Gravidity
Encyclopedia
In medicine
, gravidity refers to the number of times a woman has been pregnant, regardless of whether the pregnancies were interrupted (by abortion
, or fetal death) or resulted in a live birth
.
In biology
, the term gravid is used to describe the condition of an animal (most commonly fish
or reptile
s) when carrying eggs internally. In entomology
it describes a mated female insect.
The term gravida is generally coupled with para
(and occasionally additional terms) to indicate more details of the woman's obstetric history.
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, gravidity refers to the number of times a woman has been pregnant, regardless of whether the pregnancies were interrupted (by abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, or fetal death) or resulted in a live birth
Live birth
In human reproduction, a live birth occurs when a fetus, whatever its gestational age, exits the maternal body and subsequently shows any sign of life, such as voluntary movement, heartbeat, or pulsation of the umbilical cord, for however brief a time and regardless of whether the umbilical cord or...
.
In biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, the term gravid is used to describe the condition of an animal (most commonly fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
or reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s) when carrying eggs internally. In entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
it describes a mated female insect.
- A gravida is a pregnant woman.
- A nulligravida or gravida 0 is a woman who has never been pregnant.
- A primigravida or gravida 1 is a woman who is pregnant for the first time or has been pregnant one time.
- A multigravida or more specifically a gravida 2 (also secundigravida), gravida 3, and so on, is a woman who has been pregnant more than one time.
- An elderly primigravida is a woman in her first pregnancy, who is at least 35 years old. This term is becoming less common as it may be considered offensive.
The term gravida is generally coupled with para
Parity (medicine)
In biology, parity is a technical term that refers to the number of times a female has given birth to a fetus.It can lead to some ambiguity for events occurring between 20 and 24 weeks, and for multiple pregnancies.-Enumeration:...
(and occasionally additional terms) to indicate more details of the woman's obstetric history.
- A "primigravida" is a woman who has become pregnant for the first time regardless of whether or not the fetus is eventually miscarried or aborted.
See also
- Gravida/para/abortusGravida/para/abortusGravida/para/abortus , or sometimes just gravida/para , is a shorthand notation for a woman's obstetric history.* Gravida indicates the number of times the mother has been pregnant, regardless of whether these pregnancies were carried to term. A current pregnancy, if any, is included in this...
- Parity (medicine)Parity (medicine)In biology, parity is a technical term that refers to the number of times a female has given birth to a fetus.It can lead to some ambiguity for events occurring between 20 and 24 weeks, and for multiple pregnancies.-Enumeration:...
- TPALTPAL (medicine)TPAL is one of the methods to provide a quick overview of a female's obstetric history. Two other methods often used are gravida/para and GPA....