Barrier Method: Birth control that stops sperm from entering the uterus, such as a condom.
Basal Body Temperature (BBT): The temperature of the body at rest.
Cervix: The lower, narrow end of the uterus at the top of the vagin*.
Egg: The female reproductive cell made in and released from the ovaries. Also called the ovum.
Fallopian Tube: Tube through which an egg travels from the ovary to the uterus.
Fertility Awareness: A collection of ways to track a woman’s natural body functioning and determine when she is most likely to get pregnant.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): A virus that attacks certain cells of the body’s immune system. If left untreated, HIV can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Menopause: The time when a woman’s menstrual periods stop permanently. Menopause is confirmed after 1 year of no periods.
Menstrual Cycle: The monthly process of changes that occur to prepare a woman’s body for possible pregnancy. A menstrual cycle is defined as the first day of menstrual bleeding of one cycle to the first day of menstrual bleeding of the next cycle.
Ovary: Organ in women that contains the eggs necessary to get pregnant and makes important hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Ovulation: The time when an ovary releases an egg.
Sexual Intercourse: The act of the penis of the male entering the vagin* of the female. Also called "having sex" or "making love."
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Infections that are spread by sexual contact. Infections include chlamydia, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]).
Symptothermal Method: A fertility awareness method used to predict when a woman might be fertile. The method uses body temperature and other signs and symptoms of ovulation.
