Medical dictionary

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

What is it?Any labour and birth that occurs before the 40th week of pregnancy is considered to be premature or preterm. Usually, a pregnancy lasts around 40 weeks. If labour and delivery happen between the 20th and 37th week of gestation, it is considered premature. There are several kinds of premature birth:Moderate to late premature birth: Between the 34th and the 37th week of pregnancyVery

What is premature ejaculation? Premature ejaculation is a common type of sexual dysfunction in which a man experiences an orgasm and ejaculates (ejects semen) sooner than he or his partner desire, often soon after sexual intercourse has begun or with little stimulation.   What counts as premature? What exactly counts as “premature” ejaculation is somewhat hard to d

What is premature menopause? Premature menopause, also known as premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or premature ovarian failure (POF), is a medical condition in which a woman's ovaries cease to function before the typical age of natural menopause, which is typically between 45 and 55 years old. In premature menopause, this process occurs before the age of 40. This condition can have sign

What is premature ovarian insufficiency? Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), premature menopause and premature ovarian failure are all terms to describe the same condition. These all describe the loss of ovarian function before the age of 40. This can occur as a teenager, in the 20s or 30s. Ovaries stop functioning correctly and are unable to produce the hormones oestrogen, progesterone or t

What is PMS?   Premenstrual syndrome, more commonly known as PMS, is the name for the symptoms that women experience before they menstruate, i.e. their period. Many women experience PMS, and symptoms vary from woman to woman, though in some it can be more severe, affecting their daily life to the extent where they must seek medical help.      Who does PM

What is prenatal diagnosis? Prenatal diagnosis is a set of tests that are carried out during pregnancy and allow us to monitor the formation and development of the foetus. There are different techniques, both invasive and non-invasive. Some of the tests are commonly performed on all women, while others are performed depending on the state and development of the mother and foetus. What

What is being analysed? Prenatal screening for Group B strep (GBS) involves testing for the presence of the bacteria strep agalactiae in the genital and rectal areas of pregnant individuals. What does the result mean? A positive result indicates that the individual is colonised with GBS, meaning the bacteria is present in their body. A negative result means that GBS was not detected d