UNIT 20 GYNAECOLOGY

PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH IN USE MEDICINE

UNIT 20

GYNAECOLOGY

A.       The female reproductive system

 

B.        Menstruation

A period is the common name for a menstrual (monthly) period. The onset of menstruation is known as menarche. The last menstrual period is commonly abbreviated in doctors’ notes: LMP 2/52 ago means the last menstrual period was two weeks ago. The menstrual cycle, or length and frequency of periods, is usually written in the form 4/28, which means lasting 4 days and occurring every 28 days. If a period lasts more than four or five days it can be described as prolonged. The term heavy periods means excessive blood loss – menorrhagia, often with the passage of clots – coagulated blood. The term period pains means dysmenorrhoea, or painful menstruation.

The time when a woman stops menstruating, normally at amount the age of 50, is called the menopause or climacteric. In everyday English it is known as the change of life, or simply the change. Symptoms of the menopause include hot flushes – sudden sensation of heat – and night sweats.

C.       A gynaecological consultation.

A gynaecologist is talking to a 30-year-old woman.

Gynaecologist	Patient
Are your periods regular? How often do you get them? How old were you when you started to get them? When was your last period? How long do the periods last usually? Would you say they are light or heavy? Do you get clots? Do you get period pains? Is there any discharge between the periods? What colour is it?	Yes Every four weeks. About 12. A week ago. 4 or 5 days. Light. No. Not really. A little. White.

D.      Contraception.

For women, methods to prevent pregnancy include the oral contraceptive pill (known as the Pill), the diaphragm, and the intrauterine device (IUD) or copper coil. Condoms are available for both men and women.

EXERCISES

21.1.       Write a simple English phrase for each of the medical terms below using your medical knowledge. Look at A and B opposite to help you

1	hysterectomy
2	menorrhagia
3	salpingitis
4	cervical biopsy

21.2       Read the conversation between the gynaecologist and the patient in C opposite, and complete the notes about the patient.

menarche:

menstrual cycle:

LMP:

menorrhagia?

dysmenorrhoea?

discharge?

21.3        Now write the questions that the doctor asked. Look at C opposite to help you

menarche:

menstrual cycle:

LMP:

menorrhagia?

dysmenorrhoea?

discharge?

21.4       Complete the case report. One word is needed twice. Look at B and C opposite to help you.

CASE 15

A 45-year-old woman had been having 1 ________ periods lasting for 8 days. With the passage of 2 ________, for 9 months. There was no bleeding between 3________ or after intercourse. Her 4________ were not particularly painful. She had not noticed any hot 5________ or night sweats, and her general health had always been good. She had taken the 6 ________ contraceptive 7________ until a year previously, when a copper 8________ was fitted. She had had a normal pregnancy when she was 25.

ANSWER KEY