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 fantasies involving 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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