What is a woman who has never given birth to a child called?

Appeared in: MP CHO -2021 (Shift 1st)

Explanation

A nulliparous woman is one who has never completed a pregnancy beyond 20 weeks of gestation, which is considered the stage of fetal viability.
The term 'para' refers to the number of births after 20 weeks' gestation, while 'gravida' refers to the number of pregnancies.
A woman can have been pregnant before (e.g., had a miscarriage at 10 weeks) but still be a nullipara because she has not carried a pregnancy to a viable stage.
The root 'nulli-' means none, and 'para' (from Latin 'parere') means to bring forth or give birth.

Option B: This term describes a woman who has never been pregnant at all. While she has also never given birth, 'nullipara' is the more specific term for never having given birth to a viable fetus.
Option C: This term describes a woman who has given birth once to a fetus of at least 20 weeks' gestation. 'Primi-' means first.
Option D: This term refers to a woman who is currently in the process of childbirth (i.e., in labor).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Obstetrical Terminology: Gravidity and Parity as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Accurate use of obstetrical terms like nullipara is crucial for clear communication among healthcare professionals and for correct documentation in the patient's medical record.
A patient's parity status (nulliparous vs. multiparous) can influence clinical decision-making, as it is associated with different risks and patterns during labor and delivery.
What if? If a woman had one pregnancy that ended in a miscarriage at 12 weeks and is now pregnant again, she would be described as 'Gravida 2, Para 0' (G2P0), highlighting that she is pregnant for the second time but has not yet given birth to a viable infant.

How to Approach the Question

This is a definition-based recall question. Start by identifying the key phrase: 'never given birth'.
Break down the medical terminology. 'Nulli-' means 'none' or 'zero'. 'Para' relates to birth (from the Latin 'parere', to bring forth).
Combine the root words: 'Nulli-' + 'para' = 'no births'.
Differentiate this from 'gravida', which relates to pregnancy ('gravid' means pregnant). 'Nulligravida' means 'no pregnancies'.
Evaluate the options: Nullipara directly matches the meaning 'no births'. Nulligravida means no pregnancies. Primipara means one birth. Parturient means in labor.
Therefore, Nullipara is the most precise answer for a woman who has never given birth to a viable child.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Obstetrical Terminology: Gravidity and Parity
Stem keywords: woman, never given birth
Lead-in keywords: What is
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.

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E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 71-95

Practise the full MP CHO -2021 (Shift 1st)

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