Parity

Parity is a term used in various branches of science and mathematics to describe a property that classifies an integer or other mathematical object as even or odd. In medicine, the term is used to describe the number of pregnancies a woman has carried to a viable gestational age.

Definition

In obstetrics, parity is the number of pregnancies a woman has carried past 20 weeks of gestation, regardless of whether the pregnancies were carried to term or ended in miscarriage or abortion. Parity is often recorded as a number, with nulliparous referring to a woman who has never carried a pregnancy past 20 weeks, primiparous referring to a woman who has carried one pregnancy past 20 weeks, and multiparous referring to a woman who has carried two or more pregnancies past 20 weeks.

Importance

Understanding a woman's parity can be important for assessing her risk of certain pregnancy complications. For example, nulliparous women are at higher risk of preeclampsia, while multiparous women are at higher risk of uterine rupture due to previous cesarean sections.

See also

• Gravidity and parity
• Obstetrics
• Pregnancy

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