What does "intermittent" mean in a medical context?

In a medical context, "intermittent" refers to something that occurs occasionally or at irregular intervals rather than continuously. This means that a symptom, condition, or phenomenon may come and go, presenting itself sporadically without a consistent pattern. For instance, a patient may experience intermittent pain, which means that the pain isn't always present but can appear at times, sometimes completely absent for a period.

The term contrasts sharply with other options. Being constantly present would suggest a permanent or continuous state, which is not aligned with the meaning of intermittent. Additionally, the idea of a condition being present but varying in intensity refers more to a fluctuating state rather than an intermittent occurrence. Similarly, stating that something is not present at all does not reflect the essence of intermittent, which inherently involves periods in which the condition is present, albeit not all the time.