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pap test: A test for cervical cancer done by examining cells scraped off the cervix during a pelvic examination.
paraphilia: A sexual behavior characterized by intense recurrent sexual urges and sexually arousing fantasies lasting at least 6 months and involving nonhuman objects or parts of human objects, the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one's partner, or children or other nonconsenting individuals.
paraphiliac: A person who has a paraphilia.
parenteral transmission: Infection via the bloodstream.
partialism: A fetish in which a person is sexually attracted to a specific body part exclusive of the person.
passive immunity: The immunity that a baby has to certain diseases due to the antibodies transferred to him or her through the mother's breast milk.
PCP: Abbreviation for pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. One of the opportunistic infections associated with AIDS.
pederasty: Sex between an adult and a child, usually an adult male and a male child.
pediculosis pubis: Lice that infest the pubic hair; commonly referred to as crabs.
pedophile: An individual who is sexually attracted to prepubescent children.
pedophilia: A paraphilia characterized by intense, recurring sexual urges or fantasies involving sexual activities with a prepubescent child.
peer: An age-mate.
pelvic floor: The underside of the pelvic area extending from the top of the pubic bone to the anus.
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): Infection of the pelvic organs such as the fallopian tubes that often causes scarring which can then lead to infertility.
penetration: The insertion of the penis or another object into the vagina or anus for sexual purposes.
penis: The primary male sexual and reproductive organ through which both urine and semen pass.
penis envy: In psychoanalytic theory, a woman's desire to have a penis, whether literally or metaphorically.
perimetrium: The thin membrane covering the outside of the uterus.
perinatal transmission: The passing of a disease from mother to fetus through the placenta and bloodstream.
perineum: A strip of sensitive tissue that runs between the genitals and the anus.
period: The menstrual period.
perversion: An old-fashioned term for a sexual deviation.
phallic: Penis or penis-like in shape or form.
phallus: An object that is a penis or penis-like in shape or form.
pheromone: A sexually arousing chemical substance that is secreted into the air by many kinds of animals, including, possibly, humans.
phimosis: A condition in which the foreskin is so tight against the glans that it cannot be pulled back and must be loosened or removed surgically.
phobic: Irrationally fearful.
photoplethysmograph: A device used to measure physiological sexual arousal in the female.
PID: Abbreviation for pelvic inflammatory disease.
pimp: A prostitute's protector and manager.
pituitary gland: A gland located on the lower surface of the brain that secretes several hormones important to sexual and reproductive functioning.
placenta: A tube through which the developing fetus receives oxygen and nutrients from the mother and gets rid of waste products.
plateau phase: Masters and Johnson's term for the second phase of sexual response, occurring just before orgasm.
platonic: Not involving sex.
platonic love: Nonsexual love for another person.
playing with oneself: Slang term for masturbation.
pleasure principle: In psychoanalytic theory, the principle that all organisms seek pleasure and avoid pain.
pleasuring: Erotic touching.
plethysmograph: A device used to measure physiological sexual arousal in the male.
PMS: An acronym for premenstrual syndrome.
pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP): A form of pneumonia that commonly appears in persons whose immune systems are highly suppressed such as those with AIDS.
polar body: In oogenesis, the smaller of two cells produced during meiosis.
polygamy: Marriage in which a person has more than one spouse.
pornography: Sexually oriented material that is not considered acceptable to the viewer; the same material when judged subjectively acceptable is often referred to as "erotica."
POSSLQ: Acronym for "person of the opposite sex sharing living quarters." A generic term for co-habitating couples whether homo- or hetero-sexual.
postpartum: The period of time following childbirth.
postpartum depression: Depression experienced by some women following childbirth.
pre-eclampsia: A condition that may occur to expectant mothers in the last trimester of pregnancy; symptoms include bloating, high blood pressure, and retention of toxic fluids.
premarital sex: Sexual activities, especially sexual intercourse, prior to marriage.
premature ejaculation: A sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to control or delay ejaculation as long as desired.
premenstrual syndrome (PMS): A combination of physical and psychological symptoms (such as depression and irritability) that occurs in some women just prior to menstruation.
prenatal: Before birth.
prepuce: Foreskin.
priapism: A rare, but painful, condition in which a male has a prolonged erection that does not subside following orgasm despite lack of arousal.
prick: Slang term for penis.
prodrome: The period prior to a viral outbreak in an individual when live viruses are shed from the affected areas. The person is highly infectious at this time, though asymptomatic.
progesterone: A female hormone produced by the corpus luteum that helps regulate the menstrual cycle and sustain pregnancy.
progestins: Generic term for the female hormones that prepare the female reproductive system for pregnancy.
proliferative phase: The phase of the menstrual cycle in which the endometrium builds up in response to increased estrogen.
promiscuous: A pejorative term used to refer to someone who engages in sexual activity with more individuals than the user of the term.
prophylactic: A drug or device used to prevent disease; commonly used to refer to a condom.
prostaglandins: Hormones that stimulate muscle contractions.
prostate gland: A muscular gland encircling the urethra in the male that produces much of the seminal fluid.
prostatitis: Inflammation or infection of the prostate gland.
prostitution: The selling of sexual stimulation for money.
proximity: Nearness in terms of physical space and time.
prurient: A legal term referring to "provoking lasciviousness."
pseudocyesis: False pregnancy.
pseudohermaphrodite: An individual who has a mixture of male and female reproductive structures, or an ambiguous genital appearance, so that it is not clear whether the individual is a male or a female.
psychoanalysis: A psychological system developed by Sigmund Freud that traces behavior to unconscious motivations and drives, especially sexual.
puberty: The stage of human development when the body becomes capable of reproduction.
pubic hair: Hair on the lower abdomen and genital area that begins to appear at puberty.
pubic louse (lice, plural): Phthirus pubis, a tiny louse that infests pubic hair; commonly referred to as "crabs."
pubococcygeus: A muscular sling stretching from the pubic bone in front to the tailbone in back; Sometimes known as the PC muscle, it controls urine flow and contracts during orgasm. See Kegel exercises.
pudendum: The external genitals of the female.
pussy: Slang term for vagina.
PWA: Acronym for "person with AIDS."
PWH: Acronym for "person with HIV."