| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Antidepressants |
Medications used to treat depression. |
| Anus |
The opening of the rectum to the outside of the body. |
| Anxiety |
A feeling of apprehension, fear, nervousness or dread accompanied by restlessness or tension. |
| Atherosclerosis |
Also called hardening of the arteries, this is a disease characterized by a narrowing of the arteries caused by cholesterol-rich plaques. Atherosclerosis is a common cause of Coronary artery disease or Heart Disease. |
| Bacterial vaginosis |
The most common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age. Bacterial vaginosis often causes a vaginal discharge that is thin and milky, and is described as having a "fishy" odor. Bacterial vaginosis is caused by a combination of several bacteria. |
| Balanitis |
An inflammation of the skin covering the head of the penis. |
| Balanoposthitis |
Inflammation of the head and the foreskin of the penis. |
| Bartholin's glands |
The small, mucus-producing glands on either side of the vaginal opening. |
| Benign |
Not cancer, as in a benign tumor. |
| Biofeedback |
A method of learning to voluntarily control certain body functions such as heartbeat, blood pressure, and muscle tension with the help of a special machine. This method can help control pain. |
| Biological therapy |
A treatment that uses the body's own immune system to fight cancer. It uses materials made by the body or made in a laboratory to boost, direct or restore the body's natural defenses against disease. Biological treatment is sometimes called biological response modifier (BRM) therapy. |
| Biopsy |
The removal of a small sample of tissue for testing. |
| Birth Control |
A way for men and women to prevent pregnancy. |
| Bisexual |
A person who is attracted to members of either gender. |
| Bisphosphonates |
A group of drugs used to treat osteoporosis and the bone pain caused by some types of Cancer. |