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Abortifacient - Any kind of device or drug that can cause an abortion.
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Abdominal - The area right below your stomach.
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Abortion – An abortion is a procedure, either surgical or medical, to terminate a pregnancy by removing the fetus and placenta from the uterus.
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Abstinence – In simple word, not having any kind of sexual activities.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Adolescence – The period of life from puberty to adulthood when a young person grows up. All emotional and physical changes happen during this period.
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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.
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Adultery - Sexual intercourse between a married person and someone who is not his or her spouse.
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Age of Consent – The minimum age for marrying and sexual contact (varies from state-to-state).
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Age of Majority - The age at which one becomes a legal adult.
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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.
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Allergen - a foreign substance to the body's immune system that may cause an allergic reaction.
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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.
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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).
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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).
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Amniotic Fluid – clear, slightly yellowish liquid that surrounds the unborn baby (fetus) during pregnancy. It is contained in the amniotic sac.
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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.
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Ampulla - The widest part of the fallopian tube where fertilization of the egg occurs.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Antibodies - Proteins produced by white blood cells to fight bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances.
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Antidepressants - a name for a category of medications used to treat depression.
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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.
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Antiperspirant - Helps prevent sweating.
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Anti-Choice - Opposed to the belief that women have the right to choose abortion.
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Anus - The opening where bowel movements leave your body when you go to the bathroom. It is not part of the reproductive system.
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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, 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.
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Aphrodisiac - A substance that is supposed to increase sexual desire.
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Areola - The dark area surrounding the nipples of women and men.
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Arteries - blood vessels that carry oxygen and blood to the heart, brain and other parts of the body.
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Arthritis - swelling, redness, heat and pain of the joints. There are over 100 types of arthritis.
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Asphyxiation - Suffocation or smothering.
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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.
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Asthma - When your airways are inflamed, causing you to wheeze, feel shortness of breath, cough and feel a tightness in your chest. a chronic disease of the lungs. Symptoms include cough, wheezing, a tight feeling in the chest, and trouble breathing.
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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.
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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.
