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Search thousands of pregnancy and birth related topics in the largest free pregnancy encyclopedia on the net. |
Egg Donor - A female that agrees to give her healthy eggs to another woman so that fertilization and pregnancy can take place. Egg donors are screend and tested before they can donate eggs to other women. Some women know who they will be donating their eggs to, while others will never know. The process is involved and includes stopping and restarting the menstrual cycle, taking medications and having eggs surgically removed from the ovaries.
Eisenmenger's Syndrome - The presence of congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and a right to left shunt. In pregnancy, this condition is associated with an increased incidence of maternal and fetal death.
Ejaculate - The fluid that is expelled from a man's penis during an orgasm. Ejaculate contains sperm that is capable of fertilizing an egg during intercourse.
Elective Abortion - An induced abortion that is performed by an abortionist at the request of a pregnant female. The abortion is not being performed for medical reasons, such as fetal distress or maternal health. An elective abortion is generally performed before the fetus is capable of survival outside of the womb.
Elective Cesarean - A cesarean section that has been scheduled before labor begins. Common reasons for an elective cesarean may include multiple gestation, a breech baby, a previous delivery by cesarean section, birth defects or other personal or medical choices.
Electronic Fetal Monitor - A machine that is used to make a graphical representation of the fetal heart rate, measured in beats per minute. Most monitors show the fetal heart rate and uterine contractions at the same time.
Ellis van Creveld Syndrome - A birth defect that affects approximately 1 in 60,000 to 200,000 live births. The syndrome is an inherited birth defect that affects bone growth and causes dwarfism.
Babies that are born with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome will have short forearms, lower legs and ribs. Patients with the condition will also have extra fingers, extra toes and abnormal fingernails and teeth. Other common symptoms of Ellis-van Creveld syndrome include cleft palate, stillbirth, and early death after birth, undescended testicles, heart defects, widely space teeth and a limited range of motion.
To diagnose the condition, a doctor will use x-rays, ultrasound exams, genetic testing, urinalysis and echocardiograms. There is no cure for Ellis-van Creveld syndrome, but individual symptoms can be treated as necessary.
Emanuel Syndrome - Emanuel syndrome is also known as partial Trisomy 11;22. Emanuel syndrome occurs when there is a translocation between genes 11q and 22 q.
Signs of this condition include a small head, abnormally shaped ears with tags, a long philtrum, cleft palate, dislocated hips, low muscle tone, broad nose and small chin. Boys may have undescended testicles. Hearing loss, heart complications and misshapen kidneys are common in babies with Emanuel syndrome.
The condition causes very slow physical and intellectual development. Most children with Emanuel syndrome will not walk until they are around 5 years old and some children never learn how to speak.
Embolism - A blood clot that forms somewhere in the body, breaks loose, travels through the blood vessels and clings to the wall of a blood vessel in the brain. During oral sex, make certain that your partner does not blow air into the vagina. Blowing air into the vagina can cause an air embolism that can be fatal to the fetus and/or mother.
Embryo - An unborn child from conception until the eighth week of pregnancy, at which time it will become a fetus. The woman's body will begin to produce the hCG hormone, which will cause menstruation to cease. During embryonic development, the heart begins to form and beat. The brain, spinal cord, intestinal tract, limb buds and facial features also begin to develop during the embryonic phase. The umbilical cord will form during these early weeks between the mother and baby so that oxygen and nutrients can be supplied.
Embryo Donation - A form of third party reproduction, in which remaining embryos from one couple's in vitro fertilization are collected and stored in a bank for another couple to use. Infertile couples that have completed their families through in vitro fertilization often have remaining embryos kept frozen in a lab that will not be used. These embryos are then transferred to another woman that is not able to achieve pregnancy naturally.
Embryo Freezing - The process of freezing and storing eggs, sperm and embryos in liquid nitrogen for future use. This storage is usually carried out using temperaturesat -196 degrees celsius.
Embryologist - A specialist who performs all of the laboratory aspects of assisted reproductive technologies, endocrinology and andrology in an IVF clinic. This specialist is trained in the study of embryology.
Embryology - The science that studies living organisms from the time of fertilization until the time of birth. Developmental factors and disease are commonly studied.
Embryona - A mass of rapidly growing cells that begins in fetal tissue. An embryona is generally malignant, but may be benign.
Embryonal Rhabomyosarcoma Of Vagina - A rare condition in which an infant or young child develops a highly malignant tumor of the vagina. The tumor develops in the submucosal vaginal tissue and spreads rapidly, leaving large grapelike clusters. These clusters can protrude through the vagina.
Embryonal Tumor - A mass of rapidly growing cells that begins in fetal tissue. Embryonal tumors are generally malignant, but may be benign.
Embryonic Period - The period of time that occurs from the moment of conception until the eighth week of pregnancy, at which time the fetal period begins.
Embryonic Stem Cell - A stem cell that is extracted from embryonic tissue or cord blood of an early embryo. The embryos that are used were fertilized in a reproductive clinic and donated for medical research purposes.
Emergency C-Section - A sudden and unexpected need for a cesarean section after labor has begun to safely delivery a baby. This is done if the mother or baby is in such distress that a standard delivery is not safe. During an energency cesarean, most women will be put completely to sleep with general anesthesia. Common reasons for an emergency c-section include umbilical cord prolapse, placenta previa, low fetal heartrate, eclampsia and failure to progress during labor.
Emergency Contraception - An oral contraceptive that is taken within 72 hours after sexual intercourse. The pill usually contains higher doses of estrogen and progestin than typical oral contraceptives. Progestin prevents the sperm from reaching the egg and prevents a fertilized egg from implanting to the wall of the uterus. Estrogen stops the ovaries from releasing eggs that can be fertilized by sperm. This type of contraceptive has a success rate of approximately 80%, should rarely be used and only as a last resort after unprotected sex.
Emergency Department - The area of a hospital that provides care to patients that need immediate medical assistance or assitance when the primary care provider can't be reached. Doctors, surgeons and other healthcare professionals are on staff in the emergency department 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Obstetrical and gynecological problems that would require immediate, emergency care include bleeding during pregnancy, extreme abdominal pain, preterm labor contractions, dehydration, ruptured amniotic sac, symptoms of preeclampsia (headache, dizziness, blurred vision, swelling in face and body) or forms of trauma, such as falls or car accidents.
Emotional Abuse - Verbally mistreating, attacking or belittleing an individual. Emotional abuse comes in the form of rejection, criticisim, ignoring, teasing and unrealistic expectations. While emotional abuse does not physically harm an individual, it can significantly harm their self esteem.
Encephalitis - Inflammation of the brain that can occur as a result of a bacterial, viral of fungal infection. Early symptoms of the condition include nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, neck pain and lethargy. The illness can lead to seizures and death if not treated properly. Treatment must begin as early as possible to attempt to avoid potentially serious and life-long effects.
Encephalocele - A birth defect that occurs in about 1-4 babies out of every 10,000 live births. An encephalocele is a neural tube defect and occurs when there is a gap in the skull that allows brain tissue to protrude.
The neural tube does not close completely during fetal development. Usually, encephaloceles are found along the midline of the skull and occur most often in the rear. The sizes of encephaloceles vary and can be very small with minimal brain tissue or very large with a lot of brain tissue.
Most people with this disorder have some degree of mental retardation. It is estimated that approximately 20% of patients with encephalocele are born alive and out of those, only half will survive.
Although many encephaloceles are not diagnosed until birth, it is highly possible to diagnose encephalocele during a prenatal ultrasound. Surgery will likely be required to put the protruding brain tissue into the skull and remove the outer sac.