| HOME Other Health Articles A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z date rape: A form of acquaintance rape in which the assault occurs while the assailant and victim are on a date together. deception: The act of deceiving or tricking someone by lying or failing to reveal a truth. decriminalization: The legalization of acts previously held to be illegal. desexualize: To render less sexual. diabetes: A disease caused by an insulin deficiency. dial-a-porn: The use of telephones to convey erotic messages. diaphragm: A soft, shallow, dome- shaped contraceptive device that is positioned inside the vagina over the cervix during coitus to serve as a barrier to sperm. diethyistilbestrol (DES): A synthetic estrogen. dilation and curettage (D and C): Surgical procedure in which the cervix is dilated and the uterine lining is then gently scraped with a metal instrument (curette); sometimes used as a form of abortion during the first trimester. dilation and evacuation (D and E): A second trimester abortion procedure in which the cervix is dilated and the fetus is removed through a combination of vacuum aspiration and the use of forceps. dildo: An artificial penis. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): A self-replicating molecule that controls inheritance and protein synthesis. double blind: A research technique in which neither the participants in an experiment nor their evaluators know who is in the experimental group or who is in the control group. douching: Use of a liquid to flush the vagina. dyadic: Between two partners. dysfunctions: In a sexual sense, disorders that make it impossible for a person to have or to enjoy sexual intercourse. dysmenorrhea: Painful menstrual flow. dyspareunia: Painful intercourse. dysphoria: The condition of feeling ill at ease; gender dysphoria refers to any degree of difficulty in gender identity. dysplasia: Abnormal development of tissue. |