Glossary of Gynecology Research Terms
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ACTH - adrenocorticotropic hormone; controls the release of cortisol (stress hormone) from the adrenal gland
adrenaline - (epinephrine) a stress chemical from the adrenal gland that increases heart rate and blood pressure
amenorrhea - no periods
androgen - male hormone
anovulation - lack of ovulation
anti-angiogenic - decreasing blood supply to an area

bilateral - on both sides

candida - yeast
carcinoma - cancer
cervical - relating to the cervix, the opening into the uterus or womb
circadian - biological variations or rhythms within a cycle of 24 hours
colposcopy - looking at the cervix or genital area with magnification lenses to detect abnormal areas (pre-cancer or cancer)
condylomata - warty growths, often on the genital area, caused by  human papilloma virus (HPV)
cortisol - a hormone made in the adrenal gland in response to stress; increased levels cause increased blood sugar, water retention,      osteoporosis, decreased immune function, poor wound healing and many other effects
CRH - corticotropin releasing hormone; brain hormone that controls ACTH, which controls cortisol
Cushing syndrome - medical condition caused by too much secretion of adrenal hormones, especially cortisol

DHEA- dehydroepiandrosterone, an adrenal hormone
DUB - dysfunctional uterine bleeding; irregular, long or heavy bleeding episodes
dysmenorrhea - menstrual cramps
dyspareunia - pain with intercourse
dysplasia - abnormal changes in cells, possibly leading over time to cancer

endometrial ablation - procedure to destroy the endometrium, or lining of the inside of the uterus
endometriosis - a condition where cells lining the inside of the uterus (endometrial cells) grow other places in the pelvis--for instance on ovaries, tubes, bladder or bowel.  This may cause scarring, pain, and infertility.
enucleation of a cyst - to remove the inside contents from a cyst
epinephrine - a stress chemical from the adrenal gland that increases heart rate and blood pressure
ERT - estrogen replacement therapy
esophageal sphincter - opening between the esophagus (tube for food) and the stomach; if the valve at this opening can't hold the stomach contents adequately, stomach acid can go back up the esophagus, causing heartburn symptoms
estradiol - female hormone; decreases significantly in the menopause or when ovaries are removed

factor VII coagulant - a blood component to help with clotting
fibrinogen - a clotting factor in blood
fibroids - round growths on or in the uterus that may cause the uterus to enlarge and press against other structures, such as the bladder, or cause increased cramping and bleeding with periods
fMRI - functional magnetic resonance imaging; a special brain scan that shows what areas of the brain are in use at a particular time
follicular phase - first half of the menstrual cycle, before ovulation
FSH - follicle stimulating hormone; brain hormone that controls early egg follicle growth in the ovary and production of ovarian estrogen
functional hypothalamic amenorrhea - lack of periods due to lack of proper signals from the brain for unknown reasons

glucose - "sugar", a source of cell energy
GnRH - gonadotropin releasing hormone; a brain hormone that controls FSH and LH, which control ovarian function
growth hormone (GH) - a brain hormone that controls body growth and is influential in many other areas of body function

HDL - high density lipoprotein; transports cholesterol in the blood
hematocrit - percentage of red blood cells in blood; if it is low you are anemic
hippocampus - portion of the brain involved with memory
HPA stress axis - hypothalamus-pituitary gland-adrenal gland; brain and adrenal connections that produce stress hormones
HPV - human papilloma virus, the cause of genital warts, and, in certain subtypes, a risk factor for developing cervical cancer
HRT - hormone replacement therapy
hypnoanlagesia - use of hypnosis to decrease the perception of pain
hypothalamus - a brain structure that secretes many hormones, especially those involved with ultimate signals to the ovary

interstitial cystitis - chronic inflammation of the bladder that causes urinary frequency and pain

leiomyoma - fibroid
leukocyte - a kind of white blood cell involved in infection and inflammation
LH - luteinizing hormone; brain hormone that controls ovulation, maturation of ovarian follicles, and ovarian progesterone production
libido - sexual desire
luteal phase - second half of the menstrual cycle, between ovulation and menses
luteal phase deficiency - second half of the menstrual cycle is too short and/or doesn't produce enough progesterone
lymphocyte - a type of white blood cell involved in infection and inflammation

menorrhagia - heavy periods
meta-analysis - an overall analysis of many articles on the same subject
myofascial trigger points - sensitive areas of a muscle; some conditions have typical areas that can be painful
myomectomy - surgical removal of a fibroid from a uterus
myometrium - the muscle wall making up the uterus

natural killer cells - immune cells with "clean up" functions; removal of damaged tissue or abnormal cells
necrosis - cell death
nocturia - feeling a need to urinate at night
normotensive - normal blood pressure

oligomenorrhea - fewer than normal periods
oophorocystectomy - remove a cyst from an ovary

papilloma virus - see HPV
pathogenesis - medical evolution of how something happens to the body
perimenstrual - just before, during and after menses
perineoplasty - surgery on the genital area at the vaginal opening
periovulatory - just before, during and after ovulation
pharmacokinetics - how drugs are metabolized; how long they last and how high their levels, and how long they take to leave the body
pheromones - chemical messengers related to the sense of smell, and in some cases sexuality
polymenorrhea - too many periods
prophylactic mastectomy - removing breasts ahead of time in a high risk woman to prevent onset of breast cancer
prophylactic oophorectomy - removing ovaries ahead of time in a high risk woman to prevent onset of ovarian cancer
prolapse - loosening of the support structures of the bladder, bowel or uterus to sit lower near the vagina than before 
PTSD - post traumatic stress disorder

serotonin - a chemical messenger involved especially with depression
stress incontinence - leaking urine if you cough, sneeze or laugh
systemic - throughout the body
systolic - the top number of a blood pressure reading

tPA - tissue plasminogen activator; a chemical substance that helps dissolve blood clots
TSH, T3, T4 - thyroid hormones, which control metabolism

urgency incontinence - losing urine involuntarily due to a bladder spasm or irritability
urogynecology - the study of women's urinary problems related to the pelvic area

vaginismus - painful intercourse due to unconscious spasm of the muscles in the vaginal area
vaginitis - inflammation of the vagina
vasopressin - a hormone involved with water retention
von Willebrand factor - a blood substance  involved in clotting; decrease in this factor is the most common inherited clotting disorder, and may be a reason for some women to have very heavy periods
vulvar vestibulitis - inflammation of the opening of the vagina
vulvitis - inflammation of the vulva
vulvodynia - vulvar pain