Menopause Jargon Buster ... what did that mean ... explained ...

Jargon buster

Atrophic vaginitis – inflammation of vagina/ vulva leading to discharge

Cervix – the neck of the uterus, at the top of the vagina

Climacteric – transition from the reproductive to the non-reproductive state

Dysuria – difficulty passing urine

Dyspareunia – painful sex

Frequency – needing to pass urine often

HRT – hormone replacement therapy

Incontinence – involuntary leakage of urine

Local HRT – hormone replacement therapy applied in the vagina

Menopause – the last menstrual period

Nocturia – needing to pass urine at night leading to wakening

Perimenopause – the phase before the menopause takes place and can last from 5 to 15 years

Postmenopause – the time in a woman's life after the menopause

Premature ovarian insufficiency/ premature menopause – is when a woman goes through the menopause before the age of 40. The average age for the menopause is 51

Prolapse – the descent of the uterus into the vagina cavity

STI – sexually transmitted infection

Stress incontinence – leaking of urine when coughing, sneezing or laughing

Systemic – circulating throughout the whole body

Thrush (candida albicans) – a fungal overgrowth especially in the vagina

Urethra – tube from bladder to outside through which urine is passed

Urgency – needing to pass urine urgently!

Urge incontinence – Involuntary leakage accompanied by, or immediately preceded by a strong desire to void

Urodynamics – the study of pressure and flow relationships in the investigation of functional disorders of the lower urinary tract (LUT)

Uterus – womb

UTI – urinary tract infection

Vagina – genital canal leading to the uterus

Vaginal atrophy – drying and thinning of the vaginal and vulval skin

Vaginal flora – the micro-organisms in the vagina

Vulva – the external female genitals (lips)

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