives birth. This examinati

What is foetal (fetal) medicine? Foetal/fetal medicine, or maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) focuses on managing health concerns which a mother and foetus may experience before, during, and immediately after pregnancy. Fetal medicine is also referred to as perinatology. Fetal medicine specialists are obstetricians/gynaecologists who later train in how to assess and manage high-risk pregnancies. The

What is a fever? A fever is when your body temperature temporarily rises higher than normal. An adult’s body temperature should be approximately 37°C, but when it reaches 38°C or above, it is classed as a fever. Most of the time, it is caused by an infection, but it can be the result of a non-infectious condition triggering the body’s inflammatory response. In general, a

What is fever of unknown origin (FUO)? A fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a fever of at least 38.3°C, which lasts for more than three weeks or occurs often without explanation.   What are the different types of fever of unknown origin? There are four classifications of fever of unknown origin: 1. Classic FUO – this is an unexplained fever that lasts for three weeks.

What is being analysed here? Fibrinogen is a protein produced by the liver that plays a vital role in blood clot formation. Its primary function is to promote the creation of blood clots to stop bleeding. What does the result mean? The result of the fibrinogen test indicates the amount of this protein present in the blood. Normal values suggest proper clotting function, while abnormal

What are fibroids? Fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) growths found anywhere in and around the uterus, which are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue. They are also known as uterine fibroids or myomas. Although only one uterine fibroid may develop, in most cases there will be several. These can vary in size from one millimetre to big masses that may expand and distort the uterus

What is fibromyalgia?   Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease that causes pain throughout the body and sensitivity in joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. It is more common in women between the ages of 20 and 50.     What are the symptoms?   Fibromyalgia causes: fatigue and muscle pain throughout the body headaches irritable bowe

What is a fibroscopy? A fibroscopy is an endoscopic examination used especially in otorhinolaryngology. A flexible fibre-optic instrument connected to a cold light source, a camera, and a monitor, are all used to directly examine the cavities of the body. What does a fibroscopy involve? A fibroscopy is performed by introducing a camera with a light source into the cavities to be