Birth Control Behavioral Methods Glossary of Terms

1. Birth Control Slideshow Pictures

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

Amenorrhea: Absence or cessation of menstruation. Amenorrhea is conventionally divided ...

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

Breastfeeding: Feeding a child human breast milk. According to the American Academy of Ped...

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

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

Cervical cancer: Cancer of the entrance to the womb (uterus). The cervix is the lower, na...

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

Coitus: Sexual intercourse.

Coitus interruptus: A method of contraception, also called withdrawal, in which the man wi...

Conception: 1. The union of the sperm and the ovum. Synonymous with fertilization.
...

Douche: Usually, a stream of water applied into the vagina for cleansing purposes. A douch...

Douching: Using water or a medicated solution to clean the vagina and cervix or any other ...

Ectopic: In the wrong place, out of place. For example, an ectopic kidney is a kidney that...

Ectopic pregnancy: A pregnancy that is not in the uterus. The fertilized egg settles and g...

Ejaculation: Ejection of sperm and seminal fluid during an orgasm in a male.

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

Estrogen: A female steroid hormone that is produced by the ovaries and, in lesser amounts,...

FDA: Food and Drug Administration.

Fertile: Able to conceive and bear offspring. Also known as fecund.

Fertility: The ability to conceive and bear children, the ability to become pregnant throu...

Fertility awareness: Also known as natural family planning, periodic abstinence and the rh...

Fertilization: The process of combining the male gamete, or sperm, with the female gamete,...

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

Formula feeding: Feeding an infant or toddler prepared formula instead of or in addition t...

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

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...

Hormone: A chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activit...

Infant: A young baby, from birth to 12 months of age.

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

Infertile: Not able to conceive after a year of regular intercourse without contraception.

Infertility: Diminished or absent ability to conceive and bear offspring. A couple is cons...

Menstrual: Pertaining to menstruation (the menses), as in last menstrual period, menstrua...

Menstrual cycle: The monthly cycle of changes in the ovaries and the lining of the uteru...

Menstruation: The periodic blood that flows as a discharge from the uterus. Also called me...

Mucus: A thick fluid that is produced by the lining of some organs of the body.

Natural family planning: Also known as fertility awareness, periodic abstinence and the rh...

Nursing: 1) Profession concerned with the provision of services essential to the maintena...

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

Onset: In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness as, for ex...

Ovulation: The release of the ripe egg (ovum) from the ovary. The egg is released when the...

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...

Periodic abstinence: Also known as fertility awareness, natural family planning, and the r...

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...

Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Progesterone: A female hormone, the principal hormone that prepares the uterus to receive ...

Rhythm method: Also known as fertility awareness, natural family planning, and periodic ab...

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

STD: Sexually transmitted disease.

Tubes: The "tubes" are medically known as the Fallopian tubes. There are two Fallopian tub...

Uterus: A hollow, pear-shaped organ that is located in a woman's lower abdomen, between th...

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