A woman who is not now and never has been pregnant is called:

Appeared in: HP CHO -9 October 2022

Explanation

The term 'Nulligravida' specifically describes a woman who is not currently pregnant and has never been pregnant in the past.
The term is derived from Latin roots: 'Nulli-' meaning 'none' and '-gravida' meaning 'pregnant'.
This is distinct from 'Nullipara', which refers to a woman who has never completed a pregnancy to a viable gestational age (20 weeks or more), although she may have been pregnant before.

Option A: This term describes a woman who has never completed a pregnancy beyond 20 weeks of gestation. A woman could have been pregnant (e.g., had a miscarriage at 10 weeks) and still be nulliparous.
Option C: This is not a standard medical term. The root 'puerpera' refers to a woman in the postpartum period (after childbirth).
Option D: This is not a recognized medical or obstetric term.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Obstetric Terminology: Gravidity and Parity as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Accurate use of obstetric terms like nulligravida and nullipara is fundamental for clear and precise communication in medical records, patient handoffs, and among healthcare providers.
A patient's gravidity and parity are essential components of their obstetric history, which helps in assessing risks for various conditions such as preeclampsia, placenta previa, and preterm labor.
What if? If the question asked for a woman who is pregnant for the first time, the correct answer would be 'Primigravida'.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it's asking for the term for a woman who has 'never has been pregnant'.
Next, analyze the options by breaking down their medical roots. 'Nulli-' is a prefix meaning 'none' or 'zero'.
Differentiate between the suffixes '-gravida' and '-para'. '-gravida' relates to pregnancy, while '-para' relates to birth or delivery of a viable fetus.
Since the question is about never being pregnant, the correct term must use the '-gravida' suffix. Combining 'Nulli-' and '-gravida' gives 'Nulligravida'.
Consider the other options. 'Nulliparous' refers to no viable births, which is different. 'Nullipuerpera' and 'Nil mother' are not standard medical terms and can be eliminated.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Obstetric Terminology: Gravidity and Parity
Stem keywords: woman, never has been pregnant
Lead-in keywords: is called
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.

Qy1cWO5zQ9KT4GMY9jIf9l

E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 71-95

Practise the full HP CHO -9 October 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.