Pap smear
Removal of cells from the surface of the cervix to study microscopically.

Patent
Open; for example, fallopian tubes should be patent after a sterilization reversal operation.

Pelvic cavity
The area surrounded by the pelvic bone that contains the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries in women, and the prostate gland and seminal vesicles in men.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Inflammation of any of the female pelvic organs, usually due to infection from a sexually transmitted disease.

Penis
The male organ of sexual intercourse.

Pergonal (hMG)
The luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormones recovered from the urine of postmenopausal women that is used to induce multiple ovulation in various fertility treatments.

Pituitary gland
The endocrine gland at the base of the brain that produces the gonadotropin luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone, which in turn stimulate the gonads to produce sex cells and hormones.

Polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD)
A condition found among women who do not ovulate, characterized by multiple ovarian cysts.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCO)
Development of multiple cysts in the ovaries due to arrested follicular growth, anovulation.

Polyp
A growth or tumor on an internal surface usually benign.

Polyspermia
Fertilization of the egg by more than one sperm.

Post-coital test (PCT)
Microscopic examination of a woman’s cervical mucus at the fertile time of the cycle to determine the number and motility of sperm following intercourse.

Pre-embryo
A fertilized egg in the early stage of development prior to cell division.

Progesterone
The female hormone, produced by the corpus luteum after ovulation, that prepares the uterine lining for implantation of a fertilized egg and helps maintain the pregnancy.

Progestin
A synthetic hormone that has an action similar to progesterone.

Prolactin
A pituitary hormone that stimulates milk production.

Prostaglandins
A group of hormone-like chemicals that have various effects on reproductive organs; so named because they were first discovered in the prostate gland.

Prostate gland
The male gland encircling the urethra that produces one third of the fluid in the ejaculate.