GU
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | Genitourinary |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Medical, Geography & Places, Education & Academia |
GU has four meanings. The most common are Genitourinary (nephrology & urology) and Guam (US territory and military mail); it can also stand for Gastric ulcer and Georgetown University.
Meanings of GU at a glance
| # | GU stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genitourinary | Medical › Nephrology & Urology |
| 2 | Guam | Geography & Places › US Territory and Military Mail |
| 3 | Gastric ulcer | Medical › Gastroenterology |
| 4 | Georgetown University | Education & Academia › University |
1. Genitourinary
Medical · Nephrology & Urology Abbreviations
Relating to the urinary organs and the genital organs together, used for review-of-systems headings, exam findings, specialty names and clinic labels. "GU review of systems" covers urination, incontinence, discharge and sexual symptoms.
Example: GU: no dysuria, hematuria or flank pain; normal external genitalia.
Pronounced as letters. "GU oncology" covers prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancers. In some older texts GU means gonococcal urethritis, and in gastroenterology a gastric ulcer, so context matters. The urogenital tract is the same anatomic region described from the other direction.
2. Guam
Geography & Places · US Territory and Military Mail Abbreviations
Largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands and a US territory since 1898. Hagåtña is the capital, ZIP codes begin with 969, and Chamorro Standard Time runs 10 hours ahead of UTC, the basis for the slogan Where America's Day Begins.
Example: Military families moving to Dededo, GU should allow six weeks for household goods.
GU is also Guam's ISO alpha-2 code (alpha-3 GUM) and its .gu domain. The island hosts Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam. Residents became US citizens under the Guam Organic Act of 1950 but do not vote for president. Hagåtña was formerly spelled Agana.
3. Gastric ulcer
Medical · Gastroenterology Abbreviations
Peptic ulcer in the stomach, most often along the lesser curvature near the angular incisure. Pain may worsen with eating, and because a small fraction of apparent gastric ulcers are ulcerated cancers, endoscopists biopsy them and repeat EGD to confirm healing.
Example: Large GU on the lesser curve, biopsies taken; repeat EGD in 8–12 weeks to document healing.
In most medical records GU means genitourinary (the urinary and reproductive organs), so gastroenterology notes often spell out "gastric ulcer" when ambiguity is possible. NSAIDs are a stronger risk factor for gastric than for duodenal ulcers. The Johnson classification divides gastric ulcers into types I to V by location and acid secretion.
4. Georgetown University
Education & Academia · University Abbreviations
Oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the United States, founded in 1789 by John Carroll in Washington, DC. Its Walsh School of Foreign Service, founded in 1919, has trained many diplomats and world leaders.
Example: Many State Department officials studied international affairs at GU.
The university almost always uses "Georgetown". Its Hoyas basketball team plays in the Big East and won the 1984 national championship under John Thompson. Bill Clinton graduated from the School of Foreign Service. GU also abbreviates Gonzaga and Gallaudet universities.
Related abbreviations
More nephrology & urology abbreviations
- ESWL – Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
- FENa – Fractional excretion of sodium
- FSGS – Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
- GN – Glomerulonephritis
- HD – Hemodialysis
- HoLEP – Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate
- HUS – Hemolytic uremic syndrome
- IC – Interstitial cystitis
See all 71 nephrology & urology abbreviations →
More US territory and military mail abbreviations
- CNMI – Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
- CZ – Canal Zone
- DPO – Diplomatic Post Office
- FPO – Fleet Post Office
- MP – Northern Mariana Islands
- MPSA – Military Postal Service Agency
- PR – Puerto Rico
- PSC – Postal Service Center
See all 18 US territory and military mail abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.