Health Encyclopedia

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• Abortifacient- Any kind of device or drug that can cause an abortion.
• Abdominal- The area right below your stomach.
• Abortion– An abortion is a procedure, either surgical or medical, to terminate a pregnancy by removing the fetus and placenta from the uterus.
• Abstinence– In simple word, not having any kind of sexual activities.
• Acne– Acne is a disorder that causes outbreaks of skin lesions commonly called pimples during puberty. It is caused by the skin’s oil glands making too much sebum, an oily substance, which leads to plugged pores. It also can be caused by the rapid production of a bacteria P. acnes. Acne lesions occur mostly on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. It is the most common skin disease. Although acne is not a serious health threat, severe acne can lead to disfiguring and permanent scarring.
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)– AIDS is a syndrome, or group of diseases, that can be fatal. HIV infection becomes AIDS when a person's T-cell count goes below 200 and she or he becomes ill with one of the health problems common in people with AIDS. HIV/AIDS infection is life-long, there is no cure.
• Addiction- This is a condition where you become dependent on, or can’t do without, physical substances or an activity to the point that stopping it is very hard and causes severe physical and mental reactions. Substances you can become addicted to include tobacco, alcohol, and drugs (both illegal and prescription drugs). Activities that can be addicting include lying, stealing, and gambling. Addiction can be treated with counseling and, in some cases, medication.
• Adolescence– The period of life from puberty to adulthood when a young person grows up. All emotional and physical changes happen during this period.
• Adrenal Gland– The adrenal glands are the part of the body responsible for releasing three different classes of hormones (sex hormones, testosterone and estrogen). These hormones control many important functions in the body. They are two small, triangular-shaped organs that sit on top of each kidney.
• Adultery- Sexual intercourse between a married person and someone who is not his or her spouse.
• Age of Consent– The minimum age for marrying and sexual contact (varies from state-to-state).
• Age of Majority- The age at which one becomes a legal adult.
• Albinism- A group of conditions that cause a problem with your body’s ability to make melanin, which is the pigment (color) of your skin, hair and eyes. This can make the skin and hair look very white.
• Allergen- a foreign substance to the body's immune system that may cause an allergic reaction.
• Allergies- disorders that involve an immune response in the body. Allergies are reactions to allergens such as plant pollen, other grasses and weeds, certain foods, rubber latex, insect bites, or certain drugs.
• Amenorrhea– Amenorrhea is the absence of a menstrual period. Primary amenorrhea is when a young woman has not yet had a period by age 16. Secondary amenorrhea describes someone who used to have a regular period but then it stopped for at least three months (this can include pregnancy).
• Amniocentesis- If necessary, this test is performed between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy and can indicate chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, or genetic disorders such as Tay Sachs disease, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and others. It also can detect the baby's sex and risk of Spina Bifida (a condition in which the brain or spine do not develop properly).
• Amniotic Fluid– clear, slightly yellowish liquid that surrounds the unborn baby (fetus) during pregnancy. It is contained in the amniotic sac.
• Amniotic Sac- During pregnancy, the amniotic sac is formed within the uterus and encloses the fetus. This sac bursts normally during the birthing process, releasing the amniotic fluid. A popular term for the amniotic sac with the amniotic fluid is the bag of waters.
• Ampulla- The widest part of the fallopian tube where fertilization of the egg occurs.
• Amputation- removal of part or all of a body part, except for organs in the body. It usually takes place during surgery in a hospital operating room. It is done because of injury to the body part or problems from diabetes, hardening of the arteries, or any other illness that impairs blood circulation. It is also done to prevent the spread of bone cancer. Many amputees are able to be fitted with an artificial limb.
• Analgesics- Analgesics are pain relieve medications. These pain relievers don't get rid of what causes your pain; rather they block the nerve pathways that send pain signals from the body part to the brain so that you don't hurt as much.
• Androgen- Male hormones - like testosterone - that are produced in the testes in men, ovaries in women, and the adrenal glands in men and women. Excess androgens in women can cause irregular menstruation, acne and facial hair growth.
• Anemia– Anemia happens when your blood doesn't have enough hemoglobin. It is a decrease in the number and size of red blood cells. Hemoglobin helps red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body. There are many types of anemia. It can lead to a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, weakness and headaches.
• Anorexia Nervosa- People with this disorder “usually young women” see themselves as overweight even though they are dangerously thin. The process of eating becomes an obsession. Unusual eating habits develop, such as avoiding food and meals, picking out a few foods and eating these in small quantities, or carefully weighing and portioning food. People with anorexia may repeatedly check their body weight, and many engage in other techniques to control their weight, such as intense and compulsive exercise, or purging by means of vomiting and abuse of laxatives, enemas, and diuretics. Girls with anorexia often experience a delayed onset of their first menstrual period.
• Antibiotics- drugs used to fight many infections caused by bacteria. Some antibiotics are effective against only certain types of bacteria; others can effectively fight a wide range of bacteria. Antibiotics do not work against viral infections.
• Antibodies- Proteins produced by white blood cells to fight bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances.
• Antidepressants- a name for a category of medications used to treat depression.
• Antihistamines- drugs that are used to prevent or relieve the symptoms of hay fever and other allergies by preventing the action of a substance called histamine, which is produced by the body. Histamine can cause itching, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and sometimes can make breathing difficult. Some of these drugs are also used to prevent motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Since they may cause drowsiness as a side effect, some of them may be used to help people go to sleep.
• Antiperspirant- Helps prevent sweating.
• Anti-Choice- Opposed to the belief that women have the right to choose abortion.
• Anus- The opening where bowel movements leave your body when you go to the bathroom. It is not part of the reproductive system.
• Anxiety Disorder– Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps one deal with a tense situation in the office, study harder for an exam, and keep focused on an important speech. In general, it helps one cope. But when anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it has become a disabling disorder.
• Aphrodisiac- A substance that is supposed to increase sexual desire.
• Areola- The dark area surrounding the nipples of women and men.
• Arteries- blood vessels that carry oxygen and blood to the heart, brain and other parts of the body.
• Arthritis- swelling, redness, heat and pain of the joints. There are over 100 types of arthritis.
• Asphyxiation- Suffocation or smothering.
• Assisted Reproductive Technology— technology that involves procedures that handle a woman's eggs and a man's sperm to help infertile couples conceive a child.
• Asthma- When your airways are inflamed, causing you to wheeze, feel shortness of breath, cough and feel tightness in your chest. A chronic disease of the lungs. Symptoms include cough, wheezing, a tight feeling in the chest, and trouble breathing.
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)- It is one of the most common mental disorders that develop in children. Children with ADHD have impaired functioning in multiple settings, including home, school, and in relationships with peers. If untreated, the disorder can have long-term adverse effects into adolescence and adulthood.
• Autism- Autism is a complex developmental disability that causes problems with social interaction and communication. Symptoms usually start before age three and can cause delays or problems in many different skills that develop from infancy to adulthood.
• Autonomy- The ability to freely exercise one's own will.

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• Bacteria- microorganisms that can cause infections.
• Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)- Bacterial vaginosis, also called BV is the most common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age. It happens when the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina is disrupted and replaced by an overgrowth of certain bacteria. The vagina normally contains mostly “good” bacteria, and fewer “harmful” bacteria. BV develops when there is an increase in “harmful” bacteria and fewer “good” bacteria.
• Barrier Methods of Birth Control- Contraceptives that block sperm from entering the uterus. These are the male and female condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap, and spermicide.
• Basal Body Temperature Method- A method for predicting fertility in which women chart when ovulation occurs by taking their rectal temperature every morning before getting out of bed.
• Benign– Non-cancerous
• Beta-blockers- a type of medication that reduces nerve impulses to the heart and blood vessels. This makes the heart beat slower and with less force. Blood pressure drops and the heart works less hard.
• Bimanual Exam- Physical examination of the internal reproductive organs of the pelvis.
• Binge-Eating Disorder (Compulsive overeating)- People with binge-eating disorder experience frequent episodes of out-of-control eating, with the same binge-eating symptoms as those with bulimia. The main difference is that individuals with binge-eating disorder do not purge their bodies of excess calories. Therefore, many with the disorder are overweight for their age and height. Feelings of self-disgust and shame associated with this illness can lead to bingeing again, creating a cycle of binge eating.
• Biology- The scientific study of life.
• Biopsy- The removal of a small piece of living tissue for testing or examination under a microscope to confirm or establish a diagnosis.
• Birth Control Guide- The choice of birth control depends on factors such as a person's health, frequency of sexual activity, number of sexual partners, and desire to have children in the future. Failure rates, based on statistical estimates, are another key factor. The most effective way to avoid both pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease is to practice total abstinence (refrain from sexual contact).

1. I)Male Condom, Latex/Polyurethane - A sheath placed over the erect penis blocking the passage of sperm.
2. II)Female Condom - A lubricated polyurethane sheath shaped similarly to the male condom. The closed end has a flexible ring that is inserted into the vagina.

III) Diaphragm with Spermicide - A dome-shaped rubber disk with a flexible rim that covers the cervix so that sperm cannot reach the uterus. A spermicide is applied to the diaphragm before insertion.

1. IV)Lea's Shield - A dome-shaped rubber disk with a valve and a loop that is held in place by the vaginal wall. Covers the upper vagina and cervix so that sperm cannot reach the uterus. Spermicide is applied before insertion.
2. V)Cervical Cap with Spermicide - A soft rubber cup with a round rim, which fits snugly around the cervix.
3. VI)Sponge with Spermicide - A disk-shaped polyurethane device containing the spermicide nonoxynol-9.

VII) Spermicide Alone - A foam, cream, jelly, film, suppository, or tablet that contains nonoxynol-9, a sperm-killing chemical VIII) Oral Contraceptives - combined pill - A pill that suppresses ovulation by the combined actions of the hormones estrogen and progestin. A chewable form was approved in November 2003.

1. IX)Oral Contraceptives - progestin-only minipill - A pill containing only the hormone progestin that reduces and thickens cervical mucus to prevent the sperm from reaching the egg.
2. X)Oral Contraceptives - 91-day regimen (Season-ale) - A pill containing estrogen and progestin, taken in 3-month cycles of 12 weeks of active pills followed by one week of inactive pills. Menstrual periods occur during the 13th week of the cycle.
3. XI)Patch (Ortho Evra) - Skin patch worn on the lower abdomen, buttocks, or upper body that releases the hormones progestin and estrogen into the bloodstream.

XII) Vaginal Contraceptive Ring (Nuva-Ring) - A flexible ring about 2 inches in diameter that is inserted into the vagina and releases the hormones progestin and estrogen. XIII) Post-Coital Contraceptives (Prevent and Plan B) - Pills containing either progestin alone or progestin plus estrogen XIV) Injection (Depo-Provera) - An injectable progestin that inhibits ovulation, prevents sperm from reaching the egg, and prevents the fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.

1. XV)Injection (Lunelle) - An injectable form of progestin and estrogen.

XVI) Implant (Norplant) - Six matchstick-sized rubber rods that are surgically implanted under the skin of the upper arm, where they steadily release the contraceptive steroid levonorgestrel. XVII) IUD (Intrauterine Device) - A T-shaped device inserted into the uterus by a health professional. XVIII) Periodic Abstinence - To deliberately refrain from having sexual intercourse during times when pregnancy is more likely. XIX) Trans-abdominal Surgical Sterilization - female (Falope Ring, Hulka Clip, Filshie Clip) - The woman's fallopian tubes are blocked so the egg and sperm can't meet in the fallopian tube, preventing conception.

1. XX)Sterilization Implant--female (Ensure System) - Small metallic implant that is placed into the fallopian tubes. The device works by causing scar tissue to form, blocking the fallopian tubes and preventing conception.

XXI) Surgical Sterilization - male - Sealing, tying, or cutting a man's vas deferens so that the sperm can't travel from the testicles to the penis.

• Birth Control Methods- All women and men should have control over if and when they become parents. Making decisions about Birth Control, or Contraception is not easy – there are many things to think about. Learning about birth control methods you or your partner can use to prevent pregnancy and talking with your doctor are two good ways to get started. There is no “best” method of birth control. Each method has its own pros and cons. Some methods work better than others do at preventing pregnancy.
• Birth Defect- Birth defects are structural or functional abnormalities present at birth that cause physical or mental disability. Some may be fatal.
• Bisexual- One who is attracted to people of both genders.
• Bladder– The organ “sac-like structure” that stores urine produced by the kidney before it's released. It is found in the lower part of the abdomen.
• Bleeding Disorder- A bleeding disorder is a health problem that makes it hard for a person to stop bleeding. Normally when a person is hurt, the body forms a blood clot to stop the bleeding quickly. This clotting process, called coagulation, changes blood from a liquid to a solid state. For blood to clot, the body needs a type of blood cell called platelets, and blood proteins called clotting factors. In people with bleeding disorders, the blood platelets or clotting factors do not work correctly or are in short supply. So, these people bleed longer than normal. With medicine, people with bleeding disorders can lead full and active lives. Bleeding disorders tend to run in families and can be especially hard to spot in women. A lot of women who has bleeding disorder always bled heavily during their periods.
• Blood Pressure- As blood is pumped from your heart through your body, the blood exerts force or pressure against the blood vessel walls. Your blood pressure reading is a measure of this pressure. When that reading goes above a certain point, it is called high blood pressure or hypertension, which can be lowered and controlled with medication and changes in lifestyle and diet.
• Blood Test- This is either done by using a finger prick to get a few drops or by using a needle to get a larger amount of blood. Blood tests are used to check for many different diseases and viruses.
• Blood Transfusion- the transfer of blood or blood products from one person (donor) into another person's bloodstream (recipient). Most times, it is done to replace blood cells or blood products lost through severe bleeding. Blood can be given from two sources, your own blood (autologous blood) or from someone else (donor blood).
• Body Image- How a person feels about his or her own body and appearance.
• Body Language- A way of saying something without using words.
• Body Mass Index- a measure of body fat based on a person's height and weight.
• Bone marrow– Soft tissue found inside bones from which blood cells are produced and released into the bloodstream.
• Bowels- also known as the intestine, which is a long tube-like organ in the human body that completes digestion or the breaking down of food. The small bowel is the small intestine and the large bowel is the large intestine.
• Breast Buds- The beginning of breast development when breast tissue begins to grow and nipples become slightly raised.
• Breast Self Exam- Regular breast self-exam can help you know how your breasts normally feel and look, so you can notice any changes. When you find a change, you should see your health care provider. Most breast changes or lumps are not cancerous, but only a health care provider can tell you for sure. When breast cancer is found early, you have more treatment choices and a better chance of recovery. So, it is important to find breast cancer as early as possible.
• Breastfeeding- Breastfeeding, also called nursing, can be an easy and inexpensive way for a mother to feed her child. The researchers suggest that women who don’t have health problems should exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first 12 months of life because of the benefits to both the mother and baby.
• Breasts- Two glands on the chests of women. Men also have breast tissue. Breasts are considered sex organs because they are often sexually sensitive and may inspire sexual desire. They produce milk during and after pregnancy.
• Bronchitis- inflammation of the bronchi, airways in the lungs.
• Bulimia– It is characterized by eating an excessive amount of food (binges) within a discrete period of time and by a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications (purging); fasting; or excessive exercise. Because purging or other compensatory behavior follows the binge-eating episodes, people with bulimia usually weigh within the normal range for their age and height. However, like individuals with anorexia, they may fear gaining weight, desire to lose weight, and feel intensely dissatisfied with their bodies. People with bulimia often perform the behaviors in secrecy, feeling disgusted and ashamed when they binge, yet relieved once they purge.

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• Calcium- A metallic element essential for the normal development and functioning of the body. An important constituent of bone and teeth.
• Calendar Method- A method for predicting fertility for women with regular menstrual cycles to attempt to predict their fertility by charting their menstrual cycles on a calendar.
• Calorie- a unit of energy-producing potential in food
• Cancer- a group of diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.
• Candida– A fungus, called Candida albicans, which causes yeast infections like thrush in the mouth and throat, and in intestines and other parts of the body.
• Capillaries- Tiny blood vessels that branch through body tissues to deliver oxygen and nutrients and carry away waste products.
• Carbohydrates– compounds such as sugars and starches that occur in food and are broken down to release energy in the body. "Carbs" are a basic source of energy for the body. They are sugars and starches found in foods like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, cereals, dried beans and peas, and sugars.
• Carbon Dioxide -A body waste product that is a colorless gas.
• Cardiovascular Diseases- disease of the heart and blood vessels.
• Cataracts- cloudy or thick areas in the lens of the eye.
• Celiac Disease- a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. When people with celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine.
• Celibacy- Not having sex play.
• Censorship- The official suppression of information or expression.
• Cerebral Cortex- The area of the brain associated with higher functions, including learning and perception.
• Cerebral Palsy- When injuries to the brain cause damage to the nerves and loss of movement. The injuries happen while a baby is growing in the womb or near the time the baby is born.
• Cerebrovascular Disease- disease of the blood vessels in the brain.
• Cervical Canal (the Birth Canal)- This is the passageway through which babies are born. The cervix, vagina and vulva (the external part of the vagina) make up the birth canal.
• Cervical Cancer- happens when normal cells in the cervix change into cancer cells. This change normally takes several years to happen, but it can also happen in a very short amount of time. Before the cells turn into cancer, abnormal cells develop on the cervix that can be found by a Pap test. Women generally don't have symptoms of cervical cancer. But when cervical cancer is not found early and spreads deeper into your cervix or to other tissues or organs, you might have pain during sex; bleeding from your vagina after sex, between periods, or after menopause; heavy vaginal discharge that may have a bad odor; heavier bleeding during your period; or a menstrual period that lasts longer than normal. Human papillomavirus (HPV), a group of viruses, can cause abnormal changes on the cervix that can lead to cervical cancer. HPV is very common, and you can get it through sexual contact with another person who has HPV.
• Cervical Cap- A contraceptive device that is applied to the cervix and prevents passage of the sperm into the reproductive tract.
• Cervical Mucus Method- A method for predicting a woman's fertility by observing changes in her cervical mucus.
• Cervix- The narrow lower part of the uterus (womb), sometimes called the "neck" of the uterus. It's located at the top of the vagina. The cervix forms a canal that opens into the vagina, which leads to the outside of the body.
• Cesarean (C-Section)- procedure where the baby is delivered through an abdominal incision.
• Chancroid- A sexually transmitted bacterium that causes open genital sores.
• Chemical Castration- The use of a progestin-only injection to decrease sexual desire and arousal.
• Chemotherapy- Chemotherapy is often known as chemo, a term used for medicines to treat cancer. Cancer happens when cells in the body develop wrong and grow in an uncontrolled way. Since cancer cells tend to divide very fast, chemotherapy works by getting in the way of these cells dividing and trying to stop the cancer from spreading. Sometimes chemo can cure the disease by helping to get rid of all the cancer cells in the body.
• Chickenpox- a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which results in a blister-like rash, itching, tiredness, and fever.
• Chlamydia– Chlamydia is a curable sexually transmitted infection. You can get chlamydial infection during oral, vaginal, or anal sexual contact with an infected partner. It can cause serious problems in men and women, such as penile discharge and infertility respectively, as well as infections in newborn babies of infected mothers. Chlamydia is caused by bacteria calledChlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia bacteria live in vaginal fluid and in semen.
• Cholesterol– A fatty substance present in all parts of the body. It is a component of cell membranes and is used to make vitamin D and some hormones. Some cholesterol in the body is produced by the liver and some is derived from food, particularly animal products. A high level of cholesterol in the blood can help cause atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. In the blood, cholesterol is bound to chemicals called lipoproteins. Cholesterol attached to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) harms health and is often called "bad cholesterol." Cholesterol attached to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is good for health and is often called "good cholesterol."
• Chronic- Long lasting condition.
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)- a complex disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that lasts six months or longer, and does not improve with rest or is worsened by physical or mental activity. Other symptoms can include weakness, muscle pain, impaired memory and/or mental concentration, and insomnia. The cause is unknown.
• Circulatory system- The heart, the blood, and the system of blood vessels that moves blood through the body.
• Circumcision- An operation to remove the foreskin of the penis. See also Female Circumcision.
• Cleft lip and palate- Abnormal growth of the lip and or roof of the mouth that happens before a baby is born. This can affect the way the lip looks, and also cause problems feeding as an infant and learning to speak.
• Climacteric- The time of change that leads to menopause. The physiological midlife changes for women and men.
• Clinical Depression- Clinical, or major, depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person functions, eats and sleeps, feels about herself, and thinks about things. Depression is not the same as a passing "down" mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. This condition can be treated with medication and counseling.
• Clinician- A qualified health care professional, such as a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
• Cliques- A close group of friends that is exclusive; not all people who would like to join are accepted. Members of cliques share similar interests and goals. Cliques can be seen as powerful, often including the most popular kids and attracting attention from classmates. To gain power, clique leaders often switch back and forth between making their “followers” – clique members – feel good and then cutting them down.
• Clitoral Hood- A small flap of skin that covers and protects the clitoris.
• Clitoris- A small, firm organ at the top of the vulva (under the labia minora). It is very sensitive to the touch. The clitoris is important for sexual pleasure in women.
• Clotting- The process by which the body forms a plug to seal damaged blood vessels and stop bleeding.
• Coercion- To force someone to do something that they do not want to do.
• Cohabitation- Living together in a sexual relationship.
• Colonoscopy- a diagnostic procedure in which a flexible tube with a light source in inserted into the colon (large intestine or large bowel) through the anus to view all sections of the colon for abnormalities.
• Colposcope- A viewing instrument with a bright light and magnifying lens that is used to examine the vagina and cervix.
• Colposcopy– A procedure that uses a special microscope (called a colposcope) to look into the vagina and to look very closely at the cervix.
• Combined Oral Contraceptives - Birth control pills that contain the hormones estrogen and progestin.
• Coming Out- The process of accepting and being open about one's sexual orientation.
• Comstock Act- An 1873 law that made it a federal crime to use the U.S. mail to distribute anything considered "obscene, lewd, lascivious, indecently filthy, or vile," including information about contraception, abortion, and sexual health.
• Conception- The moment when the pre-embryo attaches to the lining of the uterus and pregnancy begins; term also used to describe the fertilization of the egg.
• Condom– A barrier method of birth control. It also provides protection against the most serious sexually transmitted infections. There are both male and female condoms. The male condom is a sheath of thin rubber, plastic, or animal tissue placed over an erect penis before sex that prevents pregnancy by blocking the passage of sperm. A female condom also is a sheath, but is inserted into the vagina to block the passage of sperm.
• Constipation- infrequent or hard stools or difficulty passing stools.
• Cantagious- transmitted by direct or indirect contact.
• Continuous Abstinence- Having no sex play for long periods of time — months or years.
• Contraception– Birth control, also known as contraception, is designed to prevent pregnancy.
• Contraceptive Creams and Jellies- Substances containing spermicide, which immobilizes sperm, preventing it from joining with the egg; used with diaphragms or cervical caps. These are over-the-counter, reversible barrier methods of birth control.
• Contraceptive Film- Inserted deep into the vagina, a square of tissue that melts into a thick liquid and blocks the entrance to the uterus with a spermicide to immobilize sperm, preventing it from joining with an egg; an over-the-counter, reversible barrier method of birth control. Most effective when used with a condom.
• Contraceptive Foam- Inserted deep into the vagina, a substance that blocks the entrance to the uterus with bubbles and contains a spermicide to immobilize sperm, preventing it from joining with an egg; an over-the-counter, reversible barrier method of birth control. Most effective when used with a condom.
• Contraceptive Suppository Capsule- Inserted deep into the vagina, a solid that melts into a fluid liquid to immobilize sperm, preventing it from joining with an egg; an over-the-counter, reversible barrier method of birth control. It is most effective when used with a condom.
• Convulsion- also known as a seizure. An uncontrollable contraction of muscles that can result in sudden movement or loss of control.
• Coronary Artery Disease- also called coronary heart disease. It is the most common type of heart disease that results from atherosclerosis - the gradual buildup of plaques in the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that bring blood to the heart. This disease develops slowly and silently, over decades. It can go virtually unnoticed until it produces a heart attack.
• Corpus Cavernosa- Two strips of tissues that lie on each side of the urethra in the penis. During sexual excitement, they fill with blood to create an erection.
• Corpus Spongiosum- The tissue that surrounds the urethra inside the penis and is responsible, like the corpus cavernosa, for an erection; also the type of tissue that forms the glans of the clitoris and the penis.
• Cowper's Glands- The glands beneath the prostate gland that are attached to the urethra. They produce a substance that makes seminal fluid sticky.
• Crabs- Small parasites that feed on human blood. Also known as pubic lice.
• Cremaster Reflex- An automatic response to stimulation - for example, cold temperature or touching the inside of the thigh - in which the cremaster muscle pulls the scrotum and testes closer to the body.
• Cross-Dresser- person who sometimes wears clothing associated with the opposite sex in order to have fun, entertain, gain emotional satisfaction, or make a political statement about gender roles, for example, drag kings and drag queens.
• Crush- A short-lived or temporary fascination with someone.
• Cryptorchidism- The condition in which one or both of the testicles do not descend from the lower abdomen before puberty.
• Cultural Norm- An activity, belief, or value that is shared by members of a particular culture. Deviation from cultural norms often invites scorn, ridicule, punishment, or banishment.
• Culture- The shared beliefs, values, heritage, customs, norms, art, food, language, and rituals of a community.
• Culture Test- Samples of body tissue are taken from an infected area of your body. These samples are used to find out what is causing an infection.
• Cyst- A fluid-filled, sac-like structure.
• Cystic Fibrosis- A disease that causes both breathing and digesting problems. Cystic fibrosis runs in the family.
• Cystitis- An infection of the bladder.
• Cytomegalovirus- An infection that may be transmitted through sexual or intimate contact that may cause permanent disability, including hearing loss and mental retardation for infants and blindness and mental disorders for adults.

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• Dilation and Curettage (D&C)- A gynecological procedure in which the lining of the uterus is scraped out with a spoon-shaped instrument called a curet. Used to treat a variety of disorders, including excessive menstrual bleeding
• Date Rape– Your date forces sexual intercourse on you during a dating relationship.
• Date Rape Drugs- These are drugs that are sometimes used to assist a sexual assault. Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a person does not agree to. It can include inappropriate touching, vaginal penetration, sexual intercourse, rape, and attempted rape. Because of the effects of these drugs, victims may be physically helpless, unable to refuse sex, and can't remember what happened. The drugs often have no color, smell, or taste and are easily added to flavored drinks without the victim's knowledge.
• Debilitating- Impairs the vitality and strength of a person.
• Decongestants- Medications that treat cough and stuffy nose by shrinking swollen membranes in the nose and making it easier to breath.
• Dehydration- Excessive loss of body water that the body needs to carry on normal functions at an optimal level. Signs include increasing thirst, dry mouth, weakness or lightheadedness (particularly if worse on standing), and a darkening of the urine or a decrease in urination.
• Delayed Ejaculation- Commonly used term for inhibited orgasm in men.
• Depilatory- A cream used to remove unwanted hair.
• Depo-Provera- The common brand name of a progestin-only contraceptive that is injected every 12 weeks to prevent pregnancy. It is a reversible method of birth control available only by prescription.
• Depression- It is a serious medical illness; it’s not something that you have made up in your head. It’s more than just feeling "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. It is feeling "down" and "low" and "hopeless" for weeks at a time.
• Depression during or after Pregnancy- Depression that occurs during pregnancy or within a year after delivery is called Perinatal Depression. The exact number of women with depression during this time is unknown. But researchers believe that depression is one of the most common complications during and after pregnancy. Often, the depression is not recognized or treated, because some normal pregnancy changes cause similar symptoms and are happening at the same time. Tiredness, problems sleeping, stronger emotional reactions, and changes in body weight may occur during pregnancy and after pregnancy. But these symptoms may also be signs of depression. There may be a number of reasons why a woman gets depressed. Hormone changes or a stressful life event, such as a death in the family, can cause chemical changes in the brain that lead to depression. Depression is also an illness that runs in some families. Other times, it’s not clear what causes depression.
• Desire- A feeling of sexual attraction or arousal. The first stage of the sexual response cycle.
• Diabetes- Diabetes means that your blood sugar is too high. Your blood always has some sugar in it because the body uses sugar for energy; it's the fuel that keeps you going. But too much sugar in the blood is not good for your health. Your body changes most of the food you eat into sugar. Your blood takes the sugar to the cells throughout your body. The sugar needs insulin to get into the body's cells. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas, an organ near the stomach. The pancreas releases insulin into the blood. Insulin helps the sugar from food get into body cells. If your body does not make enough insulin or the insulin does not work right, the sugar can't get into the cells, so it stays in the blood. This makes your blood sugar level high, causing you to have diabetes. If not controlled, diabetes can lead to blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputations (having a toe or foot removed, for example), and nerve damage. In women, diabetes can cause problems during pregnancy and make it more likely that your baby will be born with birth defects.
• Diaphragm– birth control device made of a thin flexible disk, usually made of rubber that is designed to cover the cervix to prevent the entry of sperm during sexual intercourse.
• Dilation- The widening of the cervix that is necessary to deliver a baby
• Diuretic- a medication that promotes increased outflow of urine. Used to treat hypertension and premenstrual fluid retention
• Diarrhea- passing frequent and loose stools that can be watery. Acute diarrhea goes away in a few weeks. Diarrhea becomes chronic when it lasts longer than 4 weeks.
• Dietary Fiber- coarse fibrous substances found in grains, fruits, and vegetables. Dietary fiber is generally not digested but helps move food through the digestive tract. Eating dietary fiber helps prevent many long-term illnesses, including type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain gastrointestinal diseases.
• Digestive Tract- tube through which food passes and is digested, and wastes are eliminated. The digestive tract runs from the mouth to the anus and includes the esophagus, stomach, and intestines.
• Disability- a physical or mental impairment that interferes with or prevents "normal" achievement in a particular function.
• Diuretics- a type of medication sometimes called "water pills" because they work in the kidney and flush excess water and sodium from the body.
• Diversity- The presence of many different kinds of people, including people of various racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and social classes.
• DNA Test- a lab test in which a patient's DNA is tested. DNA is a molecule that has a person's genetic information and is found in every cell in a person's body.
• Domestic Partnership- The committed, long-term relationship of two unmarried people who live together.
• Domestic Violence- When spouses, intimate partners, or dates use physical violence, threats, emotional abuse, harassment, or stalking to control the behavior of their partners, they are committing domestic violence.
• Dominant Culture- The group that holds political, ideological, and economic power in a diverse society.
• Don Juanism- The desire by a man to have sex very frequently with many different partners.
• Double Standard- An unequal set of moral standards, rules, or expectations that allow one group to have more privileges than another group within a society. A sexual double standard, for example, usually places more restrictions on women than on men.
• Douche– The word "douche" means to wash or soak in French. Douching is washing or cleaning out the vagina (also called the birth canal) with water or other mixtures of fluids. Usually douches are prepackaged mixes of water and vinegar, baking soda, or iodine. Women can buy these products at drug and grocery stores. The mixtures usually come in a bottle and can be squirted into the vagina through a tube or nozzle. Women douche because they mistakenly believe it gives many benefits. In reality, douching may do more harm than good.
• Down Syndrome- Down syndrome is the most frequent genetic cause for mild to moderate mental retardation and related medical problems. It is caused by a chromosomal abnormality. For an unknown reason, a change in cell growth results in 47 instead of the usual 46 chromosomes. This extra chromosome changes the orderly development of the body and brain.
• Drug dependence- An addiction to drugs, or the inability to stop using harmful substances despite the harmful problems they cause.
• Dysmenorrhea– Painful menstrual periods that can also go along with nausea and vomiting, and either constipation or diarrhea. Dysmenorrhea is common among adolescents.
• Dyspareunia- Painful intercourse for women that may be caused by hormonal imbalances, especially those that happen after menopause.

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• Early Ejaculation- Ejaculation occurring before a man wants it to occur.
• Eating Disorder- Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, involve serious problems with eating. This could include an extreme decrease of food or severe overeating, as well as feelings of distress and concern about body shape or weight.
• Ectopic Pregnancy– A life-threatening pregnancy that is not in the uterus. It happens when a fertilized egg settles and grows in a place other than the inner lining of the uterus. Most happen in the fallopian tube, but can happen in the ovary, cervix, or abdominal cavity.
• Egg- The reproductive cell in women; the largest cell in the human body.
• Ejaculation– The moment when penis ejects whitish discharge, called semen.
• Ejaculatory Inevitability- The moment during sexual excitement when a man cannot stop his ejaculation. The prostate begins contracting and pulsing out seminal fluid.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)- an external, noninvasive test that records the electrical activity of the heart.
• Electrolysis- An electrical current is used to remove unwanted hair.
• Electrolyte Imbalance- when the amounts of sodium and potassium in the body become too much or too little.
• Emancipated Minor- A minor who has legal autonomy and usually lives on her or his own without financial support from parents or guardians.
• Embryo–The organism that develops from the pre-embryo and begins to share the woman's blood supply about nine days after fertilization.
• Emergency Contraception– Emergency contraception, or emergency birth control, is used to help keep a woman from getting pregnant after she has had unprotected sex (sex without using birth control).
• Emergency Hormonal Contraception- The use of oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse.
• Emphysema- A disease than involves damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. The air sacs have trouble deflating once filled with air, so they are unable to fill up again with the fresh air needed to supply the body. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of emphysema.
• Endometriosis– Endometriosis is a common health problem in women. It gets its name from the word endometrium, the tissue that lines the uterus (womb). In women with this problem, tissue that looks and acts like the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus in other areas. These areas can be called growths, tumors, implants, lesions, or nodules. Symptoms include sharp abdominal pains as well as menstrual cramps and painful sexual intercourse.
• Endometrium–The inner lining of the uterus - the part of the uterus that engorges with blood each month and is shed form the body during menstruation
• Endorphins- Opium-like chemicals made in the brain. They may contribute to a person’s sense of well-being
• Endoscopy- a diagnostic procedure in which a thin, flexible tube is introduced through the mouth or rectum to view parts of the digestive tract.
• Endurance- The measure of your body’s ability to keep up an activity without getting tired. The more endurance you have, the longer you can swim, bike, run or play a sport before tiring out.
• Engorgement- condition in which breasts become overly full of milk. Engorged breasts may feel swollen, hard, and painful. Engorgement can lead to blocked milk ducts.
• Enriched- When vitamins or minerals are added to a food to make it more nutritious. An example is calcium-enriched orange juice.
• Epididymis- The tube in which sperm mature. It is tightly coiled on top of and behind each testis. The plural of epididymis is epididymides.
• Epididymitis- An inflammation of the epididymis.
• Epidural- During labor a woman may be offered an epidural, where a needle is inserted into the epidural space at the end of the spine, to numb the lower body and reduce pain. This allows a woman to have more energy and strength for the end stage of labor, when it is time to push the baby out of the birth canal.
• Epilepsy- a physical disorder that involves recurrent seizures. It is caused by sudden changes in how the brain works.
• Episiotomy- This is a procedure where an incision is made in the perineum (area between the vagina and the anus) to make the vaginal opening larger in order to prevent the area from tearing during delivery.
• Erectile Dysfunction– The inability to achieve and keep a penile erection.
• Erection- A "hard" penis when it becomes full of blood and stiffens.
• Erogenous Zone- Any area of the body very sensitive to sensual touch.
• Erotic- That which is sexually arousing.
• Erotica- Sexually arousing imagery that is not considered pornographic, obscene, or offensive to the average person.
• Erotophilia- Appreciation of the erotic.
• Erotophobia- Fear and anxiety about the erotic.
• Erythrocytes- Red blood cells.
• Esophagus- Tube that connects the throat with the stomach.
• Estrogen– a group of female hormones that are responsible for the development of breasts and other secondary sex characteristics in women. Estrogen is produced by the ovaries and other body tissues. Estrogen, along with progesterone, is important in preparing a woman's body for pregnancy. Estrogen's major effects are seen during puberty, menstruation, and pregnancy.
• Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT)– ERT refers to a woman taking supplements of hormones such as estrogen alone or estrogen with another hormone called progesterone (progestin in its synthetic form). ERT replaces hormones that a woman’s body should be making or used to make.
• Estrus- The period of fertility and sexual arousal in the female animal.
• Ethnocentric- The belief that one's own country, culture, or ethnic group is superior to others'.
• Excitement- The body's physical response to desire and to stimulation. The second stage of the sexual response cycle.
• Exhibitionism– When someone exposes him/herself in public. A paraphilia in which sexual arousal becomes dependent on exposing the sex organs to those who will be surprised.
• Exhibitionists- Women or men who expose their sex organs to other people without their consent, usually in public places.
• External Sex and Reproductive Organs- The sex organs and structures on the outside of the body that are primarily used during sexual activity. These include the vulva in a woman and the penis and scrotum in a man.
• Extramarital Sex- Sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than his or her spouse.

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• Fallopian Tubes– part of the female reproductive system, these tubes carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus (or womb) and are where the egg and sperm come together at fertilization.
• Fake Orgasm- The pretense of having reached climax in order to end sex play or please a partner.
• Fallopian Tube- One of two narrow tubes that carry the egg from the ovary to the uterus.
• Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM)- Barrier methods of birth control for vaginal intercourse during the "unsafe days" of a woman's fertile phase.
• Fantasy- A sexually arousing thought and mental image.
• Fatigue- A feeling of lack of energy, weariness or tiredness.
• Fatty Tissue- Connective tissue that contains stored fat. Also referred to as adipose tissue. Fatty tissue in the breast protects the breast from injury.
• Feces– Solid waste that leaves the bowels through the anus.
• Female Circumcision- The practice of removing a girl's clitoral hood, clitoris, and/or the labia; often called female genital mutilation. This is practiced in some African, Near Eastern, and Southeast Asian cultures.
• Female Condom- A polyurethane sheath with flexible rings at each end that is inserted deep into the vagina like a diaphragm. It is an over-the-counter, reversible barrier method of birth control that may provide protection against many sexually transmitted infections.
• Female Genital Cutting (FGC)- It is the collective name given to traditional practices that involve the partial or total cutting away of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genitals, whether for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons. Historically, it has been also called "female genital mutilation" or "female circumcision". The age at which FGC is performed on women and girls varies. It may be performed during infancy, childhood, marriage or during a first pregnancy. FGC is typically performed on young girls who are between 4 and 12 years old, however, by a medically untrained person-often an older woman-from the local culture or community. Increasingly FGC is also performed by trained health personnel, including physicians, nurses and midwives.
• Feminine- Characteristics and ways of behaving that a culture associates with being a girl or a woman.
• Feminine Protection- The tools to help control the menstrual flow (your period). Common forms of protection available are pads, tampons and pantyliners.
• Feminism- The belief that women and men have equal social, economic, sexual, and political rights.
• Fertilization- The union of the ovum (egg) and sperm.
• Fetal Alcohol Effects- Fetal abnormalities caused by alcohol during pregnancy that may not be as severe as those associated with fetal alcohol syndrome.
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome- Fetal abnormalities affecting growth, the central nervous system, and facial features that are caused by women drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
• Fetishism- A paraphilia in which certain objects, substances, or parts of the body become necessary for sexual arousal.
• Fetus- The organism that develops from the embryo at the end of about seven weeks of pregnancy and receives nourishment through the placenta.
• Fever- body temperature is raised above normal and is usually a sign of infection or illness.
• Fibro-adenoma- A kind of lump in the breast that's an enlargement of a normal breast lobule.
• Fibroids– Uterine fibroids are tumors or growths, made up of muscle cells and other tissues that grow within the wall of the uterus (or womb). Although fibroids are sometimes called tumors, they are almost always benign (not cancerous). The medical term for fibroids is uterine leiomyomata. Fibroids can grow as a single growth or in clusters (or groups). Their size can vary from small, like an apple seed (or less than one inch), to even larger than a grapefruit, or eight inches across or more.
• Fidelity- Strict observance of promises, especially of sexual faithfulness.
• Flat Nipple- A nipple that cannot be compressed outward does not protrude or become erect when stimulated or cold.
• Flirting- To show casual interest or liking.
• Flow- This describes the amount of blood that leaves your body during your period. On average, a woman passes about 4 tablespoons of blood during her period.
• Folic Acid- Folic acid is a B vitamin. Folic acid helps the body make healthy new cells. All women need folic acid. When a woman has enough folic acid before and during pregnancy, it can help prevent major birth defects of her baby’s brain or spine.
• Forced Prostitution- To make someone have sex for money, against their will.
• Foreplay- Physical and sexual stimulation — kissing, touching, stroking, and massaging — that often happens in the excitement stage of sexual response; often occurs before intercourse, but can lead to orgasm without intercourse, in which case it can be called outercourse.
• Foreskin- A retractable tube of skin that covers and protects the glans of the penis.
• Formal Values- Socially sanctioned ideals for human behavior that may or may not be consistent with actual behaviors that are sanctioned.
• Fornication- Sexual intercourse between unmarried people.
• Fortified- When ingredients are added to foods or drinks to either make them taste better or add nutrients. An example is breakfast cereal fortified with vitamins.

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• Galactosemia- a condition where the body is not able to process galactose (a sugar), which makes up half of the sugar (called lactose) found in milk. When galactose levels become high, body organs and the central nervous system can be damaged. In newborns, the condition is found when first breastfeeding and can cause jaundice and other problems.
• Gallbladder- a sac that stores a fluid called bile, which is produced by the liver. After eating, bile is secreted into the small intestine, where it helps digest fats.
• Gamete- The reproductive cell - egg or sperm.
• Gang Rape- Sexual assault committed by two or more people; also known as fraternity or party rape.
• Gastrointestinal- a term that refers to the stomach and the intestines or bowels.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER)- also called acid reflux, a condition where the contents of the stomach regurgitates (or backs up) into the esophagus (food pipe), causing discomfort.
• Gay - Homosexual.
• Gay-Bashing- Physical or verbal assaults on people who are perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
• Gay Liberation Movement- The movement to establish civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender women and men.
• Gay Rights- Civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people that are equal to those guaranteed to straight people.
• Gender- One's biological, social, or legal status as male or female.
• Gender Assignment- Medical and legal description of one's gender that is given at birth.
• Gender Dysphoria- Conflicted feelings about one's gender, gender assignment, and gender identity.
• Gender Identity- Feelings about one's gender and gender role.
• Gender Norms- Social standards about appropriate feminine and masculine behavior.
• Gender Roles- Social norms about behaving feminine or masculine.
• Gender Scripting- The socialization process by which one is conditioned to adopt certain behaviors, preferences, and attitudes considered appropriate for her or his gender.
• Gender Stereotypes- Unrealistic expectations based on gender.
• Genes- Genes come from both parents and are responsible for inherited characteristics, such as eye and hair color. Genes are in all body cells.
• Genital area- The area around the vagina, penis, scrotum, anus, and thigh.
• Genital Herpes- Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex viruses (HSV) type 1 and type 2. Most people have no or minimal symptoms from HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection. When symptoms do occur, they usually appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving ulcers or tender sores that may take up to four weeks to heal. Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months later. Although the infection can stay in the body forever, the number of outbreaks usually decreases over a period of years. You can pass genital herpes to someone else even when you experience no symptoms.
• Genital Warts- Bumps/warts caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a highly contagious condition that may appear externally on the vulva (labia) and vagina, and internally in the vagina and cervix. This may cause abnormal Pap test results, which are considered pre-cancerous
• Genitals- External sex and reproductive organs — the penis and scrotum in men, the vulva in women. Sometimes the internal reproductive organs are also called genitals.
• Gestation- The length of a pregnancy.
• Gingivitis- Inflammation of the gums, the first stage of gum disease. Gingivitis is caused by plaque deposits, which are made up of bacteria, mucus, and food debris. Injury to the gums from harsh brushing or flossing can also cause inflammation.
• Glands– Special groups of cells that do a certain job. The pituitary gland, for example, makes hormones that affect growth.An organ that makes and secretes hormones.
• Glandular Tissue- body tissue that produces and releases one or more substances for use in the body. Some glands produce fluids that affect tissues or organs. Others produce hormones or participate in blood production. In the breast, glandular tissue is involved in the production of milk.
• Glans- The soft, highly sensitive tip of the clitoris or penis. In men, the urethral opening is located in the glans.
• Gonadotropins- Hormones secreted by the pituitary gland that trigger puberty by stimulating the gonads.
• Gonads- The organs that produce reproductive cells — the ovaries of women, the testes of men.
• Gonorrhea- Gonorrhea is a curable sexually transmitted infection. Gonorrhea is caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. These bacteria can infect the genital tract, mouth, and rectum of both men and women. The bacteria are carried in semen and vaginal fluids and cause a discharge in men and women. A small number of people may be infected for several months without showing symptoms. Signs include a cloudy discharge from the vagina, lower abdominal pain and fever. It can be treated and cured with antibiotics.
• Granulocytes- White blood cells that are very important in helping the body prevent and fight infections caused by bacteria.
• Guilt- Remorse at believing one has done something wrong.
• Gynecological examination- Exam inside vagina to make sure organs are healthy.
• Gynecologist– A special type of doctor that deals with women’s health, especially with the health of women’s reproductive parts including the uterus, cervix, and vagina.
• Heavy Flow- Days of your period where the most blood is passed. Fortunately, you should only have one or two heavy flow days during your period. (Try Super or Super Plus absorbency tampons.)
• Gynecomastia- A usually temporary condition during puberty in which the breasts of boys become larger.

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• Halitosis- Offensive or bad breath.
• Hazing- A humiliating or degrading act expected of someone joining a group. It may cause physical or emotional harm, regardless if they want to participate or not. Hazing occurs with sports teams, social groups, and /or fraternities/sororities (to name a few). Examples: Being forced to wear embarrassing or humiliating clothing in public; being forced to drink alcohol or other bad substances; being sworn at or insulted.
• Heart Disease- a number of abnormal conditions affecting the heart and the blood vessels in the heart. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease, which is the gradual buildup of plaques in the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that bring blood to the heart. This disease develops slowly and silently, over decades. It can go virtually unnoticed until it produces a heart attack.
• Hemoglobin- Substance containing iron found in red blood cells, which helps the blood carry and deliver oxygen to body tissues.
• Hemophilia- A disease that makes it difficult for the blood to clot, which is how the blood sticks together to stop flowing. Without clots, a simple cut can cause someone to lose a dangerous amount of blood. This disease affects mostly boys.
• Hemorrhoids- veins around the anus or lower rectum that are swollen and inflamed.
• Hepatitis– Hepatitis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It means liver inflammation. Viral hepatitis means that a person has liver inflammation due to a virus. Viral infections of the liver make the liver swell up and stop working well. The liver is an important organ. It helps your body with these functions: Digests food, Stores energy and Removes poisons. There are five types of viral hepatitis. Some people with viral hepatitis have no signs of the infection.
• Hepatitis B- a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The virus, which is called hepatitis B virus (HBV), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. You get hepatitis B by direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person; for instance, you can become infected by having sex or sharing needles with an infected person. A baby can get hepatitis B from an infected mother during childbirth.
• Hepatitis C- a liver disease, caused by a virus that makes the liver swells and stops it from working correctly.
• Herbal supplements- Herbal supplements are different types of medicines that come in a variety forms, such as teas, vitamin pills, or creams. There has not been a lot of research done on herbal supplements to really know how well they work or how safe they are, so it is important that you ask your doctor before taking anything that he or she has not given you.
• Hermaphrodite- Someone with both female and male sex organs.
• Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)- An infection that can be sexually transmitted and cause a recurring rash with clusters of blistery sores on the vagina, cervix, penis, mouth, anus, buttocks, or elsewhere on the body. It produces recurrent blisters and ulcers. In general, HSV I infects the mouth and HSV II is a genital infection.
• Heterosexism- The bias that everyone is or should be heterosexual.
• Heterosexual- Someone who has sexual desire for people of the other gender.
• - Also known as hypertension. Blood pressure is considered high when greater than 140 over 90 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). Long-term high blood pressure can damage blood vessels and organs, including the heart, kidneys, eyes, and brain. Fewer than 10 percent of long-term high blood pressure cases are due to another medical condition, such as kidney disease or certain tumors. The remainder is caused by disruptions in the factors that regulate blood pressure. These include hormones, nervous system control of blood vessel constriction, and kidney control of salt and water levels in the blood.
• Homicide- The killing of one person by another. Homicide is not legal and is a punishable crime.
• Homophobia- Fear and hatred of people who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
• Homosexual- Someone who has sexual desire for people of the same gender.
• Homosocial- Including only one gender.
• Hormonal Contraceptives- Prescription methods of birth control that use hormones to prevent pregnancy. These include the pill, implants, and injectables.
• Hormone– Substance produced by one tissue and conveyed by the bloodstream to another to affect a function of the body, such as growth or metabolism.A chemical substance that regulates the activity of certain cells and/or organs; comes from the Greek word meaning "to set in motion." Hormones are made and secreted by glands.
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)- Replaces the hormones that a woman's ovaries stop making at the time of menopause, easing symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. HRT combines the female hormones estrogen and progesterone and is usually given in pill form. [A recent study has found that HRT can cause more harm than good in healthy women, and can increase a woman's risk for breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, and pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung). Talk with your health care provider to find out if HRT is best for you and about other ways to control menopause symptoms.]
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)- HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV infection can produce no symptoms for many years. When certain symptoms develop, a person has AIDS. HIV infection is life-long, there is no cure. A viral infection contracted through the exchange of bodily fluids most commonly during sexual intercourse, as well as oral sex. It may be transferred to an unborn baby in utero. It is weakening the body's ability to fight disease and can cause AIDS.
• Hymen- A thin, delicate membrane (a membrane is like skin, but much thinner). It partially covers the opening of the vagina in most girls.
• Hyperfemininity- The exaggeration of gender-stereotyped behavior that is believed to be feminine.
• Hypermasculinity- The exaggeration of gender-stereotyped behavior that is believed to be masculine.
• Hyperphilia- Having sex more often than most people.
• Hypertension- See high blood pressure.
• Hypoactive Sexual Desire- The lack of sexual desire.
• Hypophilia- Having sex very infrequently, or not at all.
• Hypothalamus- A small area in the brain that regulates basic animal functions.
• Hysterectomy- A hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman's uterus (womb). The uterus is where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant. In some cases, the ovaries and fallopian tubes also are removed. These organs are located in a woman’s lower abdomen. The cervix is the lower end of the uterus. The ovaries are organs that produce eggs and hormones. The fallopian tubes carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus.

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• Ibuprofen- An antiprostaglandin drug that is used to treat a wide variety of pain, including uterine cramping. It is sold under such brand names as Advil, Naprosyn, and Motrin.
• Immune System- a complex system in the body that recognizes and responds to potentially harmful substances, like infections, in order to protect the body.
• Immunizations- Immunizations keep people from getting sick by immunizing, or protecting, the body against certain infectious diseases. Vaccines contain parts or products of infectious organisms or whole germs that have been changed or killed. A vaccine gets the body's immune system ready to fight off infection by that germ. Most immunizations that prevent you from catching diseases like measles, whooping cough, and chicken pox are given by a shot.
• Implantation- The attachment of the pre-embryo to the lining of the uterus.
• Incest– sexual contact between family members, sexual intercourse between persons so closely related that they are forbidden by law to marry; also: the statutory crime of such a relationship
• Indigestion- also called dyspepsia. Indigestion is a common problem that causes a vague feeling of abdominal discomfort after meals. Symptoms also can include an uncomfortable fullness, belching, bloating, and nausea. It may be triggered by eating particular foods, after drinking wine or carbonated drinks, or by eating too fast or overeating.
• Infatuation- Impulsive, usually short-lived, emotional and erotic attachment to another person.
• Infected- To have a disease or virus.
• Infertility- A condition in which a couple has problems conceiving, or getting pregnant, after one year of regular sexual intercourse without using any birth control methods. Infertility can be caused by a problem with the man or the woman, or both.Most experts define infertility as not being able to get pregnant after at least one year of trying. Women who are able to get pregnant but then have repeat miscarriages are also said to be infertile.
• Inflammation- used to describe an area on the body that is swollen, red, hot, and in pain.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease- long-lasting problems that cause irritation and ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract. The most common disorders are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
• Informal Values- Social sanctions for behaviors that may or may not be consistent with socially sanctioned ideals for behavior.
• Inhibited Arousal- The inability to become sexually aroused and enjoy sex play, despite one's sexual desire.
• Inhibited Orgasm- Inability to have an orgasm.
• Inhibited Sexual Desire- The lack of sexual desire.
• Inhibition- Feeling restraint due to fear or guilt.
• Insecticides- chemicals used to control or kill insects.
• Insomnia- Insomnia is too little or poor-quality sleep caused by one or more of the following: Trouble falling asleep, Waking up a lot during the night with trouble returning to sleep, Waking up too early in the morning, Having un-refreshing sleep (not feeling well rested), even after sleeping 7 to 8 hours at night. Insomnia can cause problems during the day, such as excessive sleepiness, fatigue, trouble thinking clearly or staying focused, or feeling depressed or irritable. It is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night. Although the amount of sleep a person needs varies, most people need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night.
• Insulin- one of many hormones that help the body turn the food we eat into energy and helps store energy to be used later. People with diabetes mellitus, a condition in which the body does not make enough insulin, might need to inject themselves with insulin to help their bodies' cells work properly.
• Intercourse- Sexual activity between two people in which insertion of the penis occurs. This includes vaginal intercourse, oral intercourse, and anal intercourse.
• Internalized Homophobia- The fear of homosexuality within one's self.
• Internal Sex and Reproductive Organs- The organs inside the body that are responsible for producing, moving, and nourishing human reproductive cells. Because internal organs may be sensitive or respond to sexual stimulation, these organs are also called sex organs.
• Intersex- People with ambiguous sex organs, neither exclusively female nor exclusively male; for example, people with androgen insensitivity syndrome, Kleinfelter syndrome, or congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
• Intestines- also known as the bowels or the long, tube-like organ in the human body that completes digestion or the breaking down of food. They consist of the small intestine and the large intestine.
• Intimacy- The closeness and familiarity we feel as we share our private and personal selves with someone else.
• Intimidation- To make someone fearful in order to make them do what another person wants them to do.
• Intrauterine Device (IUD)- A small device made of plastic that is placed inside a woman's uterus by a health care provider, which prevents pregnancy by changing the environment of the uterus (or womb).
• Introitus- The tissue of the inner vulva that frames the opening to the vagina.

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• Jealousy- Anxiety about a partner's love and commitment.
• Jock Itch- A very common fungal skin infection in the genital area of men that is caused by wearing tight clothing, sweating, or not drying the genitals carefully after bathing. It can cause a reddish, scaly rash that can become inflamed, very itchy, and painful.

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• Kidney Disease- a number of conditions that can cause your kidneys not to work as well as they should or even shut down. People with kidney disease often have no symptoms and do not know there is a problem until their kidneys shut down. If your kidneys fail, you will have to have regular dialysis (a treatment that removes waste from your blood) or a kidney transplant.
• Kidney Stones- hard mass developed from crystals that separate from the urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney.
• Kleptophilia- A paraphilia in which sexual arousal becomes dependent on stealing.

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• Labia Majora- The large lips of the vulva that extend from the mons pubis down either side of the vulva
• Labia Minora- The smaller, fleshy inner lips of the vulva that are closer to the vaginal opening than the labia majora
• Lactation- Breastfeeding or the secretion of breast milk.
• Lactobacilli- Bacteria present in healthy vaginas of women. They help relieve vaginitis by limiting the growth of Candida, yeast.
• Lactose- a sugar found in milk and milk products like cheese, cream, and butter.
• Lactose Intolerance- People with lactose intolerance have trouble digesting lactose, the natural sugar found in dairy foods. This is because their bodies do not have enough of the enzyme lactase.
• LAM (Lactational Amenorrhea Method)- Breast-feeding as birth control for up to six months after childbirth.
• Lamaze- a philosophy of giving birth developed by Dr. Ferdinand Lamaze. The goal of Lamaze classes is to increase women's confidence in their ability to give birth. Lamaze classes teach women simple coping strategies for labor, including focused breathing. But Lamaze also teaches that breathing techniques are just one of the many things that help women in labor. Movement, positioning, labor support, massage, relaxation, hydrotherapy and the use of heat and cold are some others.
• Laxative- medicines that will make you have a bowel movement.
• Lead- a metal that can make infants and young children sick.
• Lean- Meat and poultry that has little or no fat, making it healthier to eat.
• Lesbian- A homosexual woman.
• Leukocytes- White blood cells.
• Leucorrhea- A white, sticky vaginal discharge that is normal during adolescence.
• Levonorgestrel- A synthetic progestin similar to the hormone progesterone, which is produced by the body to regulate the menstrual cycle.
• Libido– sexual drive.
• Ligaments- Straps that fasten bones to each other.
• Light Flow and Medium Flow- When your period tapers off. (For medium flow, use a tampon with Regular absorbency. Really light flow may require only a pantyliner.)
• Limerance- A powerful and constantly distracting and obsessive infatuation.
• Lobes- Groups of alveoli sacs in women's breasts.
• Long-Term Reorganization Phase- The second phase of rape trauma syndrome, in which the victim tries to regain control of life.
• Love- A strong caring for someone else. It comes in many forms. There can be love for romantic partners and also for close friends, for parents and children, for God, and for humankind.
• Lovemap- A blueprint of one's adult sexual appreciations and preferences that develops while one is growing up.
• Lupus- One of the diseases that causes the immune system, which normally protects the body, to actually attack it. Lupus can cause problems with the skin, joints and organs on the inside of the body.
• Lust- The desire for sexual pleasure.
• Lyme disease- a bacterial illness caused by a bacterium called a "spirochete" that is transmitted to humans from the bite of a deer tick. It can cause abnormalities in the skin, joints, heart and nervous system.
• Lymph- the almost colorless fluid that travels through the lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight infection and disease. Lymph tissue in the breast helps remove waste.
• Lymphocytes- White blood cells that produce antibodies.

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• Malignant- cancerous
• Mammogram– A mammogram or x-ray of the breast, along with a clinical breast exam (an exam done by your doctor) is the most effective way to detect breast cancer early. Mammograms have both benefits and limitations. For example, some cancers can't be detected by a mammogram, but may be detectable by breast exam.
• Marijuana- Marijuana is a green or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. It can be eaten in certain foods or smoked. It is an illegal drug.
• Marital Rape- Coerced sexual intercourse within marriage.
• Masculine- Characteristics and ways of behaving that a culture associates with being a boy or a man.
• Masochism- A paraphilia in which sexual arousal becomes dependent on sexual role play or fantasy that includes receiving punishment, discipline, or humiliation.
• Masturbation- Touching one's own sex organs for pleasure.
• Mediation- Bringing in an outside person(s) to help end a fight.
• Megan's Law- Federal and state laws that require police to notify citizens of the presence of convicted pedophiles in their communities.
• Menarche– The fancy term for first menstrual period or beginning of menstruation.
• Meningitis- infection which causes inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
• Menopause– Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her period stops. It is a normal change in a woman's body. A woman has reached menopause when she has not had a period for 12 months in a row (and there are no other causes, such as pregnancy or illness, for this change). Menopause is sometimes called, "the change of life." Leading up to menopause, a woman’s body slowly makes less and less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This change often happens between the ages of 45 and 55 years old.As you get near to menopause, you may have symptoms from the changes your body is making. Many women wonder if these changes are normal, and many are confused about how to treat their symptoms. Menopause affects every woman differently. Your only symptom may be your period stopping. You may have other symptoms, too. Many symptoms at this time of life are because of you getting older. But some are due to menopause.
• Menorrhagia- The medical name for periods that are unusually heavy or prolonged.
• Menses- The Latin word meaning month. It is another word for menstruation
• Menstrual Cycle– Menstruation is part of the menstrual cycle, which helps a woman's body prepare for the possibility of pregnancy each month. A cycle starts on the first day of a period. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long. However, a cycle can range anywhere from 23 days to 35 days.
• Menstrual Flow- Blood, fluid, and tissue that are passed out of the uterus during the beginning of the menstrual cycle.
• Menstruation– Menstruation is a woman's monthly bleeding. It is also called menses, menstrual period, or period. It is a period of about 3-7 days. When a woman has her period, she is menstruating. The menstrual blood is partly blood and partly tissue from the inside of the uterus (womb). It flows from the uterus through the small opening in the cervix, and passes out of the body through the vagina. Most menstrual periods last from three to five days.
• Menstruation Period- The menstrual cycle begins with the first day of your period and ends the first day of your next period. The cycle usually lasts about 28 days.
• Metabolism- The different ways that the body makes and uses energy, such as in digesting food.
• Method-Effectiveness- The reliability of a contraceptive method itself — when it is always used consistently and correctly.
• Migraine- A migraine headache is a severe pain felt on one, and sometimes, both sides of the head. The pain is mostly in the front around the temples or behind one eye or ear. Besides pain, you may have nausea and vomiting, and be very sensitive to light and sound. Migraine can occur any time of the day, though it often starts in the morning. The pain can last a few hours or up to one or two days.
• Milk Ducts- The passages in women's breasts through which milk flows from the alveoli to the nipple.
• Mineral- an element (such as calcium, iron, sodium, or potassium) that is obtained from food and is needed by the body.
• Mini-Pills- Birth control pills that contain only the hormone progestin.
• Miscarriage- A miscarriage is the loss of pregnancy from natural causes before the 20th week of pregnancy. Most miscarriages occur very early in the pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant. An unplanned loss of a pregnancy. Also called a spontaneous abortion.
• Moderate exercise- A level of exercise that is not too intense. Fast walking is moderate exercise while running is more vigorous exercise that requires more energy and effort.
• Molluscum Contagiosum- A virus that can be sexually transmitted causes small, pinkish-white, and waxy, round, polyplike growths in the genital area or on the thighs.
• Monogamous Relationship- A relationship in which both people date or have sex only with one another and no one else.
• Mons Pubis- The fatty tissue that covers your pubic bone. (The pubic bone is at the top of your pubic area, between your legs.) After puberty, it is covered with pubic hair.
• "Morning-After" Pills- Emergency hormonal contraception that is taken within 120 hours of unprotected intercourse.
• Multiple Orgasms- More than one orgasm occurring within the same sexual encounter.
• Multiple Sclerosis- Also called MS, a disorder of the brain and spinal cord that causes decreased nerve function associated with the formation of scars on the covering of nerve cells. Symptoms range from numbness to paralysis and blindness. A person with MS slowly loses control over his or her body.
• Muscular Dystrophy- A group of disorders that causes muscles to be weak and causes loss of muscle tissue.
• Mutual Masturbation- Touching each other’s sex organs.
• Mutuality- Reciprocating equally with feelings and behavior.
• Myths- Unfounded or false stories or ideas.

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• Nerve(s)- cells in the human body that are the building blocks of the nervous system (the system that records and transmits information chemically and electrically within a person). Nerve cells, or neurons, are made up of a nerve cell body and various extensions from the cell body that receive and transmit impulses from and to other nerves and muscles. Nerve tissue in the breast makes breasts sensitive to touch, allowing the baby's sucking to stimulate the let-down or milk-ejection reflex and milk production.
• Neural Tube Defect- A major birth defect caused by abnormal development of the neural tube, or the structure in an embryo which develops into the brain and spinal cord. Neural tube defects are among the most common birth defects that cause infant death and serious disability. The most common neural tube defects are anencephaly, spina bifida, and encephalocele. In anencephaly the skull and most or all of the brain does not develop. Encephalocele is a hernia of part of the brain and of the membranes covering it. Spina bifida is an opening in the column encasing the spinal cord.
• Nipple– The dark tissue in the center of the areola of each breast in women and men that can stand erect when stimulated by touch or cold. In a woman's breast, the nipple may release milk that is produced by the breast.
• Normophilia- Sexual preferences that are considered common or "normal" according to social norms.
• Nurse-Midwife- A nurse who has undergone special training and has received certification on birthing (labor and delivery). Nurse-midwifes can perform most of the same tasks as physicians and have emergency physician backup when they deliver a baby.
• Nutrient- any food substance that provides energy or helps build tissue.
• Nymphomania- The desire by a woman to have sex very frequently with many different partners.

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• Obese- Being overweight.
• Obesity- Obesity is more extreme than being overweight. A person is thought to be obese when weight is 25 percent (for women) more than the weight she should be for her height. Obesity can be defined using BMI (Body Mass Index). A person with a BMI over 30 is thought to be obese.
• Obscenity - Sexually arousing imagery that is considered socially offensive.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)- An anxiety disorder in which a person suffers from obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions, such as cleaning, checking, counting, or hoarding. The person becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are senseless and distressing but very hard to stop. OCD can be mild or severe, but if severe and left untreated, can stop a person from being able to function at work, at school, or even in the home.
• Occupational Therapy- therapy aimed to restore a person's basic skills, such as bathing and dressing.
• Oedipal Conflict- The Freudian theory that children have an unconscious sexual attachment to the parent of the other gender, causing them to be hostile toward the parent of the same gender.
• Oligomenorrhea- Infrequent or scanty periods.
• Open Relationship- A relationship in which both partners are free to date or have sex with other people.
• Oral Contraceptive- The birth control pill.
• Oral Sex– Sucking and/or licking a partner’s sex organ.
• Orgasm- The peak of sexual arousal when all the muscles that were tightened during sexual arousal relax, causing a very pleasurable feeling that may involve the whole body. The fourth stage of the sexual response cycle.
• Osteoporosis- Osteoporosis (oss-tee-oh-puh-ro-sis) is a condition that means your bones are weak, and you’re more likely to break a bone. Since there are no symptoms, you might not know your bones are getting weaker until you break a bone! A broken bone can really affect a woman’s life. It can cause disability, pain, or loss of independence. It can make it harder to do daily activities without help, such as walking. This can make it hard to participate in social activities. It can also cause severe back pain and deformity. Osteoporosis can happen to any of your bones, but is most common in the hip, wrist, and in your spine, also called your vertebrae. Vertebrae are important because these bones support your body to stand and sit upright.
• Outercourse- Sex play that does not include inserting the penis in the vagina or anus.
• Ova- Unfertilized egg cells (a single egg is called "ovum") that mature in the ovary and are released during ovulation
• Ovaries– Two oval-shaped organs located in the lower abdomen on either side of the uterus that produce hormones and release eggs or ova. Each month, through the process called ovulation, the ovaries release eggs into the fallopian tubes, where they travel to the uterus, or womb. If an egg is fertilized by a man's sperm, a woman becomes pregnant and the egg grows and develops inside the uterus. If the egg is not fertilize, the egg and the lining of the uterus is shed during a woman's monthly menstrual period
• Ovary- Together, the two ovaries contain all the eggs a woman will produce in her lifetime. There is one ovary on each side of the uterus. Once a month, ovulation occurs, which is when the egg matures and travels out of the ovary.
• Over-the-Counter– Over-the-counter medicines are medicines you can buy at a pharmacy or store without a prescription, or an order from your doctor. Examples include cold medicine, medicines for stomach pain, or pain relievers.
• Ovulation– The actual release of a single egg from a follicle that developed in the ovary. It usually occurs regularly, around day 14 of a 28-day menstrual cycle.
• Ovulation Method- a method used by couples trying to get pregnant, in which they have intercourse just before or after ovulation.
• Ovum- A mature egg cell. Once the egg is mature, it travels from the ovary through the fallopian tube to the uterus where, if unfertilized, it will be shed with the endometrium.

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• Panic Disorder- An anxiety disorder in which a person suffers from sudden attacks of fear and panic. The attacks may occur without a known reason, but many times they are triggered by events or thoughts that produce fear in the person, such as taking an elevator or driving. Symptoms of the attacks include rapid heartbeat, chest sensations, shortness of breath, dizziness, tingling, and feeling anxious.
• PAP Smear or Test– The Pap test also called a Pap smear, checks for changes in the cells of your cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb) that opens into the vagina (birth canal). The Pap test can tell if you have an infection, abnormal (unhealthy) cervical cells, or cervical cancer. A Pap test can save your life. It can find the earliest signs of cervical cancer - a common cancer in women.
• ParaGard (Copper T-380 A)- An IUD that contains copper and can be left in place for 10 years.
• Paraphilia- A sex practice that becomes necessary for sexual arousal but that is not approved by social norms.
• Parental Consent- Requirement that one or both parents give written permission for a minor child to receive medical attention or to enter into a legal contract.
• Parkinson's Disease– A disease affecting the part of the brain associated with movement. It is characterized by shaking and difficulty with movement coordination.
• Passionate Love- Powerfully intense feelings of erotic attachment.
• Pedophilia- A paraphilia in which sexual arousal for an adult becomes dependent on having sexual contact or fantasies of sexual contact with a child.
• Peers Pressure- Social pressure on somebody to act or dress a certain way in order to be accepted as part of a group.
• Pelvic Exam– during this exam, the doctor or nurse practitioner looks for redness, swelling, discharge, or sores on the outside and inside of the vagina. A Pap test tests for cell changes on the cervix. The doctor or nurse practitioner will also put two fingers inside the vagina and press on the abdomen with the other hand to check for cysts or growths on the ovaries and uterus. STD tests may also be done.Physical examination of the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus, and ovaries — usually includes taking cervical cells for a Pap test and a manual exam of the internal pelvic organs.
• Pelvic Girdle- A bony and muscular structure inside a woman's body that supports her internal sex and reproductive organs.
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)– Pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, is an infection of a woman's pelvic organs (uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries). PID can affect the fallopian tubes (the tubes that carry eggs from the ovary to the uterus, or womb). It can also involve the tissues in and near the uterus and ovaries. PID can be treated and cured with antibiotics. If left untreated, PID can lead to serious problems like infertility (not being able to get pregnant), ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus), constant pelvic pain, and other problems.
• Penis- A man's reproductive and sex organ that is formed of spongy tissue and fills with blood during sexual excitement, a process known as erection. Urine and seminal fluid pass through the penis.
• Peptic Ulcers- a sore on the lining of the stomach or duodenum (beginning of the small intestine). Peptic ulcers are common — one in 10 Americans develops an ulcer at some time in his or her life. One cause of peptic ulcer is bacterial infection, but some ulcers are caused by long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs), like aspirin and ibuprofen. In a few cases, cancerous tumors in the stomach or pancreas can cause ulcers. Peptic ulcers are not caused by stress or eating spicy food.
• Perfect Use- The contraceptive effectiveness for women and men whose use is consistent and always correct.
• Performance Anxiety- The fear of being unable to please a partner.
• Perimenopause– Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause when you start to notice menopause-related changes--plus the year after menopause. Perimenopause is what some people call "being in menopause" or "going through menopause." But menopause itself is only one day--the day you haven’t had a period for 12 months in a row. During perimenopause, your ovaries start to shut down, making less of certain hormones (estrogen and progesterone), and you begin to lose the ability to become pregnant. This change is a natural part of aging that signals the ending of your reproductive years.
• Perinatal Depression- depression that occurs during pregnancy or within a year after delivery
• Perineum- The area between the vagina and the anus.
• Peripartum Depression- depression after pregnancy
• Period- The portion of the menstrual cycle when menstrual fluid (the endometrium) is shed.
• Periodic Abstinence- Not having vaginal intercourse during the "unsafe days" of a woman's fertile phase in order to prevent pregnancy.
• Pesticides- any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, or repelling any pest. It also includes herbicides, fungicides, and various other substances used to control pests.
• Peyronie's Disease- A rare condition that is caused by fibrous growths inside the penis.
• Pheromones- Odors given off by animals that attract the other gender.
• Phobias- An anxiety disorder in which a person suffers from an unusual amount of fear of a certain activity or situation.
• Phototherapy- treatment with light. Prescription phototherapy exposes the baby's skin to special fluorescent lights. In mild cases of jaundice, exposing the baby's skin to sunlight (taking care to avoid sunburn) is sometimes recommended.
• Physical Fitness- A condition of good health that results from healthful foods, exercise, and regular medical checkups.
• Physical Therapy- therapy aimed to restore movement, balance and coordination.
• Pictophilia- A paraphilia in which sexual arousal becomes dependent on viewing pornographic pictures, movies, or videos with or without a partner.
• Pituitary Gland– The pituitary gland is a small gland attached to the brain as part of the endocrine system. A gland is a group of cells that makes and then releases special chemicals called hormones. The pituitary gland makes different hormones that affect how other glands in the system release their hormones. Among other hormones, the pituitary makes growth hormone and endorphins, special chemicals that help provide natural pain relief from within the body.
• Placenta- During pregnancy, a temporary organ joining the mother and fetus. The placenta transfers oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the fetus, and permits the release of carbon dioxide and waste products from the fetus. The placenta is expelled during the birth process with the fetal membranes.
• Plaque- a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances that accumulate in the walls of the arteries.
• Plasma- The liquid part of blood, which contains nutrients, proteins, minerals and dissolved waste products.
• Plateau- The stage of sexual arousal in which a person has been sexually excited and may approach orgasm. The third stage of the sexual response cycle.
• Platelets- Small cells floating in the blood that play a key role in blood clotting.
• Pneumonia- inflammation of the lungs. Causes of pneumonia include bacteria and viruses.
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)- PCOS is a mild hormonal imbalance that can cause irregular periods, unwanted hair growth, weight gain, and acne. This is a common condition that begins during the teenage years.
• Polyunsaturated Fats- molecules consisting primarily of carbon and hydrogen and containing two or more double bonds among the carbon atoms.
• Polygamy- Having more than one spouse.
• Pornography- Pictures, videos, and written material that openly shows sexual situations and causes sexual excitement.
• Post-Ovulation Method- A method of contraception using periodic abstinence or FAMs from the beginning of menstruation until the morning of the fourth day after predicted ovulation — more than half of the menstrual cycle.
• Postpartum Depression (PPD)- a serious condition that requires treatment from a health care provider. With this condition, feelings of the baby blues (feeling sad, anxious, afraid, or confused after having a baby) do not go away or get worse.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder- A psychological condition that can happen when a person sees or experiences something traumatic, such as rape, murder, torture, or wartime combat. A person can have many symptoms including flashbacks (re-living the event), nightmares, fatigue, anxiety, and forgetfulness. A person can also withdraw from family and friends.
• Potassium- a mineral that plays important roles in muscle contraction, the beating of the heart, and the sending of nerve impulses.
• Precocious Puberty- Precocious puberty is puberty that begins before age 8 years for girls and before age 9 years for boys. The word “precocious” means developing unusually early.
• Preeclampsia- Also known as Toxemia, it is a condition that can occur in a woman in the second half of her pregnancy that can cause serious problems for both her and the baby. It causes high blood pressure, protein in the urine, blood changes and other problems.
• Pre-Ejaculate- The liquid that oozes out of the penis during sexual excitement before ejaculation; produced by the Cowper's glands.
• Pre-Embryo- The ball of cells that develops from the fertilized egg until after about nine days, when it attaches to the lining of the uterus and the embryo is formed.
• Pregnancy- Pregnancy is the term used to describe when a woman has a growing fetus inside of her. In most cases, the fetus grows in the uterus. Human pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, or just more than 9 months, from the start of the last menstrual period to childbirth
• Pregnancy Test- Pregnancy tests look for a special hormone in the urine or blood that is only there when a woman is pregnant. This hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), can also be called the pregnancy hormone. The pregnancy hormone, hCG, is made in your body when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus. The amount of hCG increases drastically with each passing day you are pregnant. Many home pregnancy tests claim they can tell if you're pregnant on the day you expect your period. But a recent study shows that most don't give accurate results this early in pregnancy. Waiting one week after a missed period will usually give a more accurate answer.
• Premarital Sex- Sexual intercourse between people before marriage.
• Premature Ejaculation- Ejaculation occurring before a man wants it to occur — often before his partner reaches orgasm.
• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)– Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a group of symptoms linked to the menstrual cycle. PMS symptoms occur in the week or two weeks before your period (menstruation or monthly bleeding). The symptoms usually go away after your period starts. PMS can affect menstruating women of any age. It is different for each woman: it may be just a monthly bother or it may be so severe that it makes it hard to even get through the day. Monthly periods stop during menopause, bringing an end to PMS. The symptoms may include headaches, backaches, food cravings, depression, moodiness, breast tenderness, bloated feeling or weight gain, pain in the joints, and general tiredness. These symptoms should quickly disappear once the period begins.
• Perinatal Care- Perinatal care is the health care you get while you are pregnant. Perinatal care can help keep you and your baby healthy. Babies of mothers who do not get Perinatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight and five times more likely to die than those born to mothers who do get care.Doctors can spot health problems early when they see mothers regularly. This allows doctors to treat them early. Early treatment can cure many problems and prevent others. Regular health care is best for you and your baby.
• Pre-seminal fluid- The fluid that comes out of the penis before ejaculation of semen. There may be only a small amount of this fluid, but it can still pass viruses such as HIV. Also called "pre-ejaculate."
• Pre-Term Labor— labor that occurs before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy.
• Priapism- A continuous partial erection without sexual stimulation that is caused by dysfunctional blood flow into the corpus cavernosa.
• Primary Lactase Deficiency- when a person is born with the inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products. Lactose can't be digested because there is not enough of an enzyme, called lactase, in the body. Consuming milk and dairy products causes diarrhea, bloating, gas, and discomfort. This deficiency can also develop over time, as the amount of lactase in the body decreases with age.
• Primary Sex Characteristics- The body organs and reproductive structures and functions that differ between women and men. The differences include the external and internal sex and reproductive organs. It also includes a woman's ability to produce eggs and a man's ability to produce sperm.
• Pro-Choice- The belief that women have the right to choose abortion.
• Progesterone- A female hormone produced by the ovaries. Progesterone, along with estrogen, prepares the uterus (womb) for a possible pregnancy each month and supports the fertilized egg if conception occurs. Progesterone also helps prepare the breasts for milk production and breastfeeding.
• Progestin- A hormone that works by causing changes in the uterus. When taken with the hormone estrogen, progestin works to prevent thickening of the lining of the uterus. This is helpful for women who are in menopause and are taking estrogen for their symptoms. Progestins also are prescribed to regulate the menstrual cycle, treat unusual stopping of the menstrual periods, help a pregnancy occur or maintain a pregnancy, or treat unusual or heavy bleeding of the uterus. They also can be used to prevent pregnancy, help treat cancer of the breast, kidney, or uterus, and help treat loss of appetite and severe weight or muscle loss.
• Prolactin- a hormone that increases during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It stimulates the human breast to produce milk. Prolactin also helps inhibit ovulation.
• Prophylactic- A device used to prevent infection; the condom.
• Prostate- An internal reproductive organ below the bladder that produces a fluid that helps sperm move.
• Prostate Gland- a gland in a man's reproductive system. It makes and stores seminal fluid. This fluid is released to form part of semen.
• Prostatitis- An enlargement and inflammation of the prostate gland that results in a dull persistent pain in the lower back, testes, scrotum, and glans of the penis. There may also be a thin mucus discharge from the penis, especially in the morning.
• Prostitution- The performance of sexual acts for pay.
• Protein- any of a group of large molecules that contain primarily carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Proteins are essential to the structure and function of all living cells. Examples of proteins in the body include enzymes, antibodies, and some hormones.
• Psychiatrist- a doctor (M.D.) who treats mental illness. Psychiatrists must receive additional training and serve a supervised residency in their specialty. They can prescribe medications.
• Psychologist- A clinical psychologist is a professional who treats mental illness, emotional disturbance, and behavior problems. They use talk therapy as treatment, and cannot prescribe medication. A clinical psychologist will have a master's degree (M.A.) or doctorate (Ph.D.) in psychology, and possibly more training in a specific type of therapy.
• Psychology- The study of the mind and its processes.
• Psychotherapy- Counseling or "talk" therapy with a qualified practitioner in which a person can explore difficult, and often painful, emotions and experiences, such as feelings of anxiety, depression, or trauma. It is a process that aims to help the patient become better at making positive choices in his or her life, and to become more self-sufficient. Psychotherapy can be given for an individual or in a group setting.
• Puberty– Puberty is the time in life when a person becomes sexually mature. It is a physical change that usually happens between ages 10 and 14 for girls and ages 12 and 16 for boys. Some African American girls start puberty earlier than white girls, making their age range for puberty 9 to 14.time when the body is changing from the body of a child to the body of an adult. This process begins earlier in girls than in boys, usually between ages 8 and 13, and lasts 2 to 4 years. Puberty is marked by physical changes of the body such as breast development and menstruation in girls and facial hair growth and ejaculation in boys.
• Pubic Hair- Hair that grows in the genital area of women and men. Pubic hair is a secondary sex characteristic appearing at puberty.
• Pubic Lice- Tiny insects that can be sexually transmitted. They live in pubic hair and cause intense itching in the genitals or anus.
• Pudenal Block- This procedure anesthetizes, or numbs, the area around the vulva to reduce pain during labor and delivery.
• Purging- forcing oneself to vomit.
• Puritans- Early American Protestant colonists who established English laws and social and sexual mores in the northeastern United States. Though actually less sexually restrictive than commonly believed, the Puritan is now the symbol of sexual suppression.

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• Quinine- a medication used to treat malaria (a disease caused by a parasite that lives part of its life in humans and part in mosquitoes).

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• Radiation- treatment using radiation to destroy cancer cells.
• Rape - Coerced sexual intercourse.
• Rape Trauma Syndrome- The emotional and physical consequences one experiences after being sexually assaulted.
• Rapid Orgasm- When a woman climaxes more quickly than her partner and loses interest in continued sex play.
• Reality-Based Sexuality Education- Age-appropriate, culturally sensitive sexuality education programs that include open, nonjudgmental information about all aspects of sexuality; they encourage critical thinking, self-actualization, and behavioral changes through the empowerment of holistic knowledge about the body, sex, relationships, birth control, safer sex, gender role, and so on, by being realistic about people's lives. Also referred to as comprehensive sexuality education.
• Rectovaginal Exam- Physical examination of the reproductive organs and the tissues that separate the vagina and rectum.
• Rectum- The lowest end of the intestine before the anus, where solid waste (feces) is stored.
• Red blood cells- Small, hemoglobin-filled blood cells that carry oxygen to the body's tissues.
• Refractory Period- The time after ejaculation during which a man is not able to have an erection.
• Registered Dietitian- An expert on food health. In the United States, anyone who wishes to become a registered dietician must take certain courses and pass an exam.
• Rehabilitation- Training, therapy, or other help given to someone who has a serious injury or illness. This training will help him or her to live a healthy and productive life.
• Relaxation techniques- These are techniques, or things that you can do, to help you relax. They are often used for reducing stress. Relaxation techniques include meditation (sitting still, breathing slowly and clearing your mind), yoga, deep breathing, and visualization (closing your eyes and seeing a scene that relaxes you, such as a beach or a mountain lake).
• Remission- a period of time without symptoms of a chronic condition.
• Reproductive Cell- The unique cell — egg in women, sperm in men — that can join with its opposite to make reproduction possible.
• Reproductive organs- The parts of the body involved in reproduction (producing a baby). In a female, they include the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and vagina.
• Resistant- does not respond.
• Resolution- The period after orgasm in which the body returns to a nonstimulated state. The last stage in the sexual response cycle.
• Respite Care- care and supervision usually provided by volunteer organizations that provides a person's caregiver some time of rest or relief.
• Retarded Ejaculation- Commonly used term for inhibited orgasm in men.
• Retrograde Ejaculation- An ejaculation from the prostate into the bladder.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis- A painful disease that causes joints, tissues, and sometimes other parts of your body, to swell.
• Roe versus Wade- The 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.
• Role Play- Acting out a fantasy with a partner.
• Romantic Love- An idealized love relationship that is often as unrealistic as it is passionate. In courtship, romance may have elements of flattery, excitement, and the feeling of being "swept away," as in a fairy tale.
• Rooting- a reflex that newborn babies have, along with the reflexes for sucking and swallowing. Rooting means turning the head to search for the nipple and milk.
• Rubella- also called German measles. Rubella virus causes rash, mild fever, and arthritis. If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects.
• Rut- The period of sexual arousal in male animals that is a response to estrus.

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• Sacred- Devoted to religious purpose.
• Sadism- A paraphilia in which sexual arousal becomes dependent on sexual role play or fantasy that includes giving punishment, discipline, or humiliation.
• Sadomasochism (S and M)- The consensual use of domination and/or pain for sexual stimulation in sex play. The "sadist" is the partner who dominates and inflicts pain. The "masochist" is the partner who is dominated and receives pain.
• Safer Sex- Ways in which people reduce the risk of getting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
• Safe Word- A previously agreed upon signal that means a partner is no longer enjoying a sexual activity and it must stop.
• Sample- The group of people or subjects studied in a research project.
• Sanitary Pad- An absorbent "napkin" made of cotton or similar fibers that are worn against the vulva to absorb menstrual flow.
• Saturated Fats- molecules consisting primarily of carbon and hydrogen and containing no double bonds among the carbon atoms. In other words, all of the carbon atoms are fully saturated with hydrogen atoms.
• Satyriasis- The desire by a man to have sex very frequently with many different partners.
• Scabies- Tiny mites that can be sexually transmitted. They burrow under the skin, causing intense itching — usually at night - and small bumps or rashes that appear in dirty-looking, small curling lines, especially on the penis, between the fingers, on buttocks, breasts, wrists, and thighs, and around the navel.
• Schizophrenia- a brain disease that can cause loss of personality, agitation, catatonia (being in a statue-like state), confusion, psychosis (a disorder in which a person is not in touch with reality), unusual behavior, and withdrawal. The illness usually begins in early adulthood. No one knows the exact cause of schizophrenia, but a problem with a gene called COMT has been found to raise the risk of developing it.
• Scoliosis- When the spine curves either away from the middle of the body or to the side.
• Scrotum- A sac of skin, divided into two parts, enclosing the testes, epididymides, and a part of the vasa deferentia.
• Secondary Sex Characteristics- Characteristics of the body that are caused by hormones, develop during puberty, and last through adult life. For women, these include breast development and widened hips. For men, they include facial hair development. Both genders develop pubic hair and underarm hair.
• Secular- Devoted to human purpose.
• Sedative- a drug that calms a person and allows her or him to sleep.
• Seizures- uncontrollable contractions of muscles that can result in sudden movement or loss of control, also known as convulsions.
• Self-Esteem– How you feel about yourself - how you feel about who you are, the way you act, and how you look. When a person does not think too highly of themselves, she is said to have low self-esteem.
• Semen– the fluid (which contains sperm) a male releases from his penis when he becomes sexually aroused or has an orgasm. Semen is composed of seminal fluid from the seminal vesicles, fluid from the prostate, and fluid from the Cowper's glands.
• Seminal Fluid- A fluid that nourishes and helps sperm to move. Seminal fluid is made in the seminal vesicles.
• Seminal Vesicle- One of two small organs located beneath the bladder that produce seminal fluid.
• Seminiferous Tubules- A network of tiny tubules in the testes that constantly produce sperm. Seminiferous tubules also produce androgens, the "male" sex hormones.
• Serotonin- A neurotransmitter found naturally in the brain and intestines that sends messages throughout the body. Impaired serotonin activity has been linked to symptoms of anxiety, impulsiveness, aggression and increased appetite.
• Sex- Gender; the act of sex play.
• Sex Cell- A reproductive cell.
• Sex Drive- Our natural urge and desire to have sex.
• Sexism- Bias against a certain gender — especially against women.
• Sexology- The scientific study of sex and sexuality through many disciplines including, but not limited to, anthropology, biology, sociology, history, psychology, medicine, and law.
• Sex Play- Any voluntary sexual activity, with or without a partner.
• Sex Therapy- Treatment to resolve a sexual problem or dysfunction such as premature ejaculation, inability to have orgasm, or low level of sexual desire.
• Sexual Abuse- Sexual activity that is harmful or not consensual.
• Sexual Addiction- The compulsive search for having very frequent sex.
• Sexual Assault– Sexual assault and abuse is any type of sexual activity that you do not agree to, including: inappropriate touching, vaginal, anal, or oral penetration, sexual intercourse that you say no to, rape, attempted rape, child molestation. Sexual assault can be verbal, visual, or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention. Examples of this are voyeurism (when someone watches private sexual acts), exhibitionism (when someone exposes him/herself in public), incest (sexual contact between family members), and sexual harassment. It can happen in different situations, by a stranger in an isolated place, on a date, or in the home by someone you know.
• Sexual Aversion Disorder - The fear of sexual contact.
• Sexual Compulsion- An obsession with having very frequent sex, often with many different sex partners.
• Sexual Compulsives Anonymous- A self-help recovery group for women and men who want to control what they believe to be sexual addictions.
• Sexual Conflict- The clash between sex drive and sexual inhibition.
• Sexual contact- Any type of contact during sexual activity between two people, including sexual intercourse, oral sex, and skin to skin contact in the genital area (around the vagina, penis, scrotum, anus, and thigh). STDs such as genital herpes, HPV (warts), and syphilis can be passed by having sexual contact with areas that are not be covered by a condom.
• Sexual Desire- A strong physically arousing attraction.
• Sexual Discomfort- Feelings of sexual inhibition that are not as severe as dysfunctions.
• Sexual Dysfunction- A psychological or physical disorder of sexual function.
• Sexual Harassment– Sexual advances (like touching, grabbing) or sexual comments (that can be offensive and/or joking) that are not wanted or appropriate. This can happen in the workplace and a person can feel like they have no control over it. They may decide not to deal with it because they fear they will lose their job or not get a raise or promotion.Unwanted sexual advances with suggestive gestures, language, or touching.
• Sexual Identity- Feelings about one's own sexual orientation, gender, gender role, and gender identity.
• Sexual intercourse- Sex involving putting the penis in the vagina.
• Sexuality- The interplay of gender, gender role, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual preference, and social norms as they affect physical, emotional, and spiritual life.
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)- Any disease that can be spread from one person to another during sexual interaction (intercourse and/or other kinds of sexual activity).
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)– Sexually Transmitted Infections are diseases that you get by having intimate sexual contact, that is having sex (vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse), with someone who already has the disease.
• diseases that are spread by sexual activity.
• Sexual Norm- A cultural norm regarding sex or sexuality.
• Sexual Orientation- The term used to describe the gender of the objects of our sexual desires. People who feel sexual desire for members of the other gender are heterosexual, or straight. People who feel sexual desire for people of the same gender are homosexual, or gay. Gay women are called lesbians. People who are attracted to both genders are bisexuals.
• Sexual Repression- The suppression of sexual activities, ideas, or identities that are perceived to be harmful or morally wrong.
• Sexual Response Cycle- The pattern of response to sexual stimulation. The five stages of the cycle are desire, excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution.
• Sexual Seduction- Legally, the encouragement of a younger or less mature person into an illegal sexual situation.
• Sexual Stereotype- An overly simplified judgment or bias regarding the sexuality of a person or group.
• Sex Worker- One who is paid for providing sex or sexually arousing conditions, including prostitution, striptease, lap dancing, commercial phone sex, and erotic massage.
• Shaft- A part of the penis and clitoris.
• Shot, the- A progestin that is injected every 12 weeks to prevent pregnancy. It is a reversible method of birth control available only by prescription.
• Sleep Apnea- a disorder involving brief interruptions of breathing during sleep.
• Smegma- A sticky, white, unpleasant-smelling substance produced at the glans of the penis. It is formed by bacteria and body oils.
• Social Stigma- Severe disapproval for behavior that is not within cultural norms.
• Social Worker- A licensed clinical social worker (L.C.S.W.) is trained in psychotherapy and helps people with many different mental health and daily living problems to improve overall functioning. Usually has a master's degree in social work (M.S.W.).
• Sociology- The study of human relationships, interactions, beliefs, values, behaviors, and their meanings.
• Sodium- a mineral that is used in regulating the amount of water in the body. Sodium also plays important roles, along with potassium, in muscle contraction, the beating of the heart, and the sending of nerve impulses. Sodium is an ingredient of table salt.
• Sodomy- Oral or anal intercourse.
• Somatotropin- The human growth hormone secreted by the pituitary gland.
• Specimen- A sample of body tissue used for testing or examination.
• Spectatoring- The habit of thinking about, comparing, grading, and monitoring one's sexual performance while having sex.
• Speculum- An instrument that is placed into the vagina to hold the vaginal walls apart when examining the cervix
• Speculum Exam- Physical examination of the walls of the vagina and cervix that is accomplished by using a speculum.
• Speech Therapy- therapy aimed to help a person with a speech or language disorder or problem to restore basic speech skills.
• Sperm– The reproductive cells in men’s semen that can get a girl pregnant during sex.
• Spermarche- The time when sperm is first produced by the testes of a boy.
• Spermatogenesis- The process of producing sperm. Spermatogenesis occurs in the seminiferous tubules of the testes.
• Spermicides– chemical jellies, foams, creams, or suppositories, inserted into the vagina prior to intercourse that kill sperm.Chemicals used to immobilize sperm and protect against certain sexually transmitted infections.
• Spina Bifida— Spina bifida is the most common of all birth defects. Its name means "clef spine," or a failure of a fetal spine to close the right way when it is developing before birth. It occurs very early in pregnancy, roughly three to four weeks after conception, before most women know that they are pregnant. Any woman can have an affected pregnancy. Most women who bear a child with Spina bifida have no family history of it.
• Spirochete- Organism that causes syphilis.
• Squeeze Technique- A method for postponing early ejaculation.
• Statutory Rape- Sexual intercourse between an adult and anyone who is below the age of consent, whether or not it is voluntary.
• Stereotype- An overly simplified judgment or bias regarding a person or group.
• Sterilization- Surgical methods of birth control that are intended to be permanent — blocking of the fallopian tubes for women or the vasa deferentia for men.
• Stethoscope- instrument used by health care professionals to detect sounds produced in the body. Commonly used to listen to your heartbeat to detect any heart-related problems and to listen to your lungs for sounds that they could have fluid inside them.
• Stillbirth- when a fetus dies during birth, or when the fetus dies during the late stages of pregnancy when it would have been otherwise expected to survive.A stillbirth is the loss of pregnancy due to natural causes after the 20th week of pregnancy. It can occur before delivery or during delivery.
• Stimuli- Things that excite response or action.
• Straight- Heterosexual.
• Stranger Rape- Coerced sexual intercourse by an assailant unknown to the victim.
• Stress- Being made to feel threatened or challenged in some way.
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)- the diagnosis given for the sudden death of an infant under one year of age that remains unexplained after a complete investigation. Because most cases of SIDS occur when a baby is sleeping in a crib, SIDS is also commonly known as crib death. Most SIDS deaths occur when a baby is between 1 and 4 months of age.
• - a method of pregnancy planning or birth control that combines certain aspects of the calendar, the basal body temperature, and the cervical mucus methods. It takes into account all these factors as well as other symptoms a woman might have, such as slight cramping and breast tenderness.
• Synthetic- made in a lab and not from a natural source.
• Syphilis– Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum. Syphilis can also be passed from mother to infant during pregnancy. The most common way to get syphilis is by having sexual contact with an infected person. Syphilis is sometimes called "the great imitator" because it has so many possible symptoms, and its symptoms are similar to those of many other diseases. It can lead to blindness, mental illness, cardiac disease and even death if it is not treated. It can be cured with antibiotic injections.

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• Taboo- Behavior that is beyond the moral limits of cultural norms.
• Tampon- A firm roll of absorbent cotton or other fiber that is worn inside the vagina to absorb menstrual flow.
• Tendons- Bands of tough tissue that connect a muscle with a bone or other part.
• Tenting- The expansion of the inner vagina during sexual excitement.
• Testes- Two ball-like glands inside the scrotum that produce sperm.
• Testicles (Testis)– the male sex gland. There are a pair of testes behind the penis in a pouch of skin called the scrotum. The testes make and store sperm, and make the male hormone testosterone
• Testosterone– A hormone made mostly by the testes in the male. This hormone causes many of the changes males deal with during puberty - deeper voices, body and facial hair, and the making of sperm. Women produce small amounts of this hormone.
• The Pill- Common expression for oral hormonal contraception.
• Thelarche- The time when a girl's breasts begin to develop.
• Thrombocytes- Platelets, which are in your blood.
• Thrush- a yeast infection, caused by the fungus Candida albicans, of the mouth and throat. It's hallmark is white patches in the mouth. It can also occur in the gastrointestinal tract and vagina, and causes some types of diaper rash in infants.
• Thyroid– The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that makes and stores hormones that help regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate at which food is converted into energy.
• Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)– A very rare but dangerous illness that affects the whole body. TSS is caused by bacteria that make toxins (poisons) in the body. Tampon use can make it easier for bacteria to enter the body. Symptoms include high fever that comes on suddenly, dizziness, rash, and feelings of confusion. It is recognizable and treatable.
• Trans Fats- a type of unsaturated fat. Most trans fats are chemically produced by food manufacturers to prolong the shelf life of processed food. Some trans fats occur naturally in meat and dairy products from animals such as cattle, goats, and sheep. Eating trans fats increases the risk of certain long-term illnesses, such as coronary artery disease. Trans fats can be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated.
• Transgender- People who often choose to live the role of the opposite gender because their gender identity conflicts with their sexual anatomy. Also often used as an umbrella term to describe the community of androgyne, cross-dressing, transgender, transsexual, or transvestite people whose gender identities do not conform to the psycho-social gender role expectations of their societies.
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)- A "mini-stroke" where there is a short-term reduction in blood flow to the brain usually resulting in temporary stoke symptoms. Does not cause damage to the brain, but puts a person at higher risk of having a full stroke.
• Transmitted- To give to someone else; to spread.
• Transsexuals- People who desire to have their sexual anatomy altered because it is in conflict with their gender identity.
• Transvestite- People who cross dress for erotic satisfaction.
• Transvestophilia- A paraphilia in which sexual arousal becomes dependent on wearing clothing, especially underwear, associated with the other gender.
• Trichomoniasis- Trichomoniasis (pronounced trih-kuh-muh-nye-uh-sus), also called “trick,” is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). It is caused by a parasite that can be passed from one person to another. The parasite is sexually transmitted through penis-to-vagina intercourse or vulva-to-vulva contact with an infected partner. The vulva is the genital area outside the vagina. Women can get the disease from infected men or women. While trichomoniasis is usually passed sexually, it may be picked up from contact with damp or moist objects such as towels, wet clothing, or a toilet seat, if the genital area gets in contact with these damp or moist objects. Many women do not have any symptoms, but still have the STD.
• Trimester- A typical pregnancy is 9 months long. Pregnancy is divided into three time periods, or trimesters, that are each about three months in duration - the first, second, and third trimesters.
• Triple Screen- blood test that indicates if there's an increased risk of a birth defect, or a condition like Down Syndrome, in the fetus. This test can also show twins.
• - A condition in which a baby is conceived with three copies instead of the normal two copies of chromosome #18. Children with this condition have multiple malformations and mental retardation due to the extra chromosome #18. Some of the problems include: low birth weight, small head, small jaw, malformations of the heart and kidneys, clenched fists with abnormal finger positioning, and malformed feet. The mental retardation is severe. Ninety five percent of children with this condition die before their first birthday.
• Tubal Sterilization - Surgical blocking of the fallopian tubes that is intended to provide permanent birth control.
• Tuberculosis- a disease caused by bacteria that usually affects your lungs. Tuberculosis (TB) bacteria is spread through the air from one person to another. If someone with TB of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes, people nearby who breathe in the bacteria can get TB. If your body can't stop the bacteria from growing, you will develop TB disease.
• Typical Use- Contraceptive effectiveness for women and men whose use is not consistent or always correct.

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• Ultrasound- a painless, harmless test that uses sound waves to produce images of the organs and structures of the body on a screen. Also called sonography.
• Umbilical Cord- connected to the placenta and provides the transfer of nutrients and waste between the woman and the fetus.
• Uncircumcised - Description of a penis that has a foreskin.
• Ureters- The two tubes that lead from the kidneys to the bladder.
• Urethra– The canal that carries urine from the bladder; in the male, also serves as a passage for the release of semen from the body.
• - a test that looks at urine to find out its content. Can be used to detect some types of diseases.
• Urinary Incontinence- Urinary (YOOR-in-air-ee) incontinence (in-KAHN-tih-nens) is when urine leaks out before you can get to a bathroom. If you have urinary incontinence, you're not alone. Millions of women have this problem. There are many reasons why a woman may leak urine. Sometimes it's caused by an illness, in which case bladder control returns when the illness goes away. For example, bladder infections and infections in the vagina can cause incontinence for a short time. Being unable to have a bowel movement or taking certain medicines also may make it hard to control your bladder.
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)– An infection anywhere in the urinary tract, or organs that collect and store urine and release it from your body (the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra). An infection occurs when microorganisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, cling to the urethra (opening to the urinary tract) and begin to multiply.
• Urine Test- A strip of special paper is dipped in the urine after urination. This will show if there are any abnormal problems in the urine.
• Use-Effectiveness- The reliability of a contraceptive method as it is usually used — when it is not always used consistently or correctly.
• Uterine Contractions- During the birthing process, a woman's uterus tightens, or contracts. Contractions can be strong and regular (meaning that they can happen every 5 minutes, every 3 minutes, and so on) during labor until the baby is delivered. Women can have contractions before labor starts; these are not regular and do not progress, or increase in intensity or duration.
• Uterine Fibroids- Uterine fibroids are the most common, non-cancerous tumors in women of childbearing age. The fibroids are made of muscle cells and other tissues that grow within and around the wall of the uterus.
• Uterus– Also called the womb. The uterus is a pear-shaped, hollow organ in a female’s pelvis where a baby develops during pregnancy. The uterus is made up of muscle with an inside lining called the endometrium. The endometrium builds up and thickens during the menstrual cycle to prepare for a possible pregnancy

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• Vaccine- medicine that protects the body from the disease.
• Vagina– The muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. Its walls are lined with mucus membranes and tiny glands that make vaginal secretions. The vagina is the entrance to the reproductive system, and where menstrual fluid moves out of the body. It is a flat passageway between the uterus and the outside of your body. The vagina can stretch to hold a tampon in place or stretch to allow the birth of a baby.
• Vaginal Intercourse- Sex play in which the penis enters the vagina.
• Vaginal Opening- The opening of the vagina. The vaginal opening is where menstrual blood and vaginal discharge leave the body and where the tampon is inserted.
• Vaginal Secretion- A substance that is excreted from the vagina. Is sometimes referred to as vaginal discharge
• Vaginismus- Painful intercourse for a woman that occurs when her fear and anxiety about vaginal intercourse cause the muscles around her vagina to go into spasm when her partner tries to insert a penis or dildo.
• Vaginitis– Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina. It often is caused by infections, some of which are associated with serious diseases. The most common vaginal infections are: Bacterial vaginosis, Trichomoniasis and Vaginal yeast infection. Some vaginal infections are transmitted through sexual contact, but others, such as yeast infections, probably are not.
• Values- Ideas of what is right, worthwhile, or moral.
• Varicocele- An enlargement of the spermatic vein, which supplies blood to the testis. It can reduce blood flow and increase the temperature of the testicle, thereby causing infertility.
• Vas Deferens- A long, narrow tube that carries sperm from each epididymis to the seminal vesicles. The plural of vas deferens is vasa deferentia.
• Vasectomy- Surgical blocking of the vasa deferentia in men that is intended to provide permanent birth control.
• Veins- Thin-walled blood vessels that receive blood from capillaries and return it to the heart.
• Venereologist- One who studies sexually transmitted infections.
• Viability- The ability of a fetus to survive outside a woman's body.
• Victorians- People who lived during and after the reign of Britain's Queen Victoria (1837-1901) — especially those who shared her fears about human sexuality.
• Vigorous exercise- Exercise that involves a high level of energy and effort. Running is vigorous exercise while fast walking is more moderate or less intense exercise.
• Virgin- Someone who has never had sex.
• Virginity- Never has had sexual intercourse.
• Viruses- small microscopic organisms that often cause disease.
• Vitamin- any of various chemicals needed for metabolism. Vitamins are found in minute quantities in food, and some are produced by the body.
• Voluntary Sterilization- Surgically implemented contraception that is intended to be permanent and that is freely chosen.
• Voyeurism– looking at sexual acts or naked people, often without their knowledge. when someone watches private sexual actsA paraphilia in which sexual arousal becomes dependent on watching people undress or have sex play unaware that they are being watched.
• Voyeurs- Women or men who become aroused by secretly watching another person undress or engage in sexual behavior.
• Vulva– The vulva covers the entrance to the vagina. It includes the clitoris, the labia (majora and minora), the opening to the vagina (introitus), and two Bartholin's glands.
• Vulvodynia- Vulvodynia is a term used to describe chronic pain or discomfort of the vulva.

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• Wheezing- breathing with difficulty, with a whistling noise. Wheezing is a symptom of asthma.
• Wet Dreams- Erotic imaging during sleep that causes ejaculation.
• White blood cells- Blood cells that are involved in fighting infection and helping to heal wounds.
• Withdrawal– Penis is pulled out of the vagina during sex, before ejaculation.Pulling the penis out of the vagina before ejaculation in order to avoid pregnancy.

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• Yeast Infection –  A vaginal yeast infection is irritation of the vagina and the area around the vagina, called the vulva. It is caused by an overgrowth of the fungus or yeast Candida. Yeast normally live in the vagina in small numbers, but when the bacteria in the vagina become out of balance, too many yeast grow and cause an infection. Vaginal yeast infections are very common. About 75 percent of women have a yeast infection during their lives. A common vaginal disorder caused by yeast called Candida albicans. It is characterized by a cottage cheese-like vaginal discharge with intense vaginal itching or burning.

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