Site MapHelpFeedbackGlossary
Glossary
(See related pages)


Chlamydia (klah-MIH-dee-uh)  An organism causing a sexually transmitted disease; the symptoms in males are a thin, clear discharge and mild pain or urination; females are frequently asymptomatic.
Asymptomatic (ay-simp-toh-MAT-ik)  Having no symptoms.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)  An infection and inflammation of the pelvic organs, such as the fallopian tubes and the uterus, in the female.
HPV  Human papillomavirus, the organism that causes genital warts.
Genital warts  A sexually transmitted disease causing warts on the genitals.
Genital herpes (HER-pees)  A sexually transmitted disease, the symptoms of which are small, painful bumps or blisters on the genitals.
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)  A sexually transmitted disease that destroys the body's natural immunity to infection so that the person is susceptible to and may die from a disease such as pneumonia or cancer.
HIV  Human immune deficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS.
AZT  A drug used to treat HIV-infected persons; also called ZDV.
Gonorrhea (gon-uh-REE-uh)  A sexually transmitted disease that usually causes symptoms of a puslike discharge and painful, burning urination in the male but is frequently asymptomatic in the female.
Syphilis (SIFF-ih-lis)  A sexually transmitted disease that causes a chancre to appear in the primary stage.
Chancre (SHANK-er)  A painless, ulcerlike lesion with a hard, raised edge that is a symptom of syphilis.
Primary-stage syphilis  The first few weeks of a syphilis infection during which the chancre is present.
Secondary-stage syphilis  The second stage of syphilis, occurring several months after infection, during which the chancre has disappeared and a generalized body rash appears.
Latent (LAY-tent) syphilis  The third stage of syphilis, which may last for years, during which symptoms disappear although the person is still infected.
Late syphilis  The fourth and final stage of syphilis, during which the disease does damage to major organs of the body such as the lungs, heart, or brain.
Congenital (kun-JEN-ih-tul) syphilis  A syphilis infection in a newborn baby resulting from transmission from an infected mother.
Trichomoniasis (trick-oh-moh-NY-us-is)  A form of vaginitis causing a frothy white or yellow discharge with an unpleasant odor.
Pubic lice  Tiny lice that attach themselves to the base of pubic hairs and cause itching; also called crabs or pediculosis pubis.
Vaginitis (vaj-in-ITE-is)  An irritation or inflammation of the vagina, usually causing a discharge.
Monilia (Moh-NILL-ee-uh)  A form of vaginitis causing a thick, white discharge; also called candida or yeast infection.
Cystitis (sis-TY-tis)  An infection of the urinary bladder in women, causing painful, burning urination.
Prostatitis (pros-tuh-TY-tis)  An infection or inflammation of the prostate gland.







Understanding Human SexualityOnline Learning Center

Home > Chapter 20 > Glossary