A complication is a new difficulty that makes a situation harder than it was before. In medicine, it means a new problem that develops in addition to an existing illness.
From Late Latin 'complicātiō', meaning 'a folding together' or 'involving'. It moved into English to describe extra elements that tangle up an otherwise simple situation.
Story writers love complications because they keep plots from being too predictable. Doctors hate them because they turn a straightforward illness into a risky puzzle.
In medicine, 'complications' related to pregnancy and childbirth have often been under-researched or normalized, reflecting gender bias in what is considered preventable or worthy of attention. Language around 'complications' in women's health sometimes obscured systemic causes like inadequate care or discrimination.
Use 'complication' precisely and avoid framing complications in pregnancy or women's health as inevitable or the result of individual failings. Acknowledge structural and clinical factors where relevant.
["additional difficulty","adverse event","challenge"]
Women clinicians, researchers, and patients have been central in bringing attention to preventable complications in reproductive and general health, pushing for safer and more equitable care.
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