hematocolpos
Noun: A medical condition characterized by the accumulation or retention of menstrual blood within the vaginal cavity. This typically occurs due to a physical obstruction, most commonly an imperforate hymen, which prevents the normal outflow of menstrual fluid.
This term is used exclusively in medical and clinical contexts to describe a specific gynecological disorder. * The ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis of hematocolpos. * Hematocolpos often presents with cyclic abdominal pain and primary amenorrhea in adolescent girls.
The condition is a type of obstructive reproductive tract anomaly. It is frequently discussed in relation to other conditions involving obstruction and fluid accumulation, such as hematometra (blood in the uterus) or hematosalpinx (blood in the fallopian tubes).
- Hematocolpometra (noun): A condition involving the accumulation of menstrual blood in both the vagina () and the uterus ().
- Imperforate hymen (noun phrase): The most common anatomical cause of hematocolpos.
- Vaginal hematometra (This is less precise but may be used in some contexts to indicate a similar concept of blood retention in the vaginal canal).
This term has a single, specific medical meaning. It should not be confused with general terms for vaginal bleeding or discharge. The prefix "hemato-" refers to blood, and the root "-colpos" refers to the vagina.
- accumulation of menstrual blood in the vagina (usually due to an imperforate hymen)