| Pancreas |
| An organ behind the lower part of the stomach that is about the size of a hand. It makes insulin so that the body can use glucose (sugar) for energy. It also makes enzymes that help the body digest food. Spread all over the pancreas are areas called the islets of Langerhans. The cells in these areas each have a special purpose. The alpha cells make glucagon, which raises the level of glucose in the blood; the beta cells make insulin; the delta cells make somatostatin. There are also the PP cells and the D1 cells, about which little is known. |
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| Pap smear |
| Performed during a routine pelvic examination. Cells from the cervix are scraped, fixed on a slide, and sent to a laboratory for careful microscopic analysis. Pap smears detect precancerous changes of the cervix that can be treated before the lesion progresses to frank cancer. |
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| Parlodel |
| A brand name of bromocriptine. |
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| Patent |
| The condition of being open, as with tubes that form part of the reproductive organs. |
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| Pediatric Endocrinologist |
| A doctor who sees and treats children with problems of the endocrine glands. See also: Endocrine glands. |
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| Pergonal (HMG) |
| A brand name of Human Menopausal Gonadotropin. Medication used to replace the pituitary hormones, LH and FSH. |
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| Pharmacist |
| A person trained to prepare and distribute medicines and to give information about them. |
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| Pituitary Gland |
| The master gland; the gland that is stimulated by the hypothalamus and controls all hormonal functions. Located at the base of the brain just below the hypothalamus, this gland controls many major hormonal factories throughout the body including the gonads, the adrenal glands, and the thyroid gland. Releases luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, prolactin, ACTH, vasopressin, and oxytocin. |
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| Placebo |
| A "sugar pill" or any dummy medication or treatment. |
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| Point System |
| A way to plan meals that uses points to rate food. The foods are placed in four classes: calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Each food is given a point value within its class. A person with a planned diet for the day can choose foods in the same class that have the same point values for meals and snacks. An example of a points-based diet system is Weight Watchers. |
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| Polar Body |
| The discarded genetic material resulting from female germ cell division. See Meiosis. |
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| Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) |
| Syndrome, which effects 5-10% of all women worldwide and is a leading cause of infertility in women. PCOS is characterized by infrequent or irregular menstrual cycles, excess facial hair growth, obesity and infertility. |
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| Polydipsia |
| A great thirst that lasts for long periods of time; a sign of insulin problems. |
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| Polyunsaturated Fats |
| A type of fat that comes from vegetables. See also Fats. |
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| Polyuria |
| Having to urinate often; a common sign of insulin problems. |
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| Post Coital Test (PCT) |
| A microscopic examination of the cervical mucus best performed twelve or more hours after intercourse to determine compatibility between the woman's mucus and the man's semen; a test used to detect sperm-mucus interaction problems, the presence of sperm antibodies, and the quality of the cervical mucus. |
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| Postprandial Blood Glucose |
| Blood taken 1-2 hours after eating to see the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. |
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| Preeclampsia |
| A condition that some women with diabetes have during the late stages of pregnancy. Two signs of this condition are high blood pressure and swelling because the body cells are holding extra water. |
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| Premature ovarian failure |
| A condition where the ovary runs out of follicles, causing menopause to occur before the age of 40. Occurs in 1% of the general population. Associated with other endocrine abnormalities including low thyroid levels, abnormal adrenal function, diabetes, and abnormal parathyroid hormone release. |
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| Previous Abnormality of Glucose Tolerance (PrevAGT) |
| A term for people who have had above-normal levels of blood glucose (sugar) when tested for diabetes in the past but who show as normal on a current test. PrevAGT used to be called either "latent diabetes" or "pre-diabetes." |
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| Progesterone |
| Hormone produced by the corpus luteum after ovulation. It thickens the lining of the uterus to prepare it to accept implantation of a fertilized egg. Progesterone levels should be at least 10 ng/ml one week after ovulation. Serum progesterone levels are carefully monitored during ovulation induction and IVF cycles. Progesterone is often supplemented either orally or by vaginal gel in the second half of the menstrual cycle after ovulation induction or in vitro fertilization. |
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| Progesterone Withdrawal |
| A diagnostic procedure used to analyze menstrual irregularity and amenorrhea; uterine "bleeding" that occurs within two weeks after taking progesterone; a procedure used to demonstrate the presence or absence of estrogen and to demonstrate the ability of the uterus and reproductive tract to "bleed." Prior to ovulation induction therapy, progesterone withdrawal may be used to induce a menstrual period. |
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| Prognosis |
| Telling a person now what is likely to happen in the future because of having a disease. |
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| Prolactin |
| Pituitary hormone that stimulates breast milk production. When prolactin levels are elevated, ovulatory dysfunction may result. This dysfunction may cause infertility. Frequently caused by small benign pituitary tumor (prolactinoma). Successfully treated with oral medicines, such as bromocriptine. |
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| Prostaglandin |
| A hormone secreted by the uterine lining. It is hypothesized that prostaglandins secreted by active, young endometrial implants may interfere with the reproductive organs by causing muscular contractions or spasms. |
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| Protein |
| One of the three main classes of food. Proteins are made of amino acids, which are called the building blocks of the cells. The cells need proteins to grow and to mend themselves. Protein is found in many foods such as meat, fish, poultry, and eggs. See also Carbohydrate; fats. |
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| Protocol |
| The plan for a course of medical treatment or for a scientific experiment. |
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| Provera |
| Synthetic progesterone medication. Can be used to bring on a period for women who have polycystic ovarian disease and infrequent menstrual periods. |
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| Puberty |
| The time of life when the body begins making adult levels of sex hormones - (estrogen or testosterone) and the youngster takes on adult body characteristics: developing breasts, growing a beard, pubic hair, and auxiliary hair; attaining sexual maturity. |
