Glossary - Center for Young Women's Health

Glossary

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Acanthosis Nigricans - Thickening and darkening of the skin (caused from higher levels of insulin) that can sometimes appear on the back of the neck, under the arms, and the inner thighs of girls with PCOS.

Add-Back Therapy - Hormonal therapy sometimes prescribed to help females with the side effects of a class of medicines called GnRH agonists.

Adware and Spyware - Programs that can collect information about on-line activity.

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.

Amenorrhea - No menstrual periods.

Androgens - A group of hormones made by the glands of both boys and girls. In girls, androgens can cause excess facial hair and acne.

Anemia - Anemia is a condition that occurs when you don't have enough healthy red blood cells. The most common causes are not getting enough iron or losing too much iron from heavy menstrual periods.

Anovulation - No ovulation. The ovaries are not making eggs.

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 the breast.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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

Bladder - The organ that collects and stores urine.

Blog - Short for “web log”- an on-line journal a person can use to chronicle their thoughts, activities, photos and links to other sites. Blogs can be created easily, using available blogging services. People blog about every topic under the sun, including: current events, promoting a business, heath issues, or as a diary. Teens often use blogs as a place to express their feelings.

Blood Sugar – The level of glucose in your blood.

BMI (Body Mass Index) – A way to estimate a person's body fat by using a mathematical calculation of weight and height. Too much body fat can put a person at risk for high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

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. Most breast abscesses improve with warm compresses and antibiotics. If the abscess does not get better, it will need to be drained by your doctor.

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.

Browser – Software that allows you to view information on the Internet, including text, photos, videos and music. Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari are some of the most common browsers. Every browser has different privacy policies and settings, which you should familiarize yourself with. Certain brands of computers often come with browsers already installed, such as Internet Explorer on PCs, and Safari on Apple computers.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Cache - Whenever you view material on the Internet, your browser temporarily stores images, text, and other files on the hard drive of your computer in a directory called a cache. This helps speed up the re-loading of those web pages when you revisit a web site.

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

Chat Room – An online program that allows multiple people in remote locations to have a real-time, typed conversation.

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.

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

Cookies - "Cookies are simple text files typically 100-200 bytes in file size. Cookies contain data or session information about a user who has visited a web server. “Because the data contained in a cookie may reveal personal information about your system, it is advisable to set the proper security controls on your browser software when using the web.” (source)

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.

Cyst - A fluid-filled sac that develops in the ovary. In PCOS, the cysts are tiny and don't cause problems.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Diabetes – An illness that develops when your body does not make enough insulin, or when your body has trouble using the insulin that it does make. The result is high blood sugar.

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 stands 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.

Dysmenorrhea – Pain with periods, menstrual cramps.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

E-mail - Typed messages sent to one or more people via the Internet. Email is stored on a server (special computer) until the addressee receives and reads the message.

Endocrine System - The parts of the body (glands) that make all the different hormones.

Endocrinologist - A doctor who specializes in studying the endocrine system.

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.

Endometriosis - A condition that occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found outside its normal location.

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.

Estrogen - A female sex hormone.

Experimental Group -The group of research study participants that volunteer to test something, for example, a medication or type of medical treatment.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Fertilization – When sperm from a male comes together with an egg of a female (usually through sexual intercourse, but can also be via in vitro fertilization). This leads to the development of an embryo and, later, a fetus and a baby.

FDA – This stands for the Federal Drug Administration. It is the government organization that decides what medicines are safe for 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.

Firewall - Software used to protect information from being removed from your computer without your permission, and to prevent viruses from infecting your computer by limiting what can be downloaded.

Flaming - Negative interaction usually in the form of insults and hostile remarks that are posted on discussion boards and chats rooms, or sent by email. People who flame others may be called “Internet trolls”.

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.

FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) - A hormone that is made in the pituitary gland. FSH signals the ovaries to make eggs and estrogen.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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).

Glucose - A type of sugar that our bodies use as a source of energy. When food is eaten, carbohydrates are converted to glucose.

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

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

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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.

Hirsutism - Extra hair on a part of a female's body, such as the upper lip, chin, stomach, back, or chest.

Hormone - A chemical messenger that is released by an organ or gland and then 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 that contain estrogen, progesterone, or both.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

IBS – IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is a common condition in which the bowels are easily irritated. It can cause discomfort and loose stools, constipation, or both.

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.

Instant Messenger - Software that allows people to have a real-time, typed conversation from a computer, cell phone, or hand-held device.

Insulin - A hormone made by an organ called the pancreas. It controls how the body uses energy. Insulin is important for blood sugar (glucose) becoming glycogen, and is stored in the liver and muscles.

Insulin Resistance - A condition that occurs when a person needs high levels of insulin in their body to keep their blood sugar in the normal range.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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, such as genital warts.

LH (Luteinizing Hormone) – A hormone that is made in the pituitary gland. When it gets released, it causes ovulation. LH also increases the androgen levels in the ovary.

Low thyroid – When the thyroid gland in the neck area works too slowly, and doesn't make enough thyroid hormone (which affects your digestion).

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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 release of blood from the uterus.

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

Metformin - A medicine which helps to lower insulin levels.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Nausea - Feeling like you are going to throw up.

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

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) - A test used to measure the body's ability to use glucose.

Ovaries - Two tiny organs (or glands) that are located inside the lower belly area of a female. The ovaries make the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Pancreas - The organ in the body that makes the hormone insulin.

PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) - A hormone imbalance that can cause irregular periods, unwanted hair growth, and acne.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - PID is an infection of the reproductive organs (the fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries). It is usually caused by a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

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

Pelvic Ultrasound - A test that uses sound waves to make a picture of the reproductive organs (ovaries and uterus) and bladder (where urine is stored).

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.

Plug-Ins - Programs that add functions to your computer software beyond the standard. For example, when browsing online you may get a message asking if you want to download Flash, or QuickTime plug-ins, for enhanced viewing of animations or videos.

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

Progesterone - A female sex hormone that is made by the ovary after ovulation. It changes the lining of the uterus and allows for more regular, normal periods.

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

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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

Rectum - The lowest part of the intestine.

Research 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).

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Scar - A mark on your skin, for example, 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.

Syndrome - A special condition that has a group of symptoms. PCOS is considered a "syndrome" because most females who have it have similar symptoms.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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

Testosterone – A hormone made in high levels by boys and lower levels by girls. Girls with PCOS usually have a slightly higher level of testosterone than girls who don't have PCOS.

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.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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 made with sound waves instead of x-rays.

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

Uterus - A female organ (also called a "womb") that sheds blood every month (a period), and also holds a baby while it is developing inside its mother.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Written by the Center for Young Women's Health Staff

Updated: 10/6/2009