Hormone Glossary

An area of the brain that is believed to be the command center for instructions to the endocrine system.

Deficient activity of the thyroid gland.

Surgical removal of part or all of the uterus. Also called surgical menopause.

Lack of proportion or relation between corresponding things: the condition is caused by a hormone imbalance.

Inability to obtain sufficient sleep, esp. when chronic; difficulty in falling or staying asleep. Also called sleeplessness.

A urinary bladder disease of unknown cause characterized by urinary frequency, urgency, pressure and/or pain in the bladder and/or pelvis. Also known as painful bladder syndrome (PBS).

An element required in small amounts for healthy growth and development. The thyroid gland requires iodine to synthesize thyroid hormones; a deficiency of the element leads to goiter.

Easily irritated or annoyed; readily excited to impatience or anger.

The term for a set of symptoms caused by a drop in testosterone levels in males. These symptoms are similar to those of the male menopause or andropause. One of the most consistent symptoms is anger and sullen withdrawal present in men between the ages of 40 and 60.

A small surgical instrument, usually sharp-pointed and two-edged, for making small incisions, opening abscesses, etc.

Sexual urge or desire.

A long individual life; great duration of individual life.

A hormone produced by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland that stimulates ovulation and the development of the corpus luteum in the female and the production of testosterone by the interstitial cells of the testes in the male.

Any of the various white blood cells, including B-cells and T-cells, that function in the body’s immune system by recognizing and deactivating specific foreign substances called antigens. B-cells act by stimulating the production of antibodies. T-cells contain receptors on their cell surfaces that are capable of recognizing and binding to specific antigens. Lymphocytes are found in the lymph nodes and spleen, and circulate continuously in the blood and lymph.

A hormone derived from serotonin and secreted by the pineal gland in inverse proportion to the amount of light received by the retina. Darkness perceived by the retina (or sleep) induces greater production which has been linked to the regulation of circadian rhythms and inducing sleep rhythms.

Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of menopause.

The period of permanent cessation of menstruation, usually occurring between the ages of 45 and 55.

A recurring cycle in which the endometrial lining of the uterus prepares for pregnancy; if pregnancy does not occur the lining is shed at menstruation. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days, day 1 being the beginning of bleeding.

The periodic discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the uterus, occurring approximately monthly from puberty to menopause in non-pregnant women.

The rate of metabolism; the amount of energy expended in a given period.