Yeast Infection (Vaginal) Glossary of Terms

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

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

Acidophilus: Bacteria found in yogurt that can help restore a supportive bacterial environ...

Allergic reaction: The hypersensitive response of the immune system of an allergic indiv...

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

Antihistamines: Drugs that combat the histamine released during an allergic reaction by bl...

Back pain: Pain felt in the low or upper back. Causes of pain in the low and upper back in...

Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) ...

Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria, as in a bacterial lung infection.

Bacterial vaginosis: A vaginal condition characterized by an abnormal vaginal discharge du...

Balanitis: Inflammation of the rounded head (the glans) of the penis. Inflammation of the ...

Biopsy: The removal of a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope to check for ...

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

Burning urination: See: Dysuria.

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

Candida albicans: A yeast-like fungal organism found in small amounts in the normal human...

Candidiasis: Disease caused by the yeast Candida albicans. Candida albicans can cause vagi...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The US agency charged with tracking and invest...

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, ...

Chemotherapy: 1. In the original sense, a chemical that binds to and specifically k...

Colposcopy: A procedure in which a lighted magnifying instrument called a colposcope (or v...

Complication: In medicine, an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result...

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. 2. A time withou...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Discharge: 1.The flow of fluid from part of the body, such as from the nose or vag...

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 ...

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

Fungal: Pertaining to a fungus. For example, a fungal skin infection.

Fungi: Plural of fungus.

Fungus: A single-celled or multicellular organism. Fungi can be true pathogens (such as hi...

Genital: Pertaining to the external and/or internal organs of reproduction.

Headache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he...

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

Hormone therapy: Treatment of disease or symptoms with synthetic or naturally derived horm...

Hygiene: The science of preventive medicine and the preservation of health. Also commonly ...

Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

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

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

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

Itching: An uncomfortable sensation in the skin that feels as if something is crawling on ...

Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures, and for preparing chemicals a...

Lactobacillus: A bacterium normally found in the mouth, intestinal tract, and vagina. Lact...

Lactobacillus acidophilus: The bacteria found in milk and fermented milk products, partic...

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

Menopause: The time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop; it is also...

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

Microscope: An optical instrument that augments the power of the eye to see small objects....

Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

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...

Pap test: A screening test for cervical cancer that involves the microscopic examination o...

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

Penile: Of or pertaining to the penis.

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

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.

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

Rash: Breaking out (eruption) of the skin. A rash can be caused by an underlying medical c...

Recur: To occur again; to return. For example, a symptom, sign, or disease can recur.

Recurrent: Appearing or occurring again. For example, a recurrent fever is a fever that ha...

Rule out: Term used in medicine, meaning to eliminate or exclude something from considera...

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

STD: Sexually transmitted disease.

Steroid: One of a large group of chemical substances classified by a specific carbon struc...

Stomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp...

Strep: Very commonly used shortened form of Streptococcus, a very common and import...

Strep throat: Strep throat is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called streptococc...

Symptom: Any subjective evidence of disease. In contrast, a sign is objective. Blood comin...

Systemic: Affecting the entire body. A systemic disease such as diabetes can affect the wh...

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

Topical: Pertaining to a particular surface area. For example, a topical agent is applied ...

Trichomoniasis: Infection with trichomonas, in humans with Trichomonas vaginalis.

Urine: Liquid waste produced by the kidneys. Urine is a clear, transparent fluid that norm...

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

Vaginal discharge: Vaginal discharge is a fluid produced by glands in the vaginal wall and...

Vaginal yeast infection: Infection of the vagina caused by a fungus known as Candida...

Yeast infection: Overgrowth of yeast can affect the skin (yeast rash), mouth (thrush), di...

Yogurt: A common dish made of milk curdled and fermented with a culture of Lactobacillus (...