560 List of Difficult Words
tubes See fallopian tubes.
tumor Abnormal growth.
U
ulcer A chronic open sore of the skin, the
stomach, or the intestines.
ultrasound A machine that uses sound to take a
picture of the inside of the body without cutting
it open. It is often used during pregnancy to see
the baby inside the womb.
unconscious See loss of consciousness.
unsafe sex Direct contact with a sexual partner’s
genitals, blood, semen or vaginal wetness—if there
is any chance you or your partner has a sexually
transmitted infection (STI).
urethra A short tube that carries urine from the
bladder to the hole a person urinates from.
urine Liquid waste that collects in the bladder
and leaves the body through a hole just above
the vagina.
uristix Special paper strips that change color
when dipped in urine that has sugar in it. Uristix
can be used to find out if a person has diabetes.
uterus See womb.
V
vaccinations or vaccines Medicines that are
injected to give protection against specific diseases
like tetanus.
vagina (birth canal) A tube made of muscle that
goes from the opening of the woman’s genitals to
the cervix.
varicose veins Abnormally swollen veins—often
blue, lumpy, and winding—on the legs of older
people, pregnant women, and women who have
had a lot of children. Pregnant women also
sometimes have varicose veins in the genitals.
vasectomy A permanent method of preventing
pregnancy, in which the tubes that carry sperm
from the testicles to the penis are cut.
veins Thin, tube-like vessels that carry blood back
to the heart. Also see artery.
virgin A person who has not had sex.
virus Germs smaller than bacteria, which cause
some infectious diseases.
visual inspection A method of screening women
for cancer of the cervix. A vinegar solution (acetic
acid) is painted on the cervix and turns abnormal
tissue white.
vitamins Foods that the body needs to work
properly, to fight disease, and to get better after a
sickness or injury.
vomiting Throwing up the contents of the
stomach through the mouth.
vulva All the parts of a woman’s genitals that
can be seen on the outside of her body between
her legs.
W
withdrawal The period of time in which the
body gets used to being without a drug or alcohol
to which it is physically addicted.
womb (uterus) A sac of strong muscle inside
a woman’s belly. Monthly bleeding comes from
the womb, and the baby grows inside the womb
during pregnancy.
X
x-rays Pictures of parts of the inside of the body,
like the bones or the lungs, which are created by
rays sent through the body. The body does not
need to be cut open.
Y
yeast infection A vaginal infection with white,
lumpy discharge, itching, and burning. These
infections are common during pregnancy and
when taking antibiotics.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012