Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

An individual who engages in both heterosexual and homosexual sexual relations. Bisexual can also refer to the corresponding lifestyle. In physical biology, the term “bisexual” refers to an individual who was born with gonadal tissue of both sexes (that, both testicular and ovarian tissue). Also termed a true hermaphrodite.

Seen on a prescription, bid means twice (two times) a day. It is an abbreviation for “bis in die” which in Latin means twice a day. The abbreviation bid is sometimes written without a period either in lower-case letters as “bid” or in capital letters as “BID” or with periods as “b.i.d.” However it is…

A persistent visible mark on the skin that is evident at birth or shortly thereafter. A birthmark is often due to a nevus (a mole) or an hemangioma (a localized collection of small blood vessels). Birthmarks that are pink or red are commonly capillary hemangiomas — collections of tiny blood vessels — that are most evident when the baby cries.…

The birth rate is usually given as the number of live births divided by the average population (or the population at midyear). This is termed the crude birth rate.

A field of medicine or study known technically as dysmorphology.

Any defect present in a baby at birth, irrespective of whether the defect is caused by a genetic factor or by prenatal events that are not genetic. Birth defects may involve many different organs including the brain, heart, lungs, liver, bones, and intestinal tract. These defects can occur for many reasons including inherited (genetic) conditions, toxic exposure of the fetus (for example, to alcohol),…

The prevention of pregnancy after unprotected vaginal intercourse. Emergency contraception may use drugs related to the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. These “morning-after pill” are similar to birth control pills but generally contain higher hormone doses. Another form of emergency contraception uses an intrauterine device (IUD) inserted by a physician within 5 days after intercourse. Emergency contraception is also known as emergency birth control; emergency postcoital contraception; and postcoital…

Birth control is the use of any practices, methods, or devices to prevent pregnancy from occurring in a sexually active woman. Also referred to as family planning, pregnancy prevention, fertility control, or contraception; birth control methods are designed either to prevent fertilization of an egg or implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus. Birth control methods…

1. A non-medical assistant in childbirth. A doula is not the father but is usually a woman who is experienced in childbirth. The role of the doula is to provide the mother with physical and emotional assistance before, during, or after childbirth. Also known as a birth assistant, birth companion, childbirth assistant, or labor support professional.2. A non-professional assistant in dying, someone…

A group of people born during a particular period or year.