Term
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Definition
| small, single-celled organisms that lack a nuclear membrane, but have all the genetic material (RNA and DNA) to reproduce themselves |
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Term
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Definition
| a protein shell around a nucleic acid core; viruses have either RNA or DNA, but not both, and thus cannot reproduce themselves; they invade host cells that provide the material to manufacture new virus particles |
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Term
| Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) |
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Definition
| infections that can be, but are not necessarily always, transmitted by sexual contact |
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Term
| Sexually Related Diseases |
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Definition
| diseases of the reproductive system or genitals that are not contracted through sexual activity; often involve overgrowths of bacteria, yeasts, viruses, or fungal organisms that are found naturally in sexual and reproductive organs |
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Term
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Definition
| a sexually transmitted infection caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium (often referred to as "the gonococcus"), which lives on mucous membranes |
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Term
| Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) |
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Definition
| a bacterially caused inflammation of a woman's reproductive tract, particularly the Fallopian tubes, that can result in sterility; the most common (though not the only) cause it untreated gonorrhea and/or chlamydia |
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Term
| Nongonococcal (nonspecific) Urethritis (NGU) |
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Definition
| any inflammation of the urethra that is not caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcus) bacterium |
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Term
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Definition
| a sexually transmitted infection caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium, which lives on mucous membranes |
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Term
| Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV) |
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Definition
| a sexually tranmitted infection common in tropical countries that is caused by chlamydia; if left untreated, it causes swelling of the inguinal lymph nodes, penis, labia, or clitoris |
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Term
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Definition
| a sexually transmitted infection caused by the Treponema pallidum bacterium (spirochete), which can also pass directly through any cut or scrape into the bloodstream |
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Term
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Definition
| a sexually transmitted infection, caused by the Hemophilus ducreyi bacterium, which is characterized by small, painful bumps |
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Term
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Definition
| a rare (in the US) sexually transmitted infection that is characterized by ulceration of tissue |
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Term
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Definition
| an infection that can be contracted during sexual activity by exposure to feces containing the Shigella bacterium |
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Term
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Definition
| a herpes infection in or around the mouth; it can be caused by herpes simplex virus types 1 or 2 |
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Term
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Definition
| herpes infection in the genital region; it can be caused by herpes simplex virus types 1 or 2 |
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Term
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Definition
| liver infections caused by viruses; type A is spread by direct or indirect contact with contaminated feces; type B is transmitted by infected blood or body fluids; with about 50% of the cases contracted during sex; type C is spread mainly by contaminated blood, but may possibly be spread during sexual intercourse in some cases |
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Term
| Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) |
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Definition
| viruses that cause abnormal growths in epithelial cells; there are over 100 types; a few (types 6 and 11) cause genital warts, while others (types 16, 18, 31, 33 and 45) can lead to cancer of the cervix |
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Term
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Definition
| warts in the genital and anal regions caused by human papillomaviruses (mainly types 6 and 11); the warts are cauliflowerlike growths |
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Term
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Definition
| a sexually transmitted virus with symptoms that look like small pimples filled with kernels of corn |
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Term
| Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) |
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Definition
| an often fatal infection caused by a virus (HIV) that destroys the immune system; it is spread by intimate sexual activity (the exchange of bodily fluids) or contaminated blood |
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Term
| Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) |
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Definition
| a virus that kills CD4+ cells, eventually resulting in AIDS |
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Term
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Definition
| the bodily mechanisms involved in the production of antibodies in response to bacteria, viruses, and cancerous cells |
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Term
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Definition
| the first few weeks of HIV infection, during which HIV reaches enormous levels in the blood and 50% to 75% of infected individuals experience flulike symptoms |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| Asymptomatic HIV Infection |
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Definition
| a stage of HIV infection in which infected individuals show no visible symptoms |
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Term
| Symptomatic HIV Infection |
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Definition
| the early symptoms of HIV infection, which eventually lead to AIDS |
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Term
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Definition
| an infestation of the parasite Phthirus pubis, which attach themselves to pubic hair and feed on blood; also known as "crabs" |
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Term
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Definition
| a contagious infestation of parasitic mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) that burrow under the skin to lay their eggs |
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Term
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Definition
| small worms (Enterobius vermicularis) that live in the large intestine and are generally transmitted through nonsexual contact with the worms' eggs, but which can be transmitted sexually by manual or oral contact with the anus of an infected person |
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Term
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Definition
| dysentery caused by infestation of amoebae, one-celled organisms |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of vaginitis caused by a one-celled protozoan that is usually transmitted during sexual intercourse |
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Term
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Definition
| sometimes called Candidiasis; a type of vaginitis caused by the overgrowth of a microorganism (Candida albicans) that is normally found in the vagina; moniliasis is a fungus or yeast infection and usually is a sexually related, rather than a sexually transmitted infection |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of vaginitis caused by the interaction of several vaginal bacteria (particularly Gardnerella vaginalis) |
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Term
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Definition
| a bacterial infection of the bladder (often caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli |
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Term
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Definition
| inflammation of the prostate gland |
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Term
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Definition
| sexual behaviors involving a low risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection; these include consistent use of condoms and/or abstaining from sex until one enters a long-term monogamous relationship |
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Term
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Definition
| the prevention of conception |
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Term
| Perfect-use pregnancy rate |
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Definition
| for a particular birth-control technique, the percentage of pregnancies during the first year of use by couples who use the technique properly and consistently |
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Term
| Typical-Use Pregnancy Rate |
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Definition
| for a particular birth control technique, the percentage of pregnancies during the first year of use by all couples who use the technique, regardless of whether or not they use it properly or consistently |
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Term
| Withdrawal (coitus interruptus) |
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Definition
| withdrawal of the man's penis from his partner's vagina before ejaculation in order to avoid conception; it is sometimes ineffective because fluids from the Cowper's glands may contain sperm |
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Term
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Definition
| a feminine hygiene practice of rinsing out the vagina, usually with specifically prepared solutions |
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Term
| Lactational Amenorrhea Method (breast-feeding) |
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Definition
| in reference to contraception, the sucking response by a baby on the mother's nipple inhibits release of follicle-stimulating hormone, thus preventing ovulation |
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Term
| Fertility Awareness Methods |
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Definition
| methods of birth control that attempt to prevent conception by having a couple abstain from sexual intercourse during the woman's ovulation |
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Term
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Definition
| a fertility awareness method of birth control that attempts to determine a woman's fertile period by use of a mathematical formula |
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Term
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Definition
| a fertility awareness method of birth control for women who typically have menstrual cycles of 26 to 32 days |
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Term
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Definition
| the temperature of the body while resting; it rises slightly after ovulation |
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Term
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Definition
| a fertility awareness method of birth control in which changes in the consistency and quantity of cervical mucus are used to tell when ovulation has occurred |
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Term
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Definition
| the slimy secretion of mucous membranes located inside the cervix |
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Term
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Definition
| a combination of the basal body temperature and Billings fertility awareness met |
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Term
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Definition
| chemicals that kill sperm; in most products, the chemical is nonoxynol-9 |
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Term
| Barrier (blockade) method |
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Definition
| general term for contraceptive methods that block the passage of sperm |
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Term
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Definition
| for men, a sheath made of latex rubber, lamb intestine, or polyurethane that fits over the penis; for women, a polyurethane intravaginal pouch held in place by two flexible rings; condoms are effective as contraception and for prevention of sexually transmitted infections |
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Term
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Definition
| a dome-shaped rubber cup with a flexible rim that fits over the cervix and thus acts as a contraceptive device by serving as a barrier to the passage of sperm into the uterus |
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Term
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Definition
| a contraceptive device that fits over the cervix by suction, thus blocking the passage of sperm into the uterus |
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Term
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Definition
| a contraceptive device made of polyurethane sponge that contains enough spermicide to be effective for 24 hours after being inserted into the vagina |
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Term
| Intrauterine Device (IUD) |
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Definition
| a birth control device, usually made of plastic with either a copper or progesterone coating, that is placed in the uterus to prevent conception and implantation |
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Term
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Definition
| an oral contraceptive that contains both synthetic estrogen and synthetic progesterone |
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Term
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Definition
| an oral contraceptive that contains only progestins |
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Term
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Definition
| market name for medroxyprogesterone acetate, a chemical that when injected suppresses ovulation for 3 months |
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Term
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Definition
| a hormone implant with a single progestin-releasing rod that is effective for 3 years |
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Term
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Definition
| a hormone implant with two progestin-releasing rods that is effective for 5 years |
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Term
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Definition
| a contraceptive patch (containing the same hormones as the combination birth control pill) that applies to the skin and is effective for 1 week |
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Term
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Definition
| a flexible ring containing the same hormones as the combination birth control pill that is inserted into the vagina and is effective for 3 weeks |
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Term
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Definition
| methods that prevent contraceptive when used in the first few days after sexual intercourse |
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Term
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Definition
| a general term for surgical techniques that render an individual infertile |
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Term
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Definition
| the male sterilization technique in which the vas deferens is tied off and cut, thus preventing passage of sperm through the reproductive tract |
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Term
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Definition
| a female sterilization technique that originally referred only to the tying of the Fallopian tubes, but which is now often used as a general term for a variety of female sterilization techniques |
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Term
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Definition
| a cream or gel that is applied intravaginally or intrarectally before sex in order to kill, block, or inactive bacteria and viruses that cause sexually transmitted infections |
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Term
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Definition
| a technique that involves inserting a slender, tubelike instrument (laparoscope) into a woman's abdomen to examine (via fiberoptics) her reproductive organs or a fetus; the procedure is often used to perform female sterilizations |
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Term
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Definition
| termination of pregnancy; depending on how far the pregnancy has advanced, this can be done by taking a pill (RU 486); scraping the uterine lining (dilation and curettage); removing the uterine lining by suction (dilation and evacuation); or inducing labor (by injecting hypertonic saline or prostaglandns) |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| a process that sperm undergo while traveling through the woman's reproductive tract in which their membranes become thin enough so that an enzyme necessary for softening the ovum's membrane can be released |
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Term
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Definition
| the union of an egg and a sperm |
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Term
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Definition
| the one-celled organism created from the fusion of a sperm and egg |
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Term
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Definition
| the collection of cells formed when the zygote begins rapid cell division |
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Term
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Definition
| the fluid-filled sphere that reaches the uterus after fertilization and which was created by the transformation of the morula through continued, rapid cell division |
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Term
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Definition
| the process by which the blastocyst attaches itself to the wall of the uterus |
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Term
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Definition
| the outer four cell layers of the embryo |
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Term
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Definition
| the cord that connects an embryo or fetus to the mother's placenta |
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Term
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Definition
| a thick-skinned sac filled with water that surrounds the fetus |
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Term
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Definition
| the fourth membrane of the trophoblast; it develops into the lining of the placenta |
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Term
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Definition
| an organ that serves as a connection or interface between the fetus' systems and those of the mother |
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Term
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Definition
| the implantation of a fertilized egg outside of the endometrium of the uterus |
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Term
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Definition
| three-month periods of pregnancy (months 1-3, 4-6, 7-9), so labeled for descriptive purposes |
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Term
| Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) |
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Definition
| a hormone secreted by the chorion that stimulates the ovaries during pregnancy |
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Term
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Definition
| a symptom of early pregnancy involving nausea |
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Term
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Definition
| the experiencing of pregnancy symptoms by male partners; sometimes called "sympathy pains" |
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Term
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Definition
| the term given to the blastocyst after is has implanted |
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Term
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Definition
| the term given to the embryo after the 8th week of pregnancy |
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Term
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Definition
| the first time a pregnant woman experiences movement of the fetus, usually in the 5th month |
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Term
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Definition
| light hair that covers a newborn baby |
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Term
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Definition
| a waxy bluish substance that covers a newborn baby |
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Term
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Definition
| substances that can harm an embryo or fetus |
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Term
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Definition
| in relation to teratogens, the time during embryonic or fetal development during which a particular part of the body is most susceptible to damage |
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Term
| Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) |
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Definition
| a condition common to infants born to alcoholic mothers, involving physical and nervous system abnormalities |
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Term
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Definition
| a disease of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure, weight gain, swollen joints, and protein in the urine; unless it is corrected, it can lead to convulsions and coma |
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Term
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Definition
| a protein in the blood of most individuals; if a mother does not have it and the fetus she carries does, she can develop antibodies against the Rh factor; this is called an Rh incompatibility problem |
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Term
| Chorionic Villus Sampling |
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Definition
| a technique used for detecting problems in a fetus during the 10th to 12th weeks of pregnancy; hairlike projections (villi) of the chorion are collected and examined |
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Term
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Definition
| a technique for detecting fetal problems, involving collection of amniotic fluid between the 14th and 18th weeks of pregnancy |
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Term
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Definition
| a noninvasive technique for examining the internal organs of a fetus; it uses sound waves like a radar or sonar scan to create a picture |
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Term
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Definition
| a surgical operation on the fetus while it is still in the uterus |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| a health checkup by a physician during pregnancy |
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Term
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Definition
| according to prepared childbirth advocates, the cycle of events that women experience during labor when they are not properly educated about labor and childbirth |
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Term
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Definition
| courses or techniques that prepare women for labor and childbirth, with the goal of making it a positive experience |
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Term
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Definition
| a registered nurse, trained in obstetrical techniques, who delivers babies, often at the expectant mother's home |
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Term
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Definition
| rotation of the fetus prior to childbirth so that its head is downward, resulting in decreased pressure on the mother's abdomen |
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