556 List of Difficult Words
monthly cycle The period of time between
the beginning of one monthly bleeding and the
beginning of the next. About 2 weeks after a
woman starts her monthly bleeding one of her
ovaries releases an egg, and about 2 weeks after
that she starts another monthly bleeding.
monthly period See monthly bleeding.
morning sickness See nausea.
mucous method When a woman checks the
mucus in her vagina every day to find out when
she is most fertile.
mucus A thick, slippery wetness that the body
makes to protect the inside of the vagina, nose,
throat, stomach, and intestines.
mumps A contagious disease caused by a
virus and common in children. Mumps can be
prevented by vaccination.
N
natural methods (of family planning) Methods
of preventing pregnancy that do not require any
devices or chemicals.
nausea When a person feels sick to her stomach,
as though she wants to vomit. This often happens
to women during the first 3 or 4 months of
pregnancy. Also called “morning sickness.”
nipple The center of the dark-colored part on
the outside of the breast where milk comes out.
nutrition Good nutrition is eating enough food
and the right kind of food so the body can grow,
be healthy, and fight off disease.
O
operation When a doctor makes a cut in the
skin in order to repair damage inside, or to
change the way the body functions.
oral sex When a person uses his or her mouth
on a partner’s genitals to give the partner sexual
pleasure.
organ A part of the body that is more or less
complete in itself and does a specific job. For
example, the lungs are organs for breathing.
orgasm See climax.
osteoporosis Weak, brittle bones that break
easily. Osteoporosis is more common in older
women, because they produce less estrogen after
menopause.
outer folds The fatty lips of the vulva that
protect the outside genitals and close up when
the legs are together.
ovaries Small sacs about the size of an almond
or grape, one on each side of the womb. Ovaries
produce eggs that join with a man’s sperm to
make a baby.
overdose Taking too much of a drug or medicine
at one time. This can cause serious injury or
death.
ovulation When an egg is released from one
of the ovaries during the middle of a woman’s
monthly cycle.
oxygen A chemical in the air that is necessary
for life.
P
Pap test A test in which some skin cells are
scraped from the cervix during a pelvic exam and
then examined under a microscope to see if there
are any early warning signs of cancer.
paralysis Loss of the ability to move part or all
of the body.
parasites Tiny worms and animals that can live in
a person (or animal) and cause disease.
peer counselor Someone who is trained to talk
with another person who is in a similar situation.
For example, one young woman may counsel
another young woman, or someone who used to
drink too much may counsel another person who
is trying to quit.
pelvic area Everything between a woman’s hips.
This is where a woman’s reproductive parts are.
pelvic exam An examination of a woman’s
genitals both inside and outside her body. A
pelvic exam sometimes includes a speculum exam.
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) An infection
of the reproductive parts in a woman’s lower
abdomen. Also called pelvic infection.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012