Pregnancy-Associated - Prematurity

pregnancy-associated

(preg′năn-sē-ă-sō′ s(h)ē-āt-ĕd) Occurring in a pregnant mother, her fetus, or her infant delivered within the last 31 days.

pregnancy test

A test used to determine whether conception has occurred. In addition to the clinical signs and symptoms of pregnancy, almost none of which are reliable within the first several weeks of pregnancy, chemical tests done in the physician’s office are quite accurate by as early as the time the first menstrual period is missed. There are also test kits available for purchase without a prescription. If over-the-counter tests are used, it is very important to follow the directions carefully.

 A major class of pregnancy tests is those using immunodiagnostic procedures. They are the hemagglutination inhibition test, which requires a sample of urine; radioreceptor assay, which requires blood from the patient; radioimmunoassay, which requires a blood sample; and monoclonal antibody determination, which requires a sample of urine. In general, these tests are accurate beginning the 40th day following the first day of the last menstrual period; the monoclonal antibody test is somewhat more sensitive. The reliability of the test methods increases as pregnancy continues.

pregnane

(prĕg′ nān) C₂₁H₃₆; the organic compound that is a precursor of two series of steroid hormones: the progesterones and several adrenal cortical hormones.

pregnanediol

(prĕg″nān-dī′ŏl) C₂₁H₃₆O₂; the inactive end product of metabolism of progesterone present in the urine. The amount in the urine increases during the premenstrual or luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy.

pregnanetriol

(prĕg″nān-trī′ŏl) A metabolite of progesterone. Its presence in the urine is increased in those who have congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

pregnant

(prĕg′nănt) [L. praegnans] Having conceived; with child. SYN: gravid.

pregnene

(prĕg′ nēn) A steroid that forms the nucleus of progesterone.

prehabilitation

(prē″hă-bil″ĭ-tā′ shŏn) The use of rehabilitative methods to prevent disease, functional impairment, or injury before it occurs.

prehensile

(prē-hĕn′ sĭl) [L. prehendere, to seize] Adapted for grasping or holding, esp. by encircling an object.

prehension

(prē-hĕn′ shŭn) [L. prehensio] The primary function of the hand; includes pinching, grasping, and seizing.

Prehn sign

(prān, prēn) [Douglas T. Prehn, U.S. physician, 1902–1974] A decrease in scrotal pain with elevation of the testicle. It is a physical finding in patients with epididymitis, but not testicular torsion.

prehormone

(prē″hawr′mōn″) A precursor of a hormone.

prehospital care report

ABBR: PCR. Run sheet....