Birth Control Intrauterine Devices (IUDS) Glossary of Terms

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Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

Abdominal pain: Pain in the belly. Abdominal pain can be acute or chronic. It may reflect ...

Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Abortion: In medicine, an abortion is the premature exit of the products of conception (t...

Anesthetic: A substance that causes lack of feeling or awareness, dulling pain to permit s...

Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. ...

Arms: An appendage in anatomy and in clinical trials. See: Arm.

Artificial heart: A human-made heart. An artificial heart is a mechanical pump that is use...

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

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

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

Cancer of the cervix: See: Cervical cancer.

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

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

Chills: feelings of coldness accompanied by shivering. Chills may develop after exposure t...

Chlamydia: The agent of a sexually transmitted disease, a type of bacteria found in the ce...

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...

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

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

Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

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...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Heart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ...

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

Hypertension: High blood pressure, defined as a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceedi...

Implantation: The act of setting in firmly.

Incision: A cut through skin or other tissue performed by a health care professional.

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

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

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

Intrauterine: In the uterus.

Leukemia: Cancer of the blood cells. Strictly speaking, leukemia should refer only to canc...

Levonorgestrel: A progestin. Named levonorgestrel because it is the levorotatory form of n...

Medicaid: A number of US programs of public assistance for persons whose income is insuffi...

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...

Miscarriage: Inadvertent loss of a pregnancy before the fetus is viable. A considerable pr...

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

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

Organ: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special func...

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

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

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

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 ...

Progestin: Any one of a group of steroid hormones that have the effect of progesterone.

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

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

Speculum: An instrument that is used to widen the opening of the vagina so that the cervix...

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

STD: Sexually transmitted disease.

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

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

Uterine lining: The inner layer of the uterus (womb); the cells that line the womb; anatom...

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 ...

Ventricular: Pertaining to the ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart, as in ventricu...

Wilson disease: An inherited disorder of copper metabolism that results in an abnormal acc...