The word estrum refers to the period of sexual receptivity in female mammals. There are several alternative terms that can be used to refer to this term. In biology, it is often called estrus or heat. In veterinary medicine, professionals may refer to it as the fertile period, or simply the breeding period. In some informal contexts, people may use the term "rut" to describe this time in animals. Overall, these terms help researchers, veterinarians, and animal keepers to accurately discuss the reproductive behavior of various animals and understand the timing and duration of their fertile periods.