Glossary

 | May 1, 2008

Glossary

androgens: Primarily male steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal glands and ovaries in women.

combined hormone therapy: Estrogen combined with progestogen.

conjugated equine estrogens: Estrogen compounds produced from the urine of pregnant mares. Brand name is Premarin.

continuous combined hormone therapy: A dose of estrogen and a dose of progestogen taken daily.

cyclic hormone therapy: Continuous treatment with estrogen combined with a progestogen for 10–14 days of the month.

dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA): A test in which x-rays limited to two different energies are used to measure bone density.

endometrium: The lining of the uterus.

estradiol: Produced by the ovaries, the dominant form of estrogen in premenopausal women.

estrogen: A catch-all term for primarily female steroid hormones that are produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands, placenta, and testes. In women, estrogen is responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics (including breast growth), the maturation and function of sexual organs, and the growth of the long bones.

follicle: A spherical group of cells that surrounds an egg before its release from the ovary.

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that stimulates the development of follicles in the ovaries.

hormone therapy: The augmentation of a woman's depleted hormones with prescription hormone therapy.

hot flash: A sudden feeling of heat in the face or upper part of the body, caused by the dilation of blood vessels in the skin and often accompanied by perspiration and flushing.

hysterectomy: Surgical removal of the uterus.

menopause: The point marking the end of menstruation and childbearing; defined by the World Health Organization as one year after the last period.

osteoporosis: A bone-thinning condition that can result in bone fracture.

perimenopause: The phase starting when periods become irregular and lasting until a year after the last period.

progesterone: A female steroid hormone, produced by the ovaries after ovulation that prepares the uterine lining for pregnancy.

progestin: A synthetic compound that produces effects similar to those of progesterone.

progestogen: Any hormone having the same effect as progesterone in the body; refers to both natural progesterone and synthetic progestin.

selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs): Chemically synthesized drugs that mimic estrogen in some tissues but act to block estrogen's effects in others.

unopposed estrogen: Estrogen taken without an accompanying progestogen.

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Review Date: 2008-05-01

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