Sexual and Reproductive Health Glossary
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Printable version of the entire Sexual and Reproductive Health Glossary (31 pages, PDF)
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Abortion: Termination of pregnancy. An abortion can occur either spontaneously (called a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage), or it can be brought about by intervention (called an induced abortion). It is with this last meaning that the word is generally used.1
Abortion rate: The number of abortions taking place among women of reproductive age (usually 15-49), over a given period, usually a year, expressed per 1,000 women.1
Abstinence: Abstinence is a conscious decision to avoid certain activities or behaviours. Different people have different definitions of sexual abstinence. For some, it may mean no sexual contact. For others, it may mean no penetration (oral, anal, vaginal) or only 'lower-risk' behaviours (outer-course as opposed to intercourse).1
Abstinence-only Education: Education which promotes abstinence from all forms of sexual activity, and abstinence as the only way in which HIV infections and unwanted pregnancies can be prevented. This type of education does not discuss issues relating to contraception, sexuality or sexual and reproductive health issues which are included in comprehensive sexuality education programs. It should be noted that abstinence is often taught as one option for safer sex in comprehensive sexuality education programs.1
Acquaintance Rape: Sexual assault perpetrated by someone the victim knows. Acquaintance rape is against the law.11
Adolescence: The period between sexual maturity at puberty and the attainment of adult social status; psychosocial development during the teenage years.11
Adoption: a legal agreement in which a child is placed with non-biological parent(s) to be raised permanently.
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome): The late stage of infection caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV steadily weakens the body's defence (immune) system until it can no longer fight off life-threatening illnesses. These include infections such as pneumonia and certain cancers.1
Afterbirth: The placenta and amniotic sac, which come out after the baby during childbirth.7
Amenorrhea: The absence of menstruation.7
Amniocentesis: The extraction of the fluid surrounding the fetus inside the membrane for pre-natal diagnosis.1
Amniotic Fluid: The watery fluid surrounding a developing fetus in the uterus.7
Amniotic Sac: A thin membrane forming a closed sac around the fetus that contains the amniotic fluid.11
Anal Intercourse: Intercourse that occurs when the penis is put into the anus of a man or woman.11
Anilingus: oral stimulation of the anus or anal region.12
Anus: The excretory opening at the end of the digestive system.11
ART (Anti-retroviral therapy): Anti-retroviral therapy is the course of medications or drugs taken to fight HIV. Other terms that mean the same thing are HAART (Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy), 'anti-retroviral drugs', 'HIV treatment', 'medications', 'drug regimen' and 'HIV drugs’.1
Artificial Insemination: Artificially placing semen into the vagina or uterus for the purpose of inducing pregnancy.7
Asymptomatic: Having no symptoms.7
Atypia: Not normal or ‘not typical’.13
B
Bacterial Vaginitis/Vaginosis: A bacterial infection and inflammation of the vagina.11
Balls: Slang word for testicles
Barrier methods: Barrier methods of contraception prevent pregnancy by physically or chemically blocking the entrance of sperm into the uterine cavity. Some, particularly condoms, help to protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV infection. Barrier methods include cervical caps, condoms, diaphragms, female condoms, spermicides and sponges.1
BBT (Basal body temperature) Method: A method of family planning or body awareness based on the increase in body temperature that occurs shortly after ovulation, associated with secretion of progesterone. After ovulation the body temperature rises and remains high until the next menstruation. The couple are advised to refrain from sexual intercourse between the first day of menstruation and the third consecutive day of elevated temperature if being used as a contraceptive.1
BDSM: is a complex acronym. The B and D together mean Bondage and Discipline, while the D and S refer to Dominance and Submission. The S and M next to each other mean Sadism and Masochism. An important distinction is that BDSM is not a form of sexual abuse. Although some activities may appear to be violent, they are conducted with the consent of all partners involved. BDSM practitioners exercise the philosophies of SSC (safe, sane and consensual) or RACK (risk-aware consensual kink). They also use safety procedures such as pre-play negotiations and ‘safety words’ (code words) which when said, call for an immediate stop to any activity.
Benign: Not malignant. A condition that is called benign may mean that the cells are different, but they are not cancerous.13
Bi-Curious: The term used for people who do not identify as homosexual or bisexual. They may have previously identified themselves as heterosexual or homosexual but are showing an interest, sexual attraction, or curiosity in having a relationship with the gender that they haven’t been having relationships with. The term implies that the person has little or no sexual experience with the gender they are now interested in; or need to explore their feelings further.
Billings method: (sometimes called the cervical mucus or ovulation method) A method of contraception or body awareness which relies on recognizing and interpreting cyclic changes in cervical mucus that occur in response to changing estrogen levels. During a menstrual cycle a woman may experience different sensations at the opening of the vagina and changes in the characteristics of the cervical mucus. Couples practising this technique can have sexual intercourse during both pre- and post-ovulatory phases, as it is possible to identify the infertile phase in both parts of the cycle by monitoring the mucus pattern.1
Biological sex: Also called chromosomal sex. This can be considered as our "packaging” and is determined by our chromosomes (XX for females, XY for males); our hormones (estrogen and progesterone for females, testosterone for males); and our internal and external genitalia (vulva, clitoris, vagina for females, penis and testicles for males). About 4% of the population can be defined as "intersexuals”, born with biological aspects of both sexes to varying degrees.10
Biopsy: A short operation to remove a small piece of tissue, which is then sent to a lab to see if it contains cancer cells.13
Birth control: All methods of preventing births, including hormonal, barrier, natural family planning, abstinence and abortion.1
Bisexual: a person who is emotionally and sexually attracted to both men and women. Bisexuals are not always equally attracted to each gender.15
Bladder: the organ that holds urine before it leaves the body. Both males and females have one.15
Blastocyst: A small mass of cells that results after several days of cell division by the fertilized egg.7
Blow Job: Slang for oral sex or fellatio
Blue Balls: ache in the testicles after prolonged sexual arousal.11
Body Awareness: The self-knowledge gained by monitoring, charting and understanding signs of fertility and infertility based on body changes (level and openness of the cervix, type of cervical mucous produced, temperature fluctuation patterns etc).
Breast Self-Examination (BSE): Technique a woman uses to check her own breasts for unusual lumps or changes.11
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z] [sources]
Printable version of the entire Sexual and Reproductive Health Glossary (31 pages, PDF)
