Letter : P
* pap test
A test for cervical cancer done by examining cells scraped off the cervix during a pelvic examination.
* paraphilia
A sexual behavior characterized by intense recurrent sexual urges and sexually arousing fantasies lasting at least 6 months and involving nonhuman objects or parts of human objects, the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one's partner, or children or other nonconsenting individuals.
* paraphiliac
A person who has a paraphilia.
* parenteral transmission
Infection via the bloodstream.
* partialism
A fetish in which a person is sexually attracted to a specific body part exclusive of the person.
* passive immunity
The immunity that a baby has to certain diseases due to the antibodies transferred to him or her through the mother's breast milk.
* PCP
Abbreviation for pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. One of the opportunistic infections associated with AIDS.
* pederasty
Sex between an adult and a child, usually an adult male and a male child.
* pediculosis pubis
Lice that infest the pubic hair; commonly referred to as crabs.
* pedophile
An individual who is sexually attracted to prepubescent children.
* pedophilia
A paraphilia characterized by intense, recurring sexual urges or fantasiesinvolving sexual activities with a prepubescent child.
* peer
An age-mate.
* pelvic floor
The underside of the pelvic area extending from the top of the pubic bone to the anus.
* pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Infection of the pelvic organs such as the fallopian tubes that often causes scarring which can then lead to infertility.
* penetration
The insertion of the penis or another object into the vagina or anus for sexual purposes.
* penis
The primary male sexual and reproductive organ through which both urine and semen pass.
* penis envy
In psychoanalytic theory, a woman's desire to have a penis, whether literally or metaphorically.
* perimetrium
The thin membrane covering the outside of the uterus.
* perinatal transmission
The passing of a disease from mother to fetus through the placenta and bloodstream.
* perineum
A strip of sensitive tissue that runs between the genitals and the anus.
* period
The menstrual period.
* perversion
An old-fashioned term for a sexual deviation.
* phallic
Penis or penis-like in shape or form.
* phallus
An object that is a penis or penis-like in shape or form.
* pheromone
A sexually arousing chemical substance that is secreted into the air by many kinds of animals, including, possibly, humans.
* phimosis
A condition in which the foreskin is so tight against the glans that it cannot be pulled back and must be loosened or removed surgically.
* phobic
Irrationally fearful.
* photoplethysmograph
A device used to measure physiological sexual arousal in the female.
* PID
Abbreviation for pelvic inflammatory disease.
* pimp
A prostitute's protector and manager.
* pituitary gland
A gland located on the lower surface of the brain that secretes several hormones important to sexual and reproductive functioning.
* placenta
A tube through which the developing fetus receives oxygen and nutrients from the mother and gets rid of waste products.
* plateau phase
Masters and Johnson's term for the second phase of sexual response, occurring just before orgasm.
* platonic
Not involving sex.
* platonic love
Nonsexual love for another person.
* playing with oneself
Slang term for masturbation.
* pleasure principle
In psychoanalytic theory, the principle that all organisms seek pleasure and avoid pain.
* pleasuring
Erotic touching.
* plethysmograph
A device used to measure physiological sexual arousal in the male.
* PMS
An acronym for premenstrual syndrome.
* pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP)
A form of pneumonia that commonly appears in persons whose immune systems are highly suppressed such as those with AIDS.
* polar body
In oogenesis, the smaller of two cells produced during meiosis.
* polygamy
Marriage in which a person has more than one spouse.
* pornography
Sexually oriented material that is not considered acceptable to the viewer; the same material when judged subjectively acceptable is often referred to as "erotica."
* POSSLQ
Acronym for "person of the opposite sex sharing living quarters." A generic term for co-habitating couples whether homo- or hetero-sexual.
* postpartum
The period of time following childbirth.
* postpartum depression
Depression experienced by some women following childbirth.
* pre-eclampsia
A condition that may occur to expectant mothers in the last trimester of pregnancy; symptoms include bloating, high blood pressure, and retention of toxic fluids.
* premarital sex
Sexual activities, especially sexual intercourse, prior to marriage.
* premature ejaculation
A sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to control or delay ejaculation as long as desired.
* premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
A combination of physical and psychological symptoms (such as depression and irritability) that occurs in some women just prior to menstruation.
* prenatal
Before birth.
* prepuce
Foreskin.
* priapism
A rare, but painful, condition in which a male has a prolonged erection that does not subside following orgasm despite lack of arousal.
* prick
Slang term for penis.
* prodrome
The period prior to a viral outbreak in an individual when live viruses are shed from the affected areas. The person is highly infectious at this time, though asymptomatic.
* progesterone
A female hormone produced by the corpus luteum that helps regulate the menstrual cycle and sustain pregnancy.
* progestins
Generic term for the female hormones that prepare the female reproductive system for pregnancy.
* proliferative phase
The phase of the menstrual cycle in which the endometrium builds up in response to increased estrogen.
* promiscuous
A pejorative term used to refer to someone who engages in sexual activity with more individuals than the user of the term.
* prophylactic
A drug or device used to prevent disease; commonly used to refer to a condom.
* prostaglandins
Hormones that stimulate muscle contractions.
* prostate gland
A muscular gland encircling the urethra in the male that produces much of the seminal fluid.
* prostatitis
Inflammation or infection of the prostate gland.
* prostitution
The selling of sexual stimulation for money.
* proximity
Nearness in terms of physical space and time.
* prurient
A legal term referring to "provoking lasciviousness."
* pseudocyesis
False pregnancy.
* pseudohermaphrodite
An individual who has a mixture of male and female reproductive structures, or an ambiguous genital appearance, so that it is not clear whether the individual is a male or a female.
* psychoanalysis
A psychological system developed by Sigmund Freud that traces behavior to unconscious motivations and drives, especially sexual.
* puberty
The stage of human development when the body becomes capable of reproduction.
* pubic hair
Hair on the lower abdomen and genital area that begins to appear at puberty.
* pubic louse (lice, plural)
Phthirus pubis, a tiny louse that infests pubic hair; commonly referred to as "crabs."
* pubococcygeus
A muscular sling stretching from the pubic bone in front to the tailbone in back; Sometimes known as the PC muscle, it controls urine flow and contracts during orgasm. See Kegel exercises.
* pudendum
The external genitals of the female.
* pussy
Slang term for vagina.
* PWA
Acronym for "person with AIDS."
* PWH
Acronym for "person with HIV."
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Letter : Q
* queer
Pejorative, slang term for a homosexual.
* quickening
The first movements by the fetus felt by a pregnant woman.
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Letter : R
* radical mastectomy
A surgical treatment for breast cancer in which the entire breast, as well as the underlying muscle and lymph nodes, are removed.
* rape
Forcible sexual relations with an individual without that person's consent under actual or threatened force.
* rape-trauma syndrome
The emotional consequences that a victim experiences after being raped.
* refractory period
The period of time in men immediately following ejaculation, during which further erection or orgasm is not possible; not present in the female's sexual response cycle.
* relaxin
A hormone produced by the placenta that increases flexibility in the ligaments and joints of the pelvic area to assist in childbirth.
* reproductive bias
The belief of some individuals that procreation is the sole purpose for sex.
* reproductive success |
