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Medical Jargon: Centuries of Abuse for Half the Population

May 9, 2022 0 comments

The disparaging terms given to primarily reproduction-related medical treatments were purposeful from the very beginning.

Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. The cervix, ovaries, Fallopian tubes, and other surrounding structures may also be removed.

A hysterectomy, which is usually performed by a gynecologist, can be total or partial.

The term -ectomy refers to the surgical removal of a specific body part.

The term hyster- is derived from the Greek hystéra, which means “womb” or “uterus.”

If that Greek word looks familiar, it’s because you’ve heard of another of its derivatives: Hysteria, defined as “an uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear, frequently accompanied by irrationality, laughter, weeping, and so on.”

In contrast, vasectomy, a type of male birth control that reduces the supply of sperm to semen, has a low risk of complications, and is typically performed in an outpatient clinic under local anesthetic.

While -ectomy still refers to the surgical removal of a specific body part, vas- is an abbreviation for vas deferens, the duct that transports sperm from the testicle to the urethra.

Vasectomy is also not well known as male tubal ligation, and it is commonly referred to as male sterilization, despite the fact that the procedure is easily reversible.

The most derogatory names for vasectomy are words or phrases involving cutting, such as snipping or flop ‘n chop.

Tubal Ligation

Tubal ligation is commonly known as “having your tubes tied.”

Female sterilization is another term for it.

Tubal refers to the fallopian tubes, the method of unfertilized egg travel from ovaries to the uterus. Every month, an egg is released from an ovary and goes to the uterus via the fallopian tube.

Ligation refers to the act of tying something together.

Miscarriage

A miscarriage occurs when a fetus dies spontaneously before the 20th week of pregnancy.

Stillbirths are pregnancy losses that occur after the 20th week.

A miscarriage is sometimes known as a spontaneous abortion.

Miscarriage is also referred to by the following terms:

– Complete abortion: occurs when all of the products of conception (tissue) depart the body.

– Incomplete abortion: occurs when only a portion of the products of conception leave the body.

– Inevitable abortion: occurs when symptoms cannot be stopped and a miscarriage will happen.

– Infected (septic) abortion: occurs when the lining of the womb (uterus) and any remaining products of conception become infected.

– Missed abortion: The pregnancy is lost, but the products of conception remain in the body.

Anti-Women’s Rights advocates often cite abortion statistics that include miscarriage statistics due to the medical term “abortion” within the miscarriage context listed above.

Whether through ignorance of medical terms and how the reproductive system functions, or simply bad faith intention, depends on the person.

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