Birth Control Barrier Methods Glossary of Terms

1. Birth Control Slideshow Pictures

Absorb: 1. To take something in, as through the skin or the intestine.
2....

Abstinence: The voluntary self-denial of food, drink, or sex. Today, abstinence most commo...

Allergy: A misguided reaction to foreign substances by the immune system, the body system ...

Anticipation: The progressively earlier appearance and increased severity of a disease fro...

Birth control: Birth control is the use of any practices, methods, or devices to prevent p...

Cervical: Having to do with any kind of neck, including the neck on which the head is perc...

Cervical cap: A soft rubber cup with a round rim designed to fit snugly around the cervix...

Cervix: The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb). The uterus, a hollow, ...

Endocrinology: The study of the medical aspects of hormones, including diseases and condit...

Erosion: An erosion is an eating away of a surface. ("Erodere" in Latin means to eat out.)...

FDA: Food and Drug Administration.

Female condom: Although the word "condom" usually conjures up the male condom, there is a ...

Food and Drug Administration: An agency within the US Public Health Service that provides ...

Genetics: The scientific study of heredity. Genetics pertains to humans and all other orga...

Gonorrhea: A bacterial infection that is transmitted by sexual contact. Gonorrhea is one o...

Gynecology: The branch of medicine that is particularly concerned with the health of the f...

HIV: Acronym for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the cause of AIDS (acquired immunodefi...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Insertion: A chromosome abnormality that is due to insertion of a segment from one chromos...

Labia: Lips, the fleshy folds that surround the opening of the mouth (oral labia) or the v...

Lubricant: An oily or slippery substance. A vaginal lubricant may be helpful for women who...

Male condom: The male condom is a sheath placed over the erect penis before penetration, p...

Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

Obstetrics: The art and science of managing pregnancy, labor, and the puerperium (the time...

Pelvic: Having to do with the pelvis, the lower part of the abdomen, located between the h...

Penis: The external male sex organ. The penis contains two chambers, the corpora cavernosa...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev...

Prophylactic: A preventive measure. The word comes from the Greek for "an advance guard," ...

Semen: The fluid that is released through the penis during orgasm. Semen is made up of flu...

Sexually transmitted disease: Any disease transmitted by sexual contact; caused by microo...

Shock: In medicine, a critical condition that is brought on by a sudden drop in blood flow...

Sperm: A sperm is the male "gamete" or sex cell. It combines with the female &qu...

Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Toxic shock: See Toxic shock syndrome.

Toxic shock syndrome: A grave condition occurring predominantly in menstruating women usin...

Urinary: Having to do with the function or anatomy of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or ur...

Urinary tract: The organs of the body that produce, store, and discharge urine. These orga...

Urinary tract infection: An infection of the kidney, ureter, bladder, or urethra. Abbrevia...

UTI: Urinary tract infection.

Vagina: The muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. It is ...

Virus: A microorganism that is smaller than a bacterium that cannot grow or reproduce apar...