ACTIVELLA®—Prescription hormone therapy with an estrogen just like your own. Now you can replace what your body is missing with what you want in a hormone therapy.
Glossary
osteoblast
A bone-forming cell.
osteoclast
A cell that breaks down and removes bone.
osteoporosis
A decrease in the density of bone, resulting in thin, weakened bones that are susceptible to fractures.
Pap smear
A smear of cells from the vagina or cervix obtained during a pelvic examination that is stained for examination under a microscope.
pituitary gland
A gland connected to the hypothalamus at the base of the brain. The pituitary gland releases hormones into the bloodstream, some of which have effects on the female reproductive organs.
progesterone
A female hormone that acts on the uterus to prepare it for implantation and growth of a fertilized egg (pregnancy). Progesterone often opposes the actions of estrogens.
progestin
A general term for any substance that has the biological effects of the female hormone progesterone.
testosterone
A male hormone, considered to be the most potent naturally occurring androgen. Testosterone is made primarily by the testes in men, and it encourages the development of male sex characteristics.
thromboembolism
Blockage of a blood vessel by a clot that has traveled in the bloodstream to the heart, lungs, or brain and can cause serious damage.
vaginal atrophy
A decrease in the number and size of cells that make up the vagina; a wasting or thinning of the vaginal tissues.
vulva
The external genital area in a woman, including the labia and the openings of the urethra and vagina.
