| androgen replacement therapy | The administration of testosterone to increase sex drive, especially after oophorectomy.
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| anorexia nervosa | An eating disorder characterized by the pursuit of excessive thinness.
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| aphrodisiac | A substance that supposedly increases sexual desire or improves sexual performance.
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| benign prostatic hypertrophy | Enlargement of the prostate gland, affecting more than half of men over age 50.
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| benign tumor | A nonmalignant (noncancerous) tumor that is slow growing and remains localized.
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| binge eating disorder | An eating disorder characterized by rapid eating, eating to the point of discomfort or beyond, continual eating, and eating when not hungry. Also called compulsive overeating.
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| biopsy | The surgical removal of tissue for diagnosis
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| bulimia | An eating disorder characterized by episodes of uncontrolled overeating followed by purging (vomiting).
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| cervical cancer | A dangerous malignancy that often stems from infection by the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus.
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| cervical dysplasia or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) | A condition of the cervical epithelium (covering membrane) that may lead to cancer if not treated.
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| clitoridectomy or female circumcision | The surgical removal of the clitoris and all or part of the labia.
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| diabetes mellitus | A chronic disease characterized by excess sugar in the blood and urine due to a deficiency of insulin.
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| diethylstilbestrol (DES) | A synthetic estrogen once used to prevent miscarriages; associated with a possible increased cancer risk among the women who took it and their children.
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| disinhibition | The phenomenon of activating behaviors that would normally be suppressed.
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| eating disorder | Eating and weight-management practices that endanger a person's physical and emotional health.
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| endometriosis | A disease caused by endometrial tissue (uterine lining) spreading and growing in other parts of the body; a major cause of infertility.
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| fibrocystic disease | A common and generally harmless breast condition in which fibrous tissue and benign cysts develop in the breast.
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| hormone replacement therapy (HRT) | The administration of estrogen, often with progestin, in the form of pills, vaginal cream, or a small adhesive patch.
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| hot flash | An effect of menopause consisting of a period of intense warmth, flushing, and perspiration, typically lasting 1-2 minutes.
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| hysterectomy | The surgical removal of the uterus.
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| infibulation | The stitching together of the sides of the vulva or vaginal opening; part of the process of female circumcision.
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| lumpectomy | Breast surgery that removes only the malignant tumor and surrounding lymph nodes.
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| male climacteric | A period beginning in men's forties or fifties when sexual responsiveness changes.
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| malignant tumor | A cancerous tumor that invades nearby tissues and disrupts the normal functioning of vital organs.
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| mammogram | A low-dose X ray of the breast.
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| mastectomy | The surgical removal of the breast.
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| menopause | The complete cessation of menstruation.
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| metastasis | The process by which cancer spreads from one part of the body to another unrelated part via the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
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| oophorectomy | The removal of one or both ovaries.
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| osteoporosis | The loss of bone mass.
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| Pap test | A method of testing for cervical cancer by scraping cell samples from the cervix and examining them under a microscope.
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| perimenopause or climacteric | A period of gradual changes and adjustments a woman's body goes through prior to menopause, before menstruation stops completely.
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| priapism | Prolonged and painful erection due to the inability of blood to drain from the penis.
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| prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test | A blood test used to help diagnose prostate cancer.
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| prostatitis | Inflammation of the prostate gland.
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| testosterone replacement therapy | A treatment for older men who have lower-than-normal levels of testosterone, which is used to improve sexual interest and potency and decrease depression.
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| toxic shock syndrome (TSS) | A potentially life-threatening condition caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium and linked to the use of superabsorbent tampons.
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2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education