English Translation of TCM Comparative study on WHO Western Pacific Region and World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies international standard terminologies on traditional medicine: Diseases of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Part 1)

The diseases in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) gynecology are usually related to menstruation, leucorrhea, pregnancy and psychology. About 69 terms are included in the WHO International Standard Terminologies on Traditional Medicine in the Western Pacific Region (abbreviated as the WPRO Standard, and 177 in the International Standard Chinese-English Basic Nomenclature of Chinese Medicine compiled by World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (abbreviated as the WFCMS Standard). The following is a brief study about how to understand and translate these terms according to explanations in A Concise Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the studies made in the book entitled International Standardization of English Translation of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Study of Theory, Summarization of Practice and Exploration of Methods. 并月 bimonthly menstruation: menstruation occurring once every two months, but causing no symptoms This term was first used in the chapter about the principles for treating woman diseases in the book entitled Golden Mirror of Medicine (Yizong Jinjian, 《医宗金鉴》) compiled by Wu Qian ( 吴谦 ) who was an imperial doctor in the Qing Dynasty (1644AD-1912AD). 居经 ; 季经 trimonthly menstruation: menstruation occurring once every three months, but causing no symptoms This term, also known as 按 季 , was first used in the book entitled Canon of Pulse (Maijing, 《脉经》) written by Wang Shuhe ( 王叔和 ) in the West Jin Dynasty (265AD-316AD). This term is also translated as “seasonal menstruation”, which is adopted in the WFCMS Standard. 避年 annual menstruation: menstruation occurring once a year, but causing no symptoms This term was first used in the book entitled Canon of Pulse. Annual menstruation, though a physiological phenomenon, is seldom encountered in clinical practice. 五不女five unwomanlinesses: five forms of female infertility The so-called 五不女 , refers to five types of female infertility caused by congenital malformations or acquired dysfunction of female genital organs, including spiral lines on the vagina, atresia or stricture of the vagina, imperforated ● English Translation of TCM