Glossary - Center for Young Women's Health

Glossary

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Add-back therapy - Hormonal therapy sometimes prescribed to help with the side effects for those taking medicine such as Lupron Depot.

Anaphylaxis – When you have a severe reaction to something you are allergic to. You may break out in a rash, be very itchy on certain parts of your body, feel faint or have trouble breathing. If you have any of these symptoms after a vaccine, you need to go to the closest emergency room (ER).

Antibiotic – A medicine that fights a bacterial infection.

Antibodies – Small particles that are created by your immune system to help fight infection. After you have an infection or receive a vaccine, your body makes antibodies.

Anus - The opening where bowel movements leave your body.

Appendectomy - The removal of the appendix.

Areola - The round flat part of your nipple that is darker in color than the rest of your breast.

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Bladder - The organ that collects and stores urine.

Booster Shot – A shot that re-triggers your immune system to help your body fight against infections, but only if you have received the first group of shots.

Breast abscess - A breast abscess is an area of the breast that has become infected and filled with pus. A breast abscess looks like a hard breast lump that is red, tender, and painful. Often if a woman has a breast abscess, she has a fever and generally doesn't feel very well either. It is very important to be evaluated by a health care provider. Treatment usually includes antibiotics, warm soaks, and in severe cases, surgery to drain the abscess.

Breast cyst - A closed sac or pouch, sometimes found in the breast(s), that contains fluid (part liquid and part solid) or a solid material.

Breast duct - Breast tissue contains many milk ducts, which are small tubes used to transport fluids through the breast. When a woman is breast feeding, milk travels through the dilated (widened) milk ducts in her breasts and out through a small hole in her nipple.

Birth defects – Genetic problems that happen before birth as the baby is developing, and can involve different parts of the baby's body.

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Cervix - The upper part of the vagina, which connects to the uterus or womb in a girl’s body.

Childbearing – the time between when you begin menstruating and your body is making eggs, and when you reach menopause (when your body stops

making eggs).

Chronic - A condition that continues for a long time.

Consent Form - A form that describes all the details of the study and must be signed by someone on the research staff, the participant and the participant's parents (if under 18 years of age).

Control Group - The group of participants to which the experimental group is compared

Cross-contamination - The transfer of harmful substances from one food product to another through direct contact with utensils, equipment, work surfaces, or employee's hands or clothing.

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Diphtheria – An infection caused by bacteria that can cause your throat and nose to be coated with mucus, breathing problems, a fever, sore throat, throwing up, a stomachache, and chills.

DNA – DNA stand for deoxyribonucleic acid. It's a molecule inside the cells of your body that carries the "blueprints" or master plan for everything the body builds.

Double-Blind Trial - A research study in which both the participants and researchers do not know who is in the experimental and control group.

DTaP Vaccine – Diphtheria Tetanus acellular Pertussis vaccine. The first vaccine given to children in four different shots at: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 15-18 months of age.

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Endometrial cells - Cells from the lining of the uterus.

Endometrial implants - Tissue from the lining of the uterus that sticks and grows outside of its normal location.

Endometrial tissue - Tissue from the lining of the uterus

Enriched or fortified foods - Foods that have vitamins or minerals added to them in order to make them more nutritious. Foods enriched with folic acid are not necessarily high in folic acid. In order to get enough, teens should take a daily vitamin supplement with the recommended amount of folic acid, in addition to foods rich in folic acid and folate.

Experimental Group -The group of participants that test the new type of health care.

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FDA – This stands for the Federal Drug Administration. It is the government organization that decides what medicines are okay for certain people to take.

Fibroadenoma A - non-cancerous lump commonly found in the breast(s), made up of fibrous tissue that can be as small as a pea or as large as a lemon. Fibroadenomas are generally found in teenagers and women in their early twenties, but they can occur at any age. In most cases, fibroadenomas do not need to be removed unless they are large, painful, or increasing in size. Usually they shrink on their own. Often, young women who have or have had fibroadenomas are advised by their doctor to have regular check-ups and an ultrasound when necessary.

Folliculitis - Folliculitis of the breast is an inflammation of the hair follicles around the nipple area. A hair root becomes infected, which can be a mild infection or a chronic problem. Usually tiny red bumps appear. The bumps are often itchy and can become filled with pus. If the condition lasts for more than a few days, see your health care provider. Treatment usually includes warm soaks and often an oral antibiotic or ointment.

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Galactorrhea - A milky discharge from a woman's nipple other than breast milk. This can be caused by high levels of the hormone prolactin.

Gastrointestinal - Referring to the stomach and intestines.

Genes - Genes are the basic "map" for your body. They are passed down from your parents and determine how your body looks and functions.

Gland: A gland is an organ in the body that makes substances and releases them, which can cause actions inside the body (release of hormones) or outside the body (release of sweat, tears, oil, etc).

GnRH agonist - A category of medicine used to treat endometriosis. This medicine works by lowering the body's level of the hormone, estrogen.

Gynecologist - A medical doctor with additional training in the area of women's health.

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Hereditary - Usually refers to a disease or characteristic that more than one family member or blood relative has. Eye color, height, and weight are some hereditary traits that you can inherit from family members.

Hormone - A chemical messenger that is released by an organ or gland and sent through the bloodstream to another part of the body.

Hormone imbalance - A condition that occurs when someone has either too much or too little of certain hormones.

Hormonal medicine - Medicine such as birth control pills.

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Immune System – The system in your body that protects you from infections such as pertussis or HPV.

Immunized - Being immunized is when someone gets a vaccine to protect against certain illnesses such as tetanus, chicken pox, measles, and HPV.

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Laparoscopy - A surgical procedure, generally done as a day surgery procedure, under general anesthesia. A small incision is made near the navel and a lighted, thin tube is inserted to view the pelvic organs.

Laser therapy – Also called "laser vaporization", laser therapy is a surgical procedure that uses a laser beam (a very strong light) to remove unwanted tissue, like genital warts.

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Malnutrition - A condition caused by not eating enough food or not eating a balanced diet.

Mammary gland - A mammary gland is a body part or structure that is found inside a woman's breast. Mammary glands are shaped like lobes. These glands have an important function when a woman breastfeeds her baby because they work to secrete breastmilk.

Menstruation - The monthly release of blood from a woman's uterus.

Menstrual cramps - Pain in the lower abdomen during a period.

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Nutrients - Nutrients are the vitamins, minerals, and other substances in food that keep your body healthy and help it grow.

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Pelvic organs - The lower portion of the abdomen, which contains the reproductive organs; uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries.

Pharmaceutical Company - A type of organization that makes and sells medicines. Different pharmaceutical companies make certain kinds of medicine.

Placebo - An inactive pill or liquid without any medical value. It is a fake treatment.

Principal Investigator(PI) - The person in charge of the study.

Prolactin - A hormone made by the pituitary gland that causes breast milk production.

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Randomized - Each participant is randomly (like flipping a coin) placed in either the control or experimental group.

Rectum - The lowest part of the intestine.

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Scar - A mark left on your skin after certain operations. It is usually slightly raised and is a pinkish or reddish color.

Spinal cord - The part of the nervous system that is attached to the brain and is surrounded by the spine.

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Tdap Vaccine – Tetanus diphtheria acellular pertussis vaccine. It is a booster shot given to adults and teenagers to prevent pertussis infection.

Tetanus – A painful infection caused by bacteria that make your muscles tighten up. Tetanus is often called lockjaw because it can cause your jaw to lock closed so you cannot move your mouth.

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Ultrasound - A way to take pictures inside of body parts. Pictures taken by ultrasound are similar to x-ray photographs. However, when ultrasound is used, the images are produced with sound waves instead of x-rays. Ultrasound is a good way to examine breast lumps.

Urination - When the fluid (urine) that is stored in the bladder leaves the body.

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Yeast infection - An infection that is caused by the overgrowth of a fungus.

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Written by the Center for Young Women's Health Staff

Updated 7/25/2007