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126. follicle

each month, an egg develops inside the ovary in a fluid filled pocket called a follicle. This follicle releases the egg into the fallopian tube.

127. follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. In women, it helps control the menstrual cycle and the production of eggs by the ovaries.

128. forced prostitution

To make someone have sex for money, against their will.

129. galactosemia

a condition where the body is not able to process galactose (a sugar), which makes up half of the sugar (called lactose) found in milk. When galactose levels become high, body organs and the central nervous system can be damaged. In newborns, the condition is found when first breastfeeding and can cause jaundice and other problems.

130. gallbladder

a sac that stores a fluid called bile, which is produced by the liver. After eating, bile is secreted into the small intestine, where it helps digest fats.

131. gastrointestinal

a term that refers to the stomach and the intestines or bowels.

132. genital warts

are caused by certain types of HPV. They often appear as skin-colored growths. They are found on the inside or outside of the genitals. They can hurt, itch, bleed, and cause discomfort. These lesions are usually not precancerous. Sometimes, it takes multiple treatments to eliminate these lesions.

133. genotoxicity

genotoxic chemicals are those which are capable of causing toxic damage to DNA. Substances that are genotoxic may bind directly to DNA or act indirectly leading to DNA damage by affecting enzymes involved in DNA replication, thereby causing mutations, which may or may not lead to cancer or birth defects (inheritable damage). Genotoxic substances are not necessarily carcinogenic. Such damage can potentially lead to the formation of a malignant tumor, but DNA damage does not lead inevitably to the creation of cancerous cells.

134. GER (gastroesophageal reflux)

also called acid reflux, a condition where the contents of the stomach regurgitates (or backs up) into the esophagus (food pipe), causing discomfort.

135. glandular tissue

body tissue that produces and releases one or more substances for use in the body. Some glands produce fluids that affect tissues or organs. Others produce hormones or participate in blood production. In the breast, glandular tissue is involved in the production of milk.

136. goiter

enlargement of the thyroid gland that is not associated with inflammation or cancer.

137. gonorrhea

a sexually transmitted disease that often has no symptoms. However, some women have pain or burning when urinating; yellowish and sometimes bloody vaginal discharge; bleeding between menstrual periods; heavy bleeding with periods; or pain when having sex. Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

138. heart disease

a number of abnormal conditions affecting the heart and the blood vessels in the heart. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease, which is the gradual buildup of plaques in the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that bring blood to the heart. This disease develops slowly and silently, over decades. It can go virtually unnoticed until it produces a heart attack.

139. hemorrhoids

veins around the anus or lower rectum that are swollen and inflamed.

140. hepatitis B

a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The virus, which is called hepatitis B virus (HBV), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. You get hepatitis B by direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person; for instance, you can become infected by having sex or sharing needles with an infected person. A baby can get hepatitis B from an infected mother during childbirth.

141. hepatitis C

a liver disease, caused by a virus, that makes the liver swell and stops it from working correctly.

142. high blood pressure

also known as hypertension. Blood pressure is considered high when greater than 140 over 90 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). Long-term high blood pressure can damage blood vessels and organs, including the heart, kidneys, eyes, and brain. Fewer than 10 percent of long-term high blood pressure cases are due to another medical condition, such as kidney disease or certain tumors. The remainder are caused by disruptions in the factors that regulate blood pressure. These include hormones, nervous system control of blood vessel constriction, and kidney control of salt and water levels in the blood.

143. HIV

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV infection can produce no symptoms for many years. When certain symptoms develop, a person has AIDS. HIV infection is life-long, there is no cure.

144. hormone

substance produced by one tissue and conveyed by the bloodstream to another to effect a function of the body, such as growth or metabolism.

145. hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

See menopausal hormone therapy.

146. HPV (Human Papillomavirus)

is a common virus. There are many different types of HPV; some cause no harm. Others can cause diseases of the genital area. For most people the virus goes away on its own. When the virus does not go away it can develop into cervical cancer, precancerous lesions, or genital warts, depending on the HPV type.

147. hypertension

see high blood pressure.

148. hysterectomy

surgery to remove the uterus.

149. immune deficiency

a state in which the immune system’s ability to fight infectious disease is compromised or entirely absent. Most cases of immunodeficiency are acquired (ìsecondaryî) but some people are born with defects in the immune system, or primary immunodeficiency. Transplant patients take medications to suppress their immune system as an anti-rejection measure.

150. immune system

a complex system in the body that recognizes and responds to potentially harmful substances, like infections, in order to protect the body.

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