548 List of Difficult Words
List of Difficult Words
Here is a list of words that may be difficult to understand. Knowing what these
words mean can help you use the book better.
Some of the words included here are explained in the chapters, but many are not.
The first time they are used in a chapter, the words are written in slanted letters. Some
of the explanations here in this vocabulary also contain words written in slanted letters.
This is because an explanation for these words can be found somewhere else in this list.
This vocabulary is listed in the order of the alphabet:
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
A
abdomen The part of the body that contains the
stomach, liver, guts and reproductive organs. The
belly.
abnormal bleeding Bleeding that is different from
what is usual, natural, or average. Not normal.
abortion When a woman does something to
end a pregnancy.
abscess A raised, red, painful lump on the
skin that is filled with pus (for example, a boil).
abuse When someone hurts another person’s
body (physical abuse), humiliates or insults a
person (emotional abuse) or makes a person
do sexual things against her will (sexual abuse).
access (to health services) When health
services are available, and a woman has the
freedom, the money, and the time to use them.
acute When something happens suddenly,
lasts for a short time, and is usually serious or
strong—for example, acute pain or acute infection.
Compare with chronic.
addiction When the body feels a strong need for
alcohol or a drug.
afterbirth See placenta.
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
A disease caused by the HIV virus usually passed
through sex. A person has AIDS (rather than
just being infected with HIV) when the immune
system gets so weak it can no longer fight off
common infections and illnesses.
allergy, allergic reaction, allergic shock A
problem—such as itching, sneezing, hives or rash,
and sometimes difficult breathing or shock—that
affects certain people when specific things
are breathed in, eaten, injected, or touched.
Allergic shock is a severe form of allergic reaction.
anal sex Having sex in the anus.
anemia A disease in which the blood gets weak
and thin because it lacks red blood cells. This
happens when blood is lost or destroyed faster
than the body can replace it.
anesthesia General anesthesia is when you
are given medicine to make you sleep during
an operation so you will not feel pain. Local
anesthesia is when you are given an injection in
one place so that you will not feel pain in that
area.
antacid Medicine used to control too much
stomach acid and to calm stomach upset. See
heartburn.
antibiotic Medicine used to fight infection caused
by bacteria.
antibodies Substances the body makes to fight
infection.
antiretrovirals Medicines used to help people
with HIV stay healthier and live longer. They do
not cure HIV or AIDS.
anus The opening of the intestine where waste
(stool) leaves the body.
anxiety Feeling nervous or worried.
appendicitis An infection of the appendix.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012