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Teen Survival Guide

Glossary

Abstinence – not having sex of any kind.

Addiction – needing physical things, such as drugs or alcohol, or an activity, such as stealing or lying, to the point that stopping it is very hard. Stopping can also cause bad physical and mental reactions. Addiction can be treated with counseling, which means talking to an expert. In some cases, medicine is needed.

Aerobic – exercise that burns fat, gets your heart rate going, and makes your heart muscle stronger. It helps your blood carry more needed oxygen to blood vessels throughout your body.

AIDS – a disease that hurts the immune system, the body's way of protecting itself. Having AIDS makes it easy to get certain infections and cancers. It is caused by the HIV infection.

Alcoholism – drinking a lot of alcohol and needing alcohol. Also called alcohol abuse, this disease can lead to injury, liver disease, and problems with the people around you.

Anaerobic – exercise that builds muscle strength in different parts of your body. This type of exercise goes along well with aerobic exercise. Stronger muscles help you to burn more calories.

Astringents – a product that cleans the skin and tightens the pores.

Cancer – when cells that are not normal grow and can spread. There are at least 200 different kinds of cancers, which can grow in almost any organ of the body.

Cervix – the narrow entry between the vagina and the uterus. The muscles of the cervix are flexible so that it can expand to let a baby pass through during birth.

Clitoris – a sensitive female sexual organ that can become erect. The clitoris is part of the vulva.

Douche/douching – rinsing or cleaning out the vagina, usually with a fluid mix you can buy. The liquid is held in a bottle and squirted into the vagina through tubing and a nozzle. Doctors do not suggest douching to clean the vagina. It changes the chemical balance in the vagina, which can make you more likely to get infections.

Emphysema – a disease that damages the air sacs in the lungs. The air sacs have trouble deflating once filled with air, so they are unable to fill up again with the fresh air you need. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of emphysema.

Endometrium – the lining of the uterus.

Fallopian tube – organs that connect the ovaries to the uterus. There is a fallopian tube on each side of the uterus. When one of the ovaries lets go of an egg, it travels through the fallopian tube toward the uterus. Fertilization (when a man's sperm and a woman's egg join together) usually happens in the fallopian tube.

Heart disease – coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease, happens when the heart doesn't get enough blood. Other types of heart disease involve the heart muscle and blood vessels.

Herpes simplex virus – a common virus that has two types: type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Herpes on the mouth shows up as cold sores or fever blisters. This type is mostly caused by HSV-1. Herpes in the genital area is mostly caused by HSV-2, also causing sores. But, both types can affect either the genital area or the mouth.

Hymen – a piece of tissue that covers all or part of the entrance to the vagina. This tissue can be broken the first time a woman has sexual intercourse.

Immunizations – these keep people from getting sick by protecting the body against certain diseases. Also called vaccines, they have parts or products of infectious germs that have been changed or killed. A vaccine gets the body's immune system ready to fight off that germ. Most immunizations that stop you from catching diseases like measles, whooping cough, and chicken pox are given by a shot.

Infertility – when a couple has problems getting pregnant after one year of regular sexual intercourse without using any types of birth control. Infertility can be caused by a problem with the man or the woman, or both.

Labia – the folds of tissue that make up part of the outside female genital area. There are both inner and outer labia.

Lymph glands – a group of cells that make and send out other cells that fight infection throughout the body. These cells help filter out bacteria. Lymph glands are also called lymph nodes.

Mons pubis – the fatty tissue that covers the pubic area in women. During puberty, hair grows on this area.

Nonacnegenic – makeup or skin products that should not cause acne.

Noncomedogenic – makeup or skin products that should not clog pores.

Nutrient – a source of energy, mainly a part of food.

Osteoporosis – a disease that causes bones to become thinner and weaker. This disease causes bones to break easily.

Ovary/ovaries – two small organs on each side of the uterus, in the pelvis of a female. The ovaries have eggs (ova) and make female hormones. When one of the ovaries lets go of an egg about once each month as part of the menstrual cycle, it is called ovulation.

Pads – sanitary products that stick to the inside of underwear and soak up the blood that leaves the vagina during a menstrual period.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) – a general term for infection of the lining of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or the ovaries. PID is mostly caused by bacteria that causes STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. The most common symptoms include abnormal vaginal discharge (fluid), lower stomach pain, and sometimes fever.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) – a group of symptoms that start around 7 to 14 days before the period begins. There are many symptoms, including tender breasts and mood swings. Women may have none, some, or many PMS symptoms. Some months may be worse than others.

Pubic – the area on and around the genitals.

Rectum – the last part of the digestive tract, from the colon to the anus. This is where feces is stored before leaving the body.

Reproductive – this body system is in charge of making a baby. In women, the body parts involved are the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and vagina.

SPF – stands for sun protection factor rating system. SPF 15 or higher sunscreen should be worn every day.

Tampons – these go inside the vagina to soak up blood before it leaves the vagina during a menstrual period. Instructions come with tampon products to show how to use them.

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) – a very rare but dangerous illness that affects the whole body. TSS is caused by bacteria that make toxins (poisons) in the body. Tampon use can make it easier for bacteria to enter the body. Signs include high fever that comes on suddenly, dizziness, rash, and feeling confused.

Type 2 diabetes – people with diabetes have problems changing food into energy. The body makes insulin to help change glucose (sugar) into energy. Type 2 diabetes usually starts with the muscle, liver, and fat cells not using insulin in the right way. The body tries to make more insulin to meet the demand, but in time, it isn't able to make enough.

Uterus – a pear-shaped, hollow organ in a female's pelvis where a baby grows during pregnancy. It is also called a womb. The uterus is made up of muscle with an inside lining called the endometrium. This lining builds up and thickens during the menstrual cycle to get ready for a possible pregnancy each month. If no pregnancy happens, the extra tissue and blood are shed during menstruation.

UVA – a type of ultraviolet light which that can harm the skin. UVA rays can reach deep into the skin and cause damage. Broad-spectrum sunscreens can block both UVA and UVB rays.

UVB – a type of ultraviolet light which can harm the skin. UVB rays are most often the cause of sunburns you can see. Broad-spectrum sunscreens can block both UVA and UVB rays.

Vagina – a muscular passage that leads down from the cervix, the lower part of the uterus, to the outside of a female's body. During menstruation, menstrual blood flows from the uterus through the cervix and out of the body through the vagina. The vagina is also called the birth canal.

Vaginal discharge – this fluid cleans the vagina and keeps it moist to help fight infections. The color, amount, and the way it feels will vary during the menstrual cycle. The fluids should be clear, white, or off-white. Discharge that has a foul odor, a change in color, or a change in how it feels should be checked out by a doctor or at a clinic.

Vulva – this covers the entrance to the vagina and has five parts: mons pubis, labia, clitoris, urinary tract opening, and vaginal opening.

Warts – genital warts in women are found near or on the vulva, vagina, cervix, or anus. They look like bumps or growths that can be flat or raised, alone or in groups, and big or small. These warts are caused by HPV or human papillomavirus, which is passed by sexual contact.

Yeast infections – a common infection in women caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida. It is normal to have some yeast in the vagina, but sometimes it can overgrow during pregnancy or because of taking certain medicines, such as antibiotics. Symptoms include itching, burning, and irritation of the vagina. There may also be pain when urinating and vaginal discharge that looks like cottage cheese.

Content last updated February 12, 2008

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