- 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors
- medication used to treat BPH; works by shrinking the prostate gland
- abortifacients
- medications that cause complete evacuation of the contents of the uterus
- alpha blockers
- medication used to treat BPH; works by relaxing the smooth muscle of the prostate and bladder neck
- anabolic steroids
- a category of medications, analogues to testosterone, used to enhance tissue building and stimulate production of red blood cells
- andropause
- time of decreased production of testosterone, atrophy of interstitial cells, and lessened sexual activity; comparable to female menopause
- antiandrogens
- medications that compete with testosterone for androgen-receptor binding sites and work against androgens and testosterone
- combined oral contraceptives (COCs)
- contraceptive drugs that contain both estrogen and progestin in varying dosages; the three categories are monophasic (contain a fixed ratio of estrogen and progestin), biphasic (contain a fixed dose of estrogen with a varying dose of progestin), and triphasic (contain low doses of both estrogen and progestin with a varying dose of estrogen)
- contraceptives
- medications and devices that prevent a female from becoming pregnant
- delayed puberty
- condition when the male sex characteristics do not develop at the expected time in puberty
- estradiol
- hormone used primarily for relief of menopause symptoms; used for hormone replacement therapy
- estrogen
- primary hormone released by the ovaries; initiates the development of female genitalia and breast tissue
- estrogen receptor modulators (ERMs)
- nonhormone drugs that stimulate or block estrogen receptor sites; used to treat osteoporosis in postmenopause
- first-day start method
- a method of initiating a contraceptive when the client starts the contraceptive on day 1 of the menstrual cycle and continues as directed
- follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- gonadal hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary in response to GnRH; stimulates development of ovarian follicles and release of mature ovum from mature follicles; prepares the body for and supports pregnancy until delivery
- gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
- a hormone produced in and released by the hypothalamus that acts as the central regulator; responsible for regulating the start of puberty, the onset of the menstrual cycle, the development of sex characteristics, and ovulation
- hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- the use of hormones postmenopause to decrease symptoms and complications of menopause
- hypogonadism
- condition in which testes are undeveloped and the development of sex organs and secondary sex characteristics is delayed or absent
- implanted contraceptive devices
- devices containing a hormone that are place under the skin of the inner upper arm for the purpose of contraception
- intrauterine devices (IUD)
- devices containing either a hormone or copper, designed to be placed within the uterus for the purpose of contraception
- lactation
- the secretion of breast milk by the mammary glands
- luteinizing hormone (LH)
- gonadal hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary in response to GnRH; stimulates development of ovarian follicles and release of mature ovum from mature follicles; prepares the body for and supports pregnancy until delivery
- menarche
- initial menstrual cycle of a female
- menopause
- the cessation of monthly cycles for one year
- menstrual cycle
- cycle of hormone secretion, follicular and ova development, and preparation and shedding of endometrial lining that occurs monthly in females
- osteopenia
- the condition in which bone is losing density
- osteoporosis
- the condition when bone loss is significant and bone has become porous and brittle
- oxytocics
- medications that stimulate the uterus to contract
- perimenopause
- the time when a menstrual cycle undergoes changes preparing for the end of the ability to ovulate and to become pregnant
- phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors
- a group of medications developed to aid in penile erection for the purpose of sexual intercourse
- pregnancy
- the period of time a fetus grows inside the uterus
- progesterone
- primary hormone released by the ovaries; performs many of the same functions as estrogen does to promote maturation of sex organs, prepare the body for pregnancy, and maintain a healthy uterine environment for development of the fetus
- progestin-only contraceptives
- contraceptive drugs that do not have estrogen; they only contain progestin
- quick start method
- a method of initiating oral contraception drugs where the client takes the first dose of the medication on the day of the visit rather than waiting until after a monthly period begins
- sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- infections involving internal and external sex organs that are transmitted by sexual intercourse or intimate contact with sex organs; may be viral, bacterial, or fungal
- Sunday start method
- a method of initiating oral contraceptive drugs where the client takes the first dose of medication on the first Sunday after a menstrual period starts
- teratogenic
- any substance taken by the birthing parent that can cause serious birth defects in a fetus
- tocolytics
- medications that delay uterine contractions by relaxing the uterine muscle
- trophoblasts
- the outer layer of cells of an embryo, which become the placenta