Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
para
Pronunciation: PAIR-ah
Number of pregnancies carried to viability (20+ weeks), regardless of outcome.
Full Definition
Obstetric term indicating the number of pregnancies a woman has carried to viability (typically defined as 20 weeks gestation or greater), regardless of whether the birth resulted in a live infant or stillbirth. Multiple births from a single pregnancy count as one para. Used in combination with gravida to provide complete obstetric history. Essential for risk assessment and care planning in perinatal medicine.
Usage
Usage note: Often abbreviated as 'P' in the GTPAL system. Distinguish carefully from gravida in medical documentation.
In Context
- "The patient's obstetric history is documented as G3P2A1L2." — Medical record entry
- "Para 0 patients require additional counseling about labor and delivery." — Clinical practice guideline
Also known as
parity
Contrasted with
nullipara
Don't confuse with
gravida
abortion