Final answer:
A woman who has never given birth is referred to as nulliparous, a term in obstetrics which denotes a woman's reproductive status. Parous women, on the other hand, have given birth. Being nulliparous can be due to various factors including personal choice or medical conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
A woman who has never given birth is said to be nulliparous. This term is used specifically within the field of obstetrics, which is the branch of medicine that deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
From the biological standpoint, nulliparous women may have never become pregnant, or they may have been pregnant but did not carry the pregnancy to a live birth.
This is different from a woman who has given birth, who is referred to as parous. The distinction between nulliparous and parous women can be important for medical professionals as it can influence the approach to treatment and care during the reproductive years.
It's worth mentioning that there are many reasons a woman may remain nulliparous, ranging from personal choice to medical conditions that may affect fertility or pregnancy outcomes. In some cultures, there are various practices and views related to childbirth that can also influence women's experiences with pregnancy and birth, as well as their identity as a mother.