Menstrual Disorders Dictionary

amenorrhea: The abnormal absence of multiple periods. This can occur if a girl never starts having her period during puberty or can occur later on, when normal menstrual cycles stop.

anemia: A condition in which there are not enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues of the body.

anti-inflammatory drugs: Drugs designed relieve pain by controlling inflammatory processes in the body. Commonly administered examples include aspirin and corticosteroids.

birth control pills: A type of drug used to prevent pregnancies.

bloating: Pain or tightness in the abdomen caused by swelling or distention.

cervical cancer: A type of cancer involving the cells that line the cervix.

cervix: The bottom end of the uterus, where the uterus connects to the vagina.

contraceptives: Methods of birth control, including drugs (such as birth control pills) and devices (such as IUDs and condoms).

cyst: A sac that can be filled either by fluids or air.

dysmenorrhea: Pain and/or cramping during menstruation, either during the first few periods (primary dysmenorrhea) or at an older age because of a reproductive disorder (secondary dysmenorrhea).

endometrial cancer: Another name for uterine cancer, where cancerous tissue grows in the endometrial layer of the uterus.

endometriosis: A disorder in which the same type of tissue that lines the uterus begins to grow elsewhere in the body, such as on the ovaries, behind the uterus or in the bowels or bladder. This misplaced growth can cause pain and heavy bleeding during periods.