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adjuvant therapy - during cancer treatment, additional or adjuvant treatment is given to destroy any cancer cells that may have spread. Adjuvant treatment is usually systemic, meaning a treatment that affects the entire body. This allows the treatment to attack cancerous cells wherever they are present. The most common example of adjuvant therapy is chemotherapy given after a tumour has been surgically removed. Anesthetic - a drug used to prevent pain during surgery or other procedure. A general anesthetic makes the person unconscious. A local anesthetic numbs the area where the surgery is to be performed. Local anesthetics may be combined with sedatives to make a person relax and sleepy but not unconscious. anonymous testing site - a location designated by the Ontario Ministry of Health where doctors are exempt from reporting the identity of people having HIV tests to Public Health; you do not have to use your real name or produce a health card antibiotics - drugs used to kill bacterial or fungal infections antibody
- a protein molecule made by the immune system that recognizes and attacks
a specific invading germ anus - the opening through which solid waste (stool) is passed asthma - a lung condition where the passages of the lungs narrow causing wheezing and breathing difficulties bacteria - tiny one-celled microorganisms that reproduce by splitting in half. Microscopic cells are present everywhere. Some may cause disease; others are useful to us. basal thermometer - a very accurate thermometer that measures a person's temperature to one tenth of a degree e.g. 36.8 degrees bisexual - a person who is attracted to both men and women black cohosh - herbal remedy from the plant Cimicfuga racemosa body fluids - fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, saliva Cesarean section - the surgical removal of an infant from the uterus when vaginal delivery is not possible cervical ectropion (also know as cervical ectropian, erosion or eversion) - occurs when the junction where the cells of the vagina turn into the cells of the uterus hangs out into the vagina. It is very common, especially in younger women and those taking birth control pills. Cervical ectropion usually resolves naturally as the cervix matures, some times cervical ectropion may warrent a change in your birth control method. cervical laceration - a tear in the cervix cervical mucus - a sticky fluid which assists the movement of sperm through the cervix chancre - a genital sore causes by syphilis infection chasteberry - an herbal therapy from the plant Vitex agnus-castus
used to treat pre-menstrual syndrome chronic - a disease that continues over a long period of time and cannot be eliminated with treatment chronic fatigue syndrome - a collection of symptoms including tiredness, weakness and muscle pain is called chronic fatigue syndrome; the cause of this condition is not known, although some suspect it is due to environmental sensitivities cirrhosis - the scarring of the liver due to disease or inflammation colposcopy - a medical diagnostic procedure to examine an illuminated, magnified view of the cervix and tissue of the vulva and vagina common-law relationship - the legal term for the rights and responsibilities that apply between two people who have lived as spouses for a legally determined period of time (often one year) but who have not married contraception - birth control, family planning contraction - when muscles tense and shorten it is called a contraction; cramps are caused by muscle contractions corpus luteum - the case around an ovum when it is still in the
ovary curette - a medical instrument with a loop-shaped end used to remove small bits of tissue from the uterus dementia - severe memory loss and confusion diabetes - a condition where the body does not breakdown sugar effectively discharge - a fluid released from the vagina or other organ dysmenorrhea - difficult or painful periods ectopic pregnancy - when an ovum is fertilized and begins to develop inside the Fallopian tubes; a dangerous condition that can be fatal to a woman if left untreated ejaculation - the sudden and forceful release of fluids; this term is most often used to describe the release of semen when a man has an orgasm embryo - the stage of pregnancy following the fertilization of the ovum but before internal organs begin to develop endometrial cancer - cancer which begins as abnormal cells in the lining of the uterus endometriosis - a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining is found outside of the uterus usually in the pelvic area; causes pelvic pain and may cause infertility endometrium - the lining of the uterus that builds up during the menstrual cycle in order to nourish a fertilized ovum; it is shed during menstruation if fertilization doesn't occur epididymitis - inflammation of the scrotum episiotomy - a short cut made at the base of the vaginal opening to allow an infant to be born more easily estrogen - a hormone that regulates the female menstrual cycle evening primrose oil - oil from the plant Oethra biennis Evening primrose oil is used as an herbal treatment for a number of conditions including premenstrual syndrome. Widely used in Britain for this condition, small British studies have shown it is effective particularly in treating premenstrual irritability and depression. Naturopaths suggest four to six months of use are necessary to observe benefits. fetus - a fertilized egg grows to form a fetus after seven or eight weeks of pregnancy fibroid - an abnormal but non-cancerous growth of the muscle of the uterus folic acid supplements - one of the B vitamins found in large
amounts in spinach and liver foreplay - sexual touching and play in the early stages of arousal that makes a woman and her partner more excited fungi - single-celled life forms that are larger than bacteria and have organelles (mini-organs) inside the cells genital warts - bumpy growths in the moist areas in and around the genitals caused by the Human Papilloma Virus G-spot - the area at the top of the vagina where the back of the clitoris meets the vaginal wall; stimulation of this area may cause female ejaculation gynaecological - having to do with the female reproductive organs hepatitis - inflammation of the liver due to bacterial or viral infection heterosexual - a man or woman who is sexually attracted to someone of the opposite sex homophobia - fear of lesbians and gay men hormones - chemical messengers that the body uses to send instructions from one part of the body to another hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - supplements of the hormones which regulate the female reproductive system; these supplements may be taken during and after menopause to reduce the symtoms of menopause and the risk of some diseases such as osteoporosis hysterectomy - the removal of the uterus immune system - the integrated working of a number of the body's cells and organs to defend against infection implant - when an egg attaches to the lining of the uterus impotence - being unable to become sexually aroused; most often refers to a man's inability to have an erection infertility - the inability to have children intercourse - the penetration of the vagina with a penis irritable bowel syndrome - a digestive disorder that causes cramping pain and diarrhea jaundice - a symptom of liver disease that makes the skin and the eyes turn yellowish Kegel exercises - exercises that may be used to strengthen the muscles surrounding the vagina; check out Kegel exercises in our A-Z Health Topics section for more information lactobacilli - bacteria that normally live in the vagina and produce lactic acid, which makes the vagina somewhat acidic; this helps control the growth of other bacteria laminaria - an absorbent material made of seaweed, which is inserted in the cervix where it absorbs water and swells - pushing open the cervix laparoscopy - surgery done through a very small incision with the guidance of a telescope-like instrument called a laproscope latex - a type of rubber used to make male condoms and other methods of birth control Some people, particularly health care providers, develop allergies to this substance and must avoid birth control methods that use it. lesbian - a woman who is sexually attracted to other women libido - interest in and desire for sex lochia - vaginal bleeding that lasts for several days after the birth of a child lubricant - any substances used to make the genitals slippery and ease sexual contact see What exactly is lube? masturbation - touching one's own body for sexual pleasure menopause - when a woman's periods have ceased for more than 12 months in a row menstrual magnification - when an illness repeatedly becomes worse during the two weeks before a woman's period Mittelschmerz - German for middle pain, this refers to slight pains or twinges that some woman feel when the ovulate needle exchange - an organization that allows injection drug users to exchange used needles for clean ones in order to control infection nervous system - the brain, nervous tissue in the spine and nerves that carry sensation throughout the body obstetric care - the medical care pregnant women receive throughout their pregnancy and during delivery oral sex - sexual activity where one person uses their mouth to stimulate the other's genitals orgasm - the peak of sexual excitement when the muscles around the vagina contract in rapid pulses outercourse - sexual play that does not involve putting the man's
penis in the woman's vagina ova/ovum - eggs produced by a woman's ovaries (ovum means one egg, ova means more than one) ovarian cancer - cancer which begins as abnormal cells in a woman's ovaries ovulate/ovulation - the release of an egg from the ovary Pap smear - a test which looks for abnormal cells on the cervix; these cells may be the first signs of changes that may lead to cervical cancer pelvic examination - another name for a vaginal examination; includes a physical examination of the uterus, vagina and Fallopian tubes as well as a Pap smear and sometimes a test for infection pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) - irritation and swelling of the ovaries and Fallopian tubes; this is usually associated with a sexually-transmitted infection peri-menopause - the period of time before menopause when a woman may experience symptoms such as hot flashes or irritability due to hormonal changes polyurethane - a synthetic material which is used to make male and female condoms that do not cause allergic reactions in people with latex allergies post-coital - after sexual intercourse has occurred post-partum depression - a depression that occurs because of the hormonal changes that women experience after giving birth pre-cum - small amounts of semen that may be released before a man ejaculates progesterone - one of the hormones that regulated a woman's menstrual cycle progestin - a synthetic form of progesterone protozoa - single celled animals that are usually motile (can move from place to place) psoriasis - a skin condition where patches of skin appear dry or scaly puberty - when a girl or a boy becomes sexually mature; for a girl, when her periods begin pubic hair - hair which grows around the genitals scrotum - the sac of skin that holds the testicles sex toys - any item used for sexual pleasure particularly for penetration of the vagina or anus; toys made specifically for sexual play often resemble a penis and are then called a dildo sexual assault - any unwanted sexual contact or attention including name-calling or anything that makes a person feel bad about their sexual self or physical appearance sexually-transmitted - infections that are passes from one person to another through sexual contact spatula - a flat instrument with a specially shaped end designed to remove cells from the cervix; spatulas used for Pap smears are made of wood speculum - an instrument that is used to hold the vagina open during a vaginal exam spermicidal film - a spermicide which comes as a tiny sheet that can be inserted into the vagina; the sheet dissolves and the spermicide spreads through the vagina SSRIs - Serotonin Selective Re-uptake Inhibitors are a group of anti-depressant drugs; Prozac is an example stimulation - any activity which promotes sexual arousal suppositories - medications designed to be inserted into the vagina or anus testicles - organs inside the scrotum where sperm is produced testosterone - a hormone which in men triggers the development of sperm and a masculine appearance; women's bodies also produce small amounts of testosterone which may be important to a woman's libido toxic shock syndrome - a serious illness that may be due to toxins produced by bacteria in the vagina; click here for more information ultrasound - a scanning technique that allows a technician to view the inside of the uterus and other internal organs unprotected sex - sexual activity that happens without protection against pregnancy or sexually-transmitted infection; this may be unintentional, for example, when a condom breaks urethra - the tube that carries urine out of the body; in men sperm also passes through this tube urinary tract infection - infection of the urethra and the bladder uterine lining - the tissue which lines the uterus and would nourish a fertilized egg in the event of pregnancy; it is shed as menstrual blood when pregnancy does not occur vaccine - a substance which is used to trigger the immune system to react against a specific infection vaginal examination - a physical examination of the vagina that may also include a Pap smear and a test for infections vaginal moisturizers - commercial products that may be used by women to prevent vaginal dryness and the thinning of the vaginal wall during peri-menopause and menopause; these products are not designed for use as sexual lubricants vas deferens - the tubes which carry sperm from the testicles to the penis virus - an infecting particle that cannot reproduce on its own; a virus must take over a living cell to make copies of themselves vulva - a woman's genital area including the labia, clitoris and vaginal opening window period - the time after a person has been infected with a germ but before tests can show the infection is present; this term is most often used when talking about HIV which has a window period of up to three months following infection
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