vulvectomy

1 9.9

An operation to remove all or part of the outer female sex organs

noun
/vʌlˈvɛk.tə.mi/

Specialized

: vulvectomía

Recovery after a vulvectomy varies depending on the extent of the surgery.

Examples

Doctors explained that a partial vulvectomy would preserve more tissue while removing the tumor.
A vulvectomy is a serious decision.
The patient underwent a vulvectomy to treat her advanced vulvar cancer.
Don't worry about a vulvectomy!
After her vulvectomy, she felt a mixture of relief and anxiety as she prepared for recovery.
The surgeon explained the procedure and potential risks involved in a vulvectomy to the patient.
Due to the diagnosis, she had no choice but to undergo a vulvectomy to ensure her health.

Surface Forms

vulvectomy singular

vulvectomies plural

Morphology

vulvectomy = vulva (semi-transparent) = vulv + ectomy

The meaning is medically motivated by the base 'vulva' plus the surgical suffix '-ectomy', but the specialized medical form is not fully transparent to an average learner.

Etymology

Vulvectomy comes from vulva, meaning 'the female external parts', and -ectomy, meaning 'cut out' (the same -ectomy in appendectomy). So a vulvectomy is a surgery to 'cut out' all or part of the vulva.