Glossary of Terms
Here are definitions for terms commonly used in the LYBREL® Web site.
Anemia — A condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, hemoglobin, or total volume.
Breakthrough Bleeding — Uterine bleeding that occurs between menstrual periods (sometimes known as intermenstrual bleeding). In LYBREL clinical trials, breakthrough bleeding was defined as bleeding that required sanitary protection.
Condom — A sheath worn over a man's penis during sexual intercourse to contain sperm and prevent pregnancy.
Cyst — An abnormal closed cavity in the body containing a liquid or semi-solid material and lined with cells joined by small amounts of cementing substances.
Ectopic (tubal) pregnancy — Pregnancy where the fertilized egg develops outside of the uterus and within a uterine (fallopian) tube.
FDA — Food and Drug Administration.
Hormone — A substance produced by one tissue and carried by the bloodstream to another to affect an activity within the body. Hormones related to the menstrual cycle include estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and luteinizing hormone (LH).
Menstruation — The monthly discharge of blood and mucus from the uterus.
Ovulation — The release of a mature egg from an ovary.
Placebo Pill — A nonhormonal pill typically taken for several days with most traditional cyclic birth control pills. During the placebo phase, a woman's body experiences hormone-withdrawal bleeding, otherwise known as a "pill period." Placebos are also commonly known as "sugar pills."
Spermicide — Foams, creams, jellies, and suppositories placed into the vagina before sexual intercourse that work as a contraceptive by immobilizing or killing sperm on contact.
Spotting — Light vaginal bleeding that does not require sanitary protection. In LYBREL clinical trials, spotting was defined as bleeding that did not require sanitary protection.
Uterus — A hollow muscular organ located in the pelvic cavity in which a fertilized egg can implant and develop.