Body Literacy & Fertility Awareness Dictionary
A helpful glossary of terms used frequently in midwifery, sex ed, and the fertility awareness method.
A -
Acrosome - A cap-like structure on the tip of a sperm that releases egg-penetrating enzymes.
Adenomyosis - a condition where lesions that are similar to the uterine lining grow into the muscular wall of the uterus causing the uterine walls to thicken. This leads to extremely painful and heavy periods. It’s sometimes called internal endometriosis.
Adipose tissue - Connective tissue in which fat is stored where the cells are enlarged by droplets of fat. Breast adipose tissue is a major endocrine system of the breast, storing the excess energy and releasing it when required by the body, and secreting many growth factors and enzymes.
Adrenarch - an increase in the production of androgens by the adrenal cortex that usually occurs before puberty & marks the physical changes seen in it.
Amenorrhea - the absence of menstruation sometime during the reproductive years.
Amniotic cavity - The fluid-filled cavity surrounding the developing embryo.
Amniotic sac - A thin-walled sac that surrounds the fetus during pregnancy. The sac is filled with liquid. Initially the fluid is mostly water produced by the pregnant person, and then later by the fetus. The sac also contains the membrane that covers the fetal side of the placenta (amnion). This protects the fetus from injury and regulates the temperature of the fetus.
Androgens - male-promoting steroid sex hormones that function by binding to the androgen receptor.
Anovulation - a cycle where ovulation does not occur.
Anterior fornix - The front recess of the vagina at the end of the vaginal canal created by the vaginal protrusion of the cervix.
Anterior pituitary gland - The front portion of the pituitary, a small gland in the head called the master gland. Hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary influence growth, stress, reproduction, and lactation.
Anus - The opening of the rectum to the outside of the body, through which the solid refuse of digestion is excreted.
Arcuate - A uterus that dips inward at the top. It's a minor irregularity of the uterus that doesn't cause complications.
Areola - The pigmented ring around the human nipple.
Areolar glands - Elevations of the areola, usually arranged in a circle around the nipple, which are often particularly visible when the nipple is erect. They are sebaceous glands which produce an oily secretion to lubricate the nipple. Their function is to protect the skin and provide some air tightness between the infant's mouth and the nipple. Recent research suggests that they produce a type of scent (pheromone) that guides infants to food.
Ascending segment of clitoral body - The pubic segment (or pre-angular segment) of the clitoral body that results from the joining of the 2 corpora cavernosas of the crura.
Axial filament - Official term for the tail of a sperm, which helps the sperm travel to the ovum.
B -
Backbone - The series of vertebrae extending from the skull to the pelvis; the spine.
Basic infertile pattern - a pattern of sticky or dry cervical mucus after the conclusion of menstruation. You are infertile following menstruation before your first day of wet cervical fluid. Not everyone has a basic infertile pattern.
Basal body temperature (bbt) - Basal body temperature is the body's temperature while resting. After ovulation, BBT rises and remains high for the rest of the menstrual cycle. The rise in temperature is caused by the presence of progesterone. It is one of the three primary fertility signs, and is a retroactive fertility sign, meaning it can only be used to determine when ovulation has already occurred.
Bicornuate - A uterus that is shaped irregularly. A bicornuate uterus is described as heart-shaped, appearing to have two sides instead of being one hollow cavity. It's a rare, congenital condition that can cause complications during pregnancy.
Biphasic temperature pattern - a temperature chart pattern with two ranges of temperatures: a lower, pre-ovulatory range that lasts until ovulation and a higher, post-ovulatory range that lasts until the next menstruation begins. Healthy ovulatory cycles will observe a biphasic temperature pattern.
Bladder - A hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. The kidneys filter waste from the blood and produce urine.
Blastocyst - A ball of cells that forms early in a pregnancy, about five to six days after a sperm fertilizes an egg. It implants in the uterine wall, eventually becoming the embryo and then the fetus. It develops from a berrylike cluster of cells, the morula.
Breakthrough bleeding - bleeding due to excessive estrogen production and inversely, due to a lack of progesterone production. This usually occurs during anovulatory cycles. Although breakthrough bleeding may seem like a menstruation, it is not a true menstruation if ovulation has not occurred 12-16 days prior to the bleeding.
Breastfeeding - The action of feeding a baby with milk from the breast.
Bulb of vestibule - Two elongated masses of erectile tissue located on either side of the vaginal opening. They are united to each other in front by a narrow median band.
C -
Centriole - Sperm centrioles are important for forming the sperm flagellum for sperm movement and for the development of the embryo after fertilization. The sperm supplies the centriole that creates the centrosome and microtubule system of the zygote.
Cervical crypts - Several hundred glands lined by cells which, under hormonal and neural influence, manufacture mucus, which is released into the cervical canal. Different crypts secrete different types of mucus.
Cervical fluid/mucus - Fluid produced by the cervix. Your cervical fluid changes throughout your menstrual cycle. Wet and slippery cervical mucus indicates fertility. This type of secretion makes it easy for sperm to reach an egg at ovulation. It is also known as cervical mucus. The cervix produces both fertile quality and infertile quality cervical fluid. It is one of the three primary fertility signs (along with waking body temperature & cervical position). Types of cervical mucus include sticky, creamy, watery, and stretchy (egg-white) quality
Cervical mucus plug - A thick piece of mucus that blocks the opening of your cervix during infertile phases of the menstrual cycle, and most notably during pregnancy. It forms a seal to prevent bacteria and infection from getting into the uterus, and when pregnant, from reaching the fetus.
Cervical os - The opening in the cervix at each end of the endocervical canal. The external os opens to the vagina, and the internal os opens to the uterus. During your menstrual cycle, the cervical os opens during the fertile window to allow sperm to enter. It also opens during menstruation so blood can flow easily.
Cervical position - Both the length and position of the cervix change throughout the menstrual cycle, throughout pregnancy, and during sexual arousal. As one approaches ovulation, the cervix rises up to the top of the vagina and becomes softer and open. It is one of the three primary fertility signs, but is considered optional as it can only be used to corroborate the other two primary signs.
Cervix - The cervix or cervix uteri (Latin, 'neck of the uterus') is the lower part of the uterus in the interior reproductive system. The cervix is usually 2 to 3 cm long (~1 inch) and roughly cylindrical in shape, which changes during the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. The narrow, central cervical canal runs along its entire length, with several hundred crypts (glands) lined by cells which make cervical fluid. The canal connects the uterine cavity and the vagina.
Cervix position checks - The act of observing your cervical position through touch. By placing two fingers into the vagina, one should feel the cervix at the top. A fertile cervix is soft, high, open, and wet. An infertile cervix is low, hard, closed, and dry.
Cervix tracking - see: cervix position
Chest wall - The skin, fat, muscles, bones, and other tissues that form a protective structure around vital organs in the area between the neck and the abdomen.
Chorion frondosum - Tissue surrounding the developing embryo that contributes to the development of the placenta. It is fetal in origin and will eventually become the placental site.
Chorionic cavity - The cavity that contains the fluid in which the embryo floats.
Clitoral fascia - Fibrous tissue comparable with the fascia of the penis, surrounding the erectile tissue.
Clitoral hood skin - A fold of skin (foreskin) that protects the clitoris. When sexually aroused, the clitoris becomes swollen (engorged). The swelling pulls back the clitoral hood.
Clitoris - Erogenous organ capable of erection under sexual stimulation. A female homologue of the male penis, the clitoris develops (as does the penis) from the genital tubercle of the fetus, and it plays an important role in sexual response.
Columnar epithelium - Cells that line the surface of the cervix and its associated endocervical crypts.
Columnar junction - The region in the uterine cervix in which the squamous lining of the vagina is replaced by the columnar epithelium of the cervix.
Connective tissue - Fibrous and fatty tissue in the breast that surrounds and holds the ducts and lobules in place.
Corona radiata - The innermost layer of follicle cells surrounding an ovum which remain attached to it following ovulation. Its main purpose in many animals is to supply vital proteins to the cell.
Corpus cavernosum - A mass of erectile tissue with large interspaces capable of being expanded with blood. It forms the bulk of the body of the penis or of the clitoris.
Corpus luteum - a yellow gland that forms from the ruptured egg follicle after ovulation. The corpus lutem makes progesterone for the rest of that menstrual cycle. If the egg is unfertilized, it disintegrates causing a drop in the hormone and menstruation occurs. If the egg is fertilized, progesterone will support the early pregnancy until the placenta forms.
Corpus uteri - The main body of the uterus above the cervix and below the openings of the uterine tubes.
Coverline - a line used to delineate preovulatory & postovulatory temperatures on a fertility awareness chart.
Creamy cervical fluid - cervical fluid which has a lotion-like consistency. It is generally wet and is a fertile type of mucus, though not as fertile as more lubricative and egg-white fluids.
Crura - The crura are two erectile tissues that extend from the clitoral body. They're the longest part of the clitoris. They form the “V” of the wishbone and surround the vaginal canal and urethra.
Crus - Refers to a singular leg of the crura.
Cytoplasm - The gelatinous liquid that fills the inside of a cell.
D -
Day 1 - the first day of red flow menstruation & the first day on your fertility awareness chart.
Decidua capsularis - Modified mucosal lining of the uterus that grows over the embryo, enclosing it into the endometrium.
Decidua parietalis - The remaining part of the decidua that separates the embryo from the uterine lumen. It fuses with the decidua capsularis by the fourth month of gestation.
Decidua basalis - The part of decidua that interacts with the trophoblast where the maternal placenta is to be formed.
Deep artery - A branch of the internal pudendal artery that supplies the clitoral crura.
Deep dorsal artery - One of the two terminal branches of the internal pudendal artery, the other being the deep artery of the clitoris; both supply the erectile tissue with blood.
Deep dorsal vein - A vein which drains to the vesical plexus.
Dendritic spines - The small, protruding, membranous organelles found on the dendritic processes of neurons where the majority of excitatory synaptic signaling occurs in the brain.
Descending segment of clitoral body - The section of the clitoris that is directed downwards. The sections of this part of the clitoral body can be felt under the skin of the clitoral hood, at the interlabial groove. It is this part which is extended by the glans. This part of the body of the clitoris is sometimes referred to as the clitoral shaft.
Dichorionic diamniotic - A type of twin pregnancy where each twin has its own chorionic and amniotic sacs. This type occurs most commonly with dizygotic twins, but may also occur with monozygotic twin pregnancies.
Didelphys - A uterine malformation where there is a double uterus with two separate cervixes, and possibly a double vagina as well. Each uterus has a single horn linked to the ipsilateral uterine tube that faces its ovary.
Dilation - The opening of the cervix, the entrance to the uterus, during childbirth, miscarriage, abortion, or surgery. Cervical dilation may occur naturally, or may be induced surgically or medically.
Dizygotic twinning - Twins that develop from two zygotes. Dizygotic twins are non-identical because they arise from two eggs, each fertilized by a separate sperm. They are siblings who have shared a common uterine environment. Dizygotic twins are also called fraternal twins.
Dorsal nerves - Nerves that branch off of the pudendal nerve to innervate the clitoris.
Dorsal veins and arteries - The dorsal artery of the penis/clitoris is a terminal branch of the internal pudendal artery. The superficial dorsal veins of the clitoris are a tributary of the external pudendal vein.
Dry day rule - one of the four rules for utilizing fertility awareness for contraception. Before ovulation, you are safe the evening of every dry day, where you feel no cervical fluid & a dry vaginal sensation. The following day is considered potentially fertile.
Dry days - days when you observe no cervical fluid or bleeding and have a dry vaginal sensation
Dysmenorrhea - painful menstruation including spasmodic contractions in the abdomen
E -
Eco-menstruation - The concepts and practices around changing one's relationship with menstruation and simultaneously the earth as a whole. It reframes menstruation as having a positive relationship with the land, dictates that menstrual stigma and destruction of the earth are related, emphasizes that menstrual blood is not pathogenic, and opposes companies that produce wasteful products.
Ectocervix - The portion of the uterine cervix extending into the vagina and lined with stratified squamous epithelium. This is the part of the cervix that one can touch during cervical position checks.
Effacement - The thinning of the cervix. When the cervix effaces, the mucus plug is loosened and passes out of the vagina, the cervix then shortens, or effaces, pulling up into the uterus and becoming part of the lower uterine wall. Effacement may be measured in percentages, from zero percent (not effaced at all) to 100 percent, which indicates a paper-thin cervix.
Eggwhite CF - very fertile cervical fluid that is generally slippery, clear, and stretchy, and may resemble raw eggwhites. Eggwhite CF typically appears in the 2-3 days prior to ovulation.
Embryo - The early stage of development of a human inside the uterus, extending from the time of the formation of the zygote until the end of the first eight weeks.
Emissary vein - Blood vessels that become compressed which limit venous drainage and maintain clitoral erection.
Endocervical canal - The inner part of the cervix that forms a canal that connects the vagina to the uterus. The endocervix is lined with glandular cells that make mucus.
Endocervix - The inner part of the cervix. See (Endocervical canal)
Endometriosis - endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue located outside the womb. With endometriosis, the disease commonly occurs on the pelvic structures (and sometimes beyond), causing severe pain, bowel, bladder or other organ dysfunction, inflammation, scarring and adhesions, and in some cases, infertility.
Endometrium - the lining of the uterus that is built up by estrogen and supported by progesterone during a cycle. If conception occurs, the fertilized egg will implant in the endometrium. If conception does not occur, the endometrium is shed during menstruation. The mucous membrane lining the uterus, which thickens during the menstrual cycle in preparation for possible implantation of an embryo.
Estrogen - a hormone produced mainly in the ovaries. It is responsible for the development of female secondary sex characteristics. Increasing estrogen levels in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle help the egg mature and produce significant changes in cervical fluid and cervical position. A category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, secondary sex characteristics, and other functions.
Estrogen receptors - Receptors are proteins in or on cells that can attach to certain substances in the blood. Cells in the body have hormone receptors to the hormone estrogen. Hormones are signaling molecules that get synthesized in one part of your body and are then released into the bloodstream and picked up by any cells in the body that have matching hormone receptors. Because they are diffused in the bloodstream, hormones can travel great distances, reaching receptor sites that are far away from wherever they’re made.
F -
Feedback loops - Most hormones are regulated by feedback mechanisms. A feedback mechanism is a loop in which a product feeds back to control its own production. Most hormone feedback mechanisms involve negative feedback loops. Negative feedback keeps the concentration of a hormone within a narrow range.
Femoral artery - The main blood vessel supplying blood to the lower body.
Fertile cervix - A cervix that is high, soft, and open.
Fertile quality cervical fluid - cervical fluid that is wet, slippery, lubricative, stretchy, or resembles eggwhite. This fluid appears close to ovulation, allowing for sperm survival for up to 5 days.
Fertile phase - see: fertile window
Fertile window - The time during the menstrual cycle when one is most likely to get pregnant. For most people, it's the five days leading up to ovulation, the day of ovulation, and the day after ovulation.
Fertility awareness method - a method that allows you to determine when you’re fertile and when you’re not based on the corroborating observations of the three primary fertility signs: basal body temperature, cervical fluid, and cervical position.
Fertilization - The fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote.
Fetus - The unborn offspring of a human at the later stages of its development, from eight weeks after fertilization until their birth. The fetal stage follows the embryonic stage.
Fimbriae - Fingerlike projections at the end of the uterine tube near the ovary.
First five days rule - one of the four rules for utilizing fertility awareness for contraception. If your cycles are more than 29 days, you are safe the first 5 days of your menstrual cycle if you had an obvious thermal shift 12-16 days prior. If your cycles are less than 29 days, modify this rule to the first three days rule.
Flaccid - The baseline position of the clitoris; not erect.
Flagellum - The tail of the sperm, a slender, hairlike bundle of filaments that connect to the head and middle portion.
Follicle cells - A hollow ball of cells encompassing each ovum. The follicular wall serves as a protective casing around the egg and provides a suitable environment for egg development.
Follicle development - Each ovarian follicle develops to either ovulate or, more likely, to undergo degeneration. Altogether, the development of a primordial to a full-grown secondary follicle requires about 300 days or about 11 menstrual cycles.
Follicle recruitment - The process wherein the follicle departs from the resting pool to begin a well characterized pattern of growth and development. Recruitment, although obligatory, does not guarantee ovulation.
Follicle stimulating hormone - A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland which promotes the formation of ova or sperm.
Follicular phase - The preovulatory phase, beginning with the first day of the menstrual bleed and ending with the next ovulation. This phase is a variable length of time depending on a number of factors. The highly variable pre-ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle, beginning with the first day of menstruation and ending with ovulation.
Frenulum - A fold formed by union of the labia minora on the undersurface of the glans clitoris.
Fundus - The dome-shaped, uppermost, rounded part of the uterus above the uterine tubes.
G -
Gestational age - the age of the fertilized egg. In fertility awareness, we correctly calculate the gestational age by counting the number of days from the last ovulation. Typically, gestational age is estimated, based off of the date of your last menstruation + 14. This estimate can be inaccurate.
G type mucus - a high viscosity type of cervical mucus which forms an impenetrable plug, has no crystallization under a microscope. Instead, its cellular looking in structure, the nuclei can be seen. These cells are a part of the immune system, leukocytes & lymphocytes, which protect the reproductive system from infection. It also closes the cervix for most of the cycle so it prevents entry of sperm or bacteria into the cervix entirely. It forms in the lowest part of the cervix as this is where the G crypts are found
G spot - A highly erogenous and sensitive area in the anterior wall of the vagina that is likely the stimulation of the paraurethral glands.
Genital innervation - Nerve supply to the genitals that produces sensation.
Genital tubercle - A conical protuberance on the belly wall of an embryo between the attachment of the umbilical cord and the tail that develops into the sex organs, the penis in the male and the clitoris in the female, or intersex variations like phalloclitorises and hypospadias penises.
Glans - The rounded part forming the end of the penis or clitoris.
Glans clitoris - The glans is the externally visible portion of the clitoris which lies at the anterior junction of the two labia minora, above the urethral orifice and at the lower border of the pubic bone.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) - A releasing hormone responsible for the release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anterior pituitary. It constitutes the initial step in the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis.
H -
Hatching - The embryo needs to get out of the zona pellucida before implantation to establish cell contacts between the trophectoderm and endometrial epithelium. The release of the embryo from the zona pellucida is carried out at the stage of the blastocyst and called zona hatching. During zona hatching the blastocyst breaks the zona pellucida and performs active movements to escape through a gap formed in the zona.
Head - The part of the sperm that contains DNA. The tip of the sperm head is the portion called the acrosome, which enables the sperm to penetrate the egg. The midpiece contains the mitochondria which supplies the energy the tail needs to move.
Hood / foreskin - The arch of skin that covers the descending body and glans of the clitoris. It protects the sensitive clitoris from friction or rubbing.
Hormone - a chemical produced by one organ and carried by the blood to another organ where it exerts its effects.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (HGC) - a hormone produced by a developing embryo as it implants in the uterine lining. It helps maintain the corpus luteum until the placenta develops. A pregnancy test measures for this hormone in urine.
Hypogastric nerve - The hypogastric nerve gives sympathetic innervation to various regions in the pelvis including the cervix and prostate.
Hypospadias penis - An intersex variation where the opening of the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) is not located at the tip of the penis.
Hypothalamus - A structure deep within your brain that is the main link between your endocrine system and your nervous system. Part of the brain located just above the pituitary gland. It produces hormones that influence the pituitary gland and regulate the development and activity of the ovaries & testes.
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) - a term used to represent the interaction between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands.
I -
Implantation - Attachment of the fertilized egg or blastocyst to the wall of the uterus at the start of pregnancy.
Implantation spotting - a light bleeding or spotting that occurs when a fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine lining. This is most likely to occur around the date of your next expected menstruation.
Infertile cervix - A cervix that is low, firm and closed.
Infertile fluid - thick, sticky, tacky, or opaque quality cervical fluid that produces a vaginal sensation of dryness or stickiness. It's very difficult for sperm to survive in it. This fluid is considered infertile and dries quickly.
Infertile phase - the parts of the menstrual cycle where pregnancy cannot occur. There are both pre-ovulatory & post-ovulatory infertile phases.
Infradian rhythm - A rhythm with a duration longer than that of a circadian rhythm (longer than a day). The menstrual cycle is an example of an infradian rhythm.
Inguinal lymph node - Lymph nodes located in the groin that are a part of your lymphatic system and work with your immune system to fight disease and infection.
Intervillous space - The space between chorionic villi that contains maternal blood.
Isthmus gland - Part of the uterus which joins the cervix to the corpus uteri.
K -
Kegels - Refers to an exercise to relax & contract the pelvic muscles to strengthen them. It can also be used to push cervical fluid & semen out of the vaginal opening. The muscles themselves are called “pelvic muscles” not kegel muscles.
L -
Labia majora - The larger outer folds of the vulva.
Labia minora - The smaller inner folds of the vulva.
Lactobacillus dominated microbiota - The human vaginal microbiome is dominated by bacteria from the genus Lactobacillus, which create an acidic environment thought to protect against sexually transmitted pathogens and opportunistic infections.
Lactational amenorrhea method - a method of natural contraception that can be used by people who are fully, or nearly fully breastfeeding, and whose menstruations have not yet returned. It is most effective in the first 6 months postpartum.
Large clitoris / phalloclitoris - The intermediate genital form that all humans start with in the womb. In endosex people, it differentiates into a penis or clitoris. In intersex people who are genitally variant, the phalloclitoris retains an intermediate form.
Late proliferative phase - The uterine phase marked by increased thickness of the stratum functionalis, and the glands are more coiled and densely packed.
L mucus / crypt - This mucus is produced throughout the cervix. It forms a fern-like pattern under a microscope and acts as a selector by trapping low quality sperm that are malformed or dysfunctional, which are not allowed to continue upwards. L mucus also takes high quality sperm into the S crypts to be nourished for later release. It provides structural support to the P and S mucus.
Lobules - Breast glands that make milk.
Luteal formation - The formation of the corpus luteum after ovulation that produces progesterone and lasts for about two weeks, or if pregnant, until the placenta forms.
Luteal phase - The second half of your menstrual cycle that starts after ovulation and ends with the first day of your next menstruation. The post-ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle. It begins after ovulation and ends at the beginning of the following menstrual bleed. A luteal phase is typically 12-16 days, and more than 18 days signifies a pregnancy.
Luteal regression - The structural and functional degradation of the corpus luteum, which occurs at the end of the luteal phase and triggers menstruation.
Luteinizing hormone - A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that triggers ovulation.
Lymph nodes - Small bean-shaped structures that are part of the body's immune system. Lymph nodes filter substances that travel through the lymphatic fluid, and they contain lymphocytes (white blood cells) that help the body fight infection and disease.
M -
Menarche - The first occurrence of menstruation in a person’s life.
Menopause - 12 months after a person’s last menstrual period in life. The permanent cessation of ovulation & menstruation
Menorrhagia - abnormally heavy and prolonged bleeding
Menstrual cycle - The process of fluctuating hormones that results in ovulation, and if the egg is not fertilized, that results in menstruation.
Menstrual phase - The first stage of the menstrual cycle, when you bleed. This phase starts when an egg from the previous cycle isn't fertilized and levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone are low. The uterus releases menstrual blood which travels through the cervix, vagina, and exits the body at the vaginal opening.
Midcycle / ovulation spotting - normal light bleeding or spotting that occurs around ovulation. It is considered a secondary fertility sign.
Milk duct - A thin tube in the breast that carries milk from the breast lobules to the nipple.
Monochorionic monoamniotic - Identical twins who share both a placenta and an amniotic sac.
Monozygotic twinning - Identical twins result from the fertilization of a single egg by a single sperm, with the fertilized egg then splitting into two. Identical twins share the same genomes and are always the same sex.
Morula / morulae - An early-stage embryo consisting of a solid ball of cells called blastomeres, contained within the zona pellucida.
Mugwort - A plant of the daisy family, with aromatic divided leaves that are dark green above and whitish below, native to north temperate regions. Mugwort is a uterine tonic and emmenagogue, which can be used to encourage menstruation.
Multiple ovulation - the release of two separate eggs during the same ovulation. If fertilized, the person will have fraternal twins. *This term can be confusing because ovulation itself only occurs once per menstrual cycle*Monochorionic diamniotic - Twins that share a placenta and a blood supply but grow in two separate amniotic sacs.
Myometrium - The smooth muscle tissue of the uterus.
N -
Natural family planning - a method of contraception similar to the fertility awareness method, however users of NFP abstain from sex rather than using contraceptive barriers or other alternatives during the fertile phase. NFP is often associated with religious groups, whereas FAM is practiced secularly.
Nerves to the cervix - Three pairs of nerves – pelvic, hypogastric and vagus – convey sensation from the cervix to the brain.
Nerves to vulva - The vulva is innervated by the anterior labial branches of the ilioinguinal nerve, genitofemoral nerve, and branches of the pudendal nerves.
Nipple - The small projection in which the mammary ducts end and from which milk can be secreted.
Nucleus - The membrane-enclosed organelle within a cell that contains the chromosomes. The nucleus of each sex cell contains half of the original genetic material.
Nucleus tractus solitarius - The primary integrative center for cardiovascular control and other autonomic functions in the central nervous system (CNS).
O -
Ovarian cycle - The series of changes that occur in the ovary during the menstrual cycle that cause maturation of a follicle, ovulation, and development of the corpus luteum.
Ovarian hormones - The hormones estrogen and progesterone are made primarily in the ovaries.
Ovary - One of a pair of glands in which the eggs form and the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and some testosterone are made.
Ovulation - The main hormonal event of the menstrual cycle which culminates with the release of a mature ovum from the ovarian follicle. The release of an egg from an ovary during the menstrual cycle.
Ovulation predictor kits - home tests which detect the presence of luteinizing hormone, which reaches its peak around 72 hours before ovulation
Ovulatory phase - The short phase of the cycle where ovulation is imminent. It occurs as a result of rising estrogen levels during the follicular phase triggering your pituitary gland to release luteinizing hormone (LH).
Ovulatory spotting - see: midcycle spotting
Ovum - A mature female reproductive cell which can divide to give rise to an embryo after fertilization by a male cell.
Oxytocin - A hormone released by the pituitary gland that causes increased contraction of the uterus during labor and stimulates the ejection of milk into the ducts of the breasts.
P -
Paracervical plexus - A network of nerve fibers that supplies innervation to the cervix. A plexus refers to a bundle of intersecting nerves.
Paraurethral gland openings - Ducts that have small, pinprick size external openings through which they release secretions on either side of the urethral opening.
Paraurethral glands - Formerly known as the Skene’s glands, these glands located between the vaginal canal and urethra, are an important part of both urinary and sexual health. The external openings of the glands are present on either side of the lower end of the urethra within the vestibule. Ejection from the paraurethral glands is referred to as squirting.
Parsley - A biennial plant with white flowers and aromatic leaves which are either crinkly or flat and are used as a culinary herb and for garnishing food. Both flat leaf and curly parsley are emmenagogues and contain apiol and myristicin which are known to stimulate contractions of the uterus.patch rule - one of the two rules of using FAM as contraception during anovulatory or long cycles. As soon as you see a change in your Basic Infertile Pattern to a wetter type of cervical fluid, you must consider yourself fertile until the evening (after 6 PM) of the 4th consecutive non-wet day after your Peak Day.
Peak day - the final day of fertile cervical fluid/wet vaginal sensation during a menstrual cycle. Peak Day usually occurs the day before ovulation or on the day of ovulation.
Peak plus 4 rule - one of the four rules of using FAM as contraception: you are considered infertile the evening (after 6 PM) of the 4th day after your Peak Day.
Pectoral muscles - Each of the four large paired muscles that cover the front of the ribcage and serve to draw the forelimbs towards the chest.
Pelvic muscles - The pelvic floor muscles span the bottom of the pelvis and support the pelvic organs (bladder, bowel, and uterus).
Pelvic nerve - The primary sensory nerve from the cervix.
Penis - The genital organ carrying the duct for the transfer of sperm during ejaculation.
Perimenopause - The phase of the menstrual life cycle that is before the occurrence of menopause. Perimenopause is known as second puberty because one has high estrogen levels in comparison to progesterone, which is slowly declining.
Pituitary gland - a gland at the base of the brain that receives messages from the hypothalamus and secretes certain hormones. The pituitary is in charge of sending messages to the ovaries & testes.
Placental villi - Villi that sprout from the chorion to provide maximal contact area with maternal blood. It is composed of multiple layers, including the chorionic membrane that makes up the outermost layer of fetal tissue and forms the villi for vascularisation of the placenta.
Plasma membrane - A microscopic membrane of lipids and proteins which forms the external boundary of the cytoplasm of a cell.
P mucus / crypt - P mucus is secreted from the upper most part of the cervix. Its main role is dissolving the thicker fluids (like L mucus) and to allow release of healthy sperm from the S crypts to quickly move them to the ovum. Nicknamed P for “Peak day” mucus, it causes an extremely lubricative sensation on the day of ovulation, and often without any visible cervical mucus present.
Pockets of Shaw - Small folds found at the lower end of the vagina. The Pockets of Shaw open in response to rising levels of progesterone after ovulation, absorbing the moisture from any mucus before it reaches the vulva. The change in sensation at the vulva from wet and slippery to dry or sticky helps to accurately identify peak fertility, which is the last day of the slippery sensation and very close to the time of ovulation.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - a metabolic condition that involves inconsistent or lack of ovulation and androgenic symptoms. PCOS is mainly rooted in insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, mineral deficiency, thyroid issues. Temporary PCOS sometimes occurs in the recovery from hormonal birth control.
Posterior fornix - The larger recess in the upper vagina behind the cervix.
Pregnancy test - a urine sample test which detects the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin, the pregnancy hormone.
Prepuce - See (Clitoral hood)
Primary fertility signs - the three primary fertility signs are basal body temperature, cervical fluid, and cervical position.
Progesterone - A steroid sex hormone released by the corpus luteum after ovulation that plays an important role in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and stimulates the uterus to prepare for pregnancy, maintains pregnancy, and supports the breast glands. It also supports body and brain health in various ways. The post-ovulatory hormone produced by the corpus luteum which is essential for preparing the endometrium for a possible pregnancy. It is responsible for the drying up of cervical fluid after ovulation, as well as the rise in waking body temperature. Progesterone is also an important hormone for our bones and cardiovascular health.
Prolactin - A hormone released from the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates milk production after childbirth.
Proliferative phase - the pre-ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle where the endometrial lining is thickening to prepare for ovulation & possible implantation.
Prostaglandins - a group of fatty acids that cause severe menstrual cramps
Puberty - The period during which adolescents experience endocrine development, physical development, and become capable of reproduction.
Pubic bone - The forward portion of either of the hip bones, at the juncture forming the front arch of the pelvis.
Pubic symphysis - A joint sandwiched between your left pelvic bone and your right pelvic bone.
Pudendal nerve - A major nerve in your pelvic region. This nerve sends motor and sensation information from the glans clitoris.
R -
Raspberry - The plant which yields the raspberry, forming tall stiff prickly stems or ‘canes’. It has been used as a uterine tonic and general pregnancy tea for at least two centuries.
Rectum - The last several inches of the large intestine closest to the anus.
Rectouterine pouch - A sac between the rectum and the uterus that is formed by a folding of the peritoneum. Formerly called the Pouch of Douglas.
Rhythm method - an unreliable method of family planning where ovulation predictions are based off of the previous average cycle length. Fertility awareness method differs from the rhythm method in several key ways, such as using biomarkers to identify the fertile window. The rhythm method is often conflated with FAM but is not widely accepted as a viable option to people within the FAM community (users & instructors).
Rib - Each of a series of slender curved bones articulated in pairs to the spine (twelve pairs in humans), protecting the thoracic cavity and its organs.
Round ligament with lymph vessels - A rope-like band of connective tissue. Two round ligaments support the uterus. The lymph vessels drain the ovaries via the round ligament to the inguinal lymph nodes.
S -
Sacral nerves - Any of the spinal nerves of the sacral region.
Secondary fertility signs - physical and emotional changes that may help to confirm when a person is fertile. Secondary signs include ovulation pain, ovulatory spotting, breast tenderness, swollen vulva, heightened senses, increased libido, and increased mood.
Secretory phase - The phase of the uterine cycle that begins at ovulation. As progesterone rises, the glands become even more coiled and the uterine lining reaches its maximum thickness.
Septate - A typical shaped uterus with a wall of tissue creating two cavities. Some people may not even realize they have a septate uterus, even during pregnancy and childbirth.
Shaft / body - The ascending and descending segments of the clitoris, and the erogenous area capable of erection under sexual stimulation.
Short luteal phase - when a progesterone deficiency causes the second half of the cycle to be shorter than 10 days. This is not enough time to sustain an implantation & thus causes infertility.
S mucus / crypt - This mucus is found in the upper half of the cervix and has a crystalline pattern under a microscope. It creates vertical formations in the cervical canal. S mucus will be present for a variable number of days before ovulation, and up to 3 days after. It is experienced as a slippery, lubricative fluid produced only during the fertile window. It provides nourishment for sperm, adjusts the pH of the vagina to support their survival, and ushers them up the cervix in less than 10 minutes. Without this fluid, sperm can’t reach the egg.
Sperm - The reproductive cell that can potentially fuse with an ovum.
Spinal mitochondria - The mitochondria that produce energy for the movement of the sperm.
Spotting - see: breakthrough bleeding
Squamo-columnar junction - The region in the uterine cervix in which the squamous lining of the vagina is replaced by the columnar epithelium typical of the body of the uterus.
Sticky cervical fluid - a pasty, tacky, or otherwise dry cervical fluid that is not conducive to sperm survival.
Subtunical venous plexus - Blood vessels that drain from the clitoris to the emissary vein. They become compressed which limit venous drainage and maintain clitoral erection.
Superficial dorsal vein - The superficial dorsal vein drains blood from the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the clitoral shaft and prepuce (foreskin) into the superficial external pudendal vein.
Sympathetic nerves - Nerves innervating the ovary that emerge from the lower thoracic and upper lumbar spinal cord segments.
T -
Temperature shift - the rise in waking temperature that divides the pre & post ovulatory phases of the biphasic menstrual cycle chart. It occurs when temperatures are at least two-tenths of a degree higher than the previous 6 days.
Temp plus 3 rule - one of the four rules of natural contraception: you are safe for unprotected sex with ejaculate the evening of the third consecutive day your temperature was above the coverline.
Testosterone - A steroid hormone that is produced mainly in the testes, but also in the ovaries and adrenal cortex.
Thermal shift - see: temperature shift
Tissue checks - Part of the fertility awareness method where one checks their cervical mucus by wiping the outside of the vaginal opening with a tissue before passing urine.
Triphasic temperature pattern - a temperature shift pattern that reflects a pregnancy. About 7-10 days after the original thermal shift, another, higher shift occurs from the presence of HCG
Tunica albuginea - The tough fibrous layer of connective tissue that surrounds the corpora cavernosa of the clitoris and penis.
U -
Umbilical cord - A flexible cordlike structure containing blood vessels and attaching a human or other mammalian fetus to the placenta during gestation.
Unchanging day rule - one of the two rules of using FAM as contraception during anovulatory or otherwise long cycles: If day after day your vulva is dry or the same-quality sticky CF, you can consider yourself infertile the evenings (after 6 PM) of any dry or sticky day.
Underwear checks - A passive way to observe cervical mucus by checking for signs of mucus on underwear throughout the day.
Unicornuate - A congenital irregularity where a person has only one uterine tube and an abnormally shaped uterine cavity. It's a rare condition that causes pregnancy complications. Certain variations cause pelvic pain.
Ureter - The duct by which urine passes from the kidney to the bladder.
Urethra - The duct by which urine is conveyed out of the body from the bladder, and which in penises also conveys semen. It may convey ejaculation from the paraurethral glands.
Urethral opening - The opening to the urethra to discharge urine outside the body.
Uterine blood vessels - The arterial blood supply of the uterus comes from three arteries: the uterine branch of the ovarian artery, the uterine artery of the external iliac artery, and the uterine branch of the urogenital artery. All arteries enter the uterus at its mesometrial border and divide into smaller ones.
Uterine cavity - The empty space inside the uterus between the cervical canal and the uterine tubes.
Uterine cycle - A series of changes that occur to the lining of the uterus, or endometrium, during a typical menstrual cycle. The phases of the uterine cycle include menstruation, the proliferative phase, and the secretory phase.
Uterine lining - See (Endometrium)
Uterine musculature - The myometrium is the middle layer of the uterine wall, consisting mainly of uterine smooth muscle cells (also called uterine myocytes) but also of supporting stromal and vascular tissue. Its main function is to induce uterine contractions.
Uterine tube - The structures that transport the ova from the ovary to the uterus each month. In the presence of sperm and fertilization, the uterine tubes transport the fertilized egg to the uterus for implantation. Formerly known as oviducts or fallopian tubes.
Utero-ovarian ligament - The ligament that connects the uterus to the ovary.
Uterus - The hollow, pear-shaped organ in the pelvis. The uterus is where a fetus develops and grows. Also called a womb.
V -
Vagal nerve - Nerve that conducts sensory information from the uterus to the brainstem directly, bypassing the spinal cord.
Vagina - The muscular tube leading from the external genitals to the cervix of the uterus.
Vaginal canal - The muscular canal of the vagina lined with nerves and mucus membranes.
Vaginal opening - The opening to the vagina at the vulva. It's located between the urethra and the anus.
Vaginal pH - A typical vaginal pH is between 3.8 and 4.5. A pH level within this range can help to keep bacterial and fungal infections at bay. Lactobacilli bacteria live in the vagina and secrete lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, which give the vagina its acidic pH level. Vaginal pH can change throughout the menstrual cycle.
Vaginal sensation - the way that the inside of your vagina and vulva feels throughout the day – typically denoted by dry or wet, and further clarified by the kind of cervical mucus you observe. A wet vaginal sensation indicates that you may be fertile.
Vasectomy - a sterilization procedure where the vas deferens is cut to stop the passage of sperm
Vestibular gland openings - The tiny openings of the small vestibular glands are between the urethral and vaginal orifices. These glands secrete mucus into the vestibule, which moistens the labia and vestibule upon sexual arousal.
Vestibular glands - Formerly known as the Bartholin's glands, these glands are located on each side of the vaginal opening. They secrete fluid that helps lubricate the vagina and sexual arousal fluid.
Vestibule - The shallow depression lying between the labia minora into which the urethral opening and the vaginal opening are located.
Vestibulum - See (Vestibule)
Vulva - The part of your genitals on the outside of the body — the labia, clitoris, vaginal opening, and the opening to the urethra.
Vulva checks - The act of checking for cervical fluid by swiping fingers over the vaginal opening at the vulva.
Vulvodynia - pain at the vulva, including itching, burning, stinging, or stabbing at the opening of the vagina.
W -
Waking temperature - see: basal body temperature
Watery cervical fluid - very fertile cervical fluid that is wet, slippery, may gush out like water.
Withdrawal bleeding - see: breakthrough bleeding
Y -
Yolk sac / stalk - A small, membranous structure situated outside of the embryo with a variety of functions during embryonic development. It attaches ventrally to the developing embryo via the yolk stalk.
Z -
Zona Pellucida - An elastic, transparent extracellular matrix consisting of specific glycoproteins. The zona pellucida is preserved after fertilization and surrounds the developing human embryo for a few days.
Zygote - A fertilized ovum; a diploid cell resulting from the fusion of two haploid gametes.