-
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.
