BDSM is short for bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism. See sadomasochism.

The word bent (offensive, slang) describes a homosexual man.

Biological gender is defined by the internal and external sex organs, sex chromosomes and the level of sex steroids in the body. This has been the traditional understanding of gender.

Bisexual is a word used to describe someone who is attracted by people of both genders. However, not everyone who is attracted by both men and women would call themselves bisexual. Not everyone wants (or thinks that it is important for) their feelings to decide their identity.

Blowjob is a slang word for a kind of oral sex, in which a man’s penis is stimulated by the mouth or tongue in order to give sexual satisfaction.

Oral sex is just as intimate as sexual intercourse and can lead to sexually transmitted diseases. According to what the Bible teaches about sex, intimate sexual acts like intercourse and oral sex are only allowed in marriage. However, not everyone who is married wants oral sex or thinks it is natural. It is never right to pressure someone to participate in sexual acts they don’t want to do.

Bondage is a sex game in which one of the partners is either held or tied, so that they cannot move freely. Accidents and injuries can occur during this type of sexual activity, as well as during BDSM and sadomasochism so it is extremely important that it is done voluntarily and with safe limits.

After birth, children receive milk from their mother’s breasts just as mammals do. A girl’s breasts are flat (just as a boy’s chest is) before puberty, but due to hormones released during puberty, the breasts start to develop. At this point the breasts develop mammary glands which can produce milk when the woman has a baby.

However, a woman’s breasts are much more than a milk factory. The breasts have a lot of sensitive nerves connected to parts of the brain that create sexual feelings. This is why most women like to have their breasts touched during sex.

Castration means surgical removal of the testicles.

To be celibate means to be unmarried or to abstain from sex. Some people promise to remain celibate, in this case they promise never to marry and never to have sexual relations with anyone.

This word is mostly used for the promise never to marry that Catholic priests and monks or nuns give. The state of being celibate is known as celibacy.

Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later symptoms may include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or pain during sexual intercourse. While bleeding after sex may not be serious, it may also indicate the presence of cervical cancer.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes more than 90 per cent of cases; most people who have had HPV infections, however, do not develop cervical cancer. Other risk factors include smoking, a weak immune system, birth control pills, starting sex at a young age, and having many sexual partners, but these are less important.

Source: Wikipedia.

The womb is pear-shaped and ends in a point at the cervix. There is an opening in the cervix leading to the top part of the vagina. After sexual intercourse the sperm cells can swim through the cervix to enter the womb and the Fallopian tubes, where an egg can be fertilised.

When a sperm cell bonds with an egg cell, fertilisation occurs, which means that a human life starts and a child is created. The child is often called a foetus before it is born. The child is in the mother’s womb for about nine months (40 weeks) before being born.

The child is the offspring of two parents, a woman and a man.

The age at which a child becomes an adult varies in different cultures. According to the law of many countries, and the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child, everyone under eighteen years of age is legally a child. This means that children have extra protection and have their own rights.

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. In 2015 there were 61 million new cases worldwide. The disease is caused by a bacteria that is passed on by sexual contact. There are often no symptoms that a person is infected, but some people experience a stinging pain when they pee, and there is a discharge of fluid from the penis or vagina. Chlamydia can also infect the throat during oral sex.

If you think you might be infected with chlamydia, you need to take a urine sample to a community nurse or doctor. If the test shows chlamydia, it can be treated with antibiotics.

If chlamydia is not treated, women can get an infection in the Fallopian tubes leading to sterility (not being able to have babies). Men can get the infection in the epididymis, this can also damage their ability to father children. Chlamydia is one of the biggest causes of childlessness today. Chlamydia can also increase the risk of ovarian cancer. Condoms can give some protection against chlamydia, but the best way to avoid it is to avoid having sex with someone who might be infected.

Chromosomes are structures containing genes. They are found in the nucleus of the cell. Genes contain information about what organisms will look like and how they will function.

Male circumcision is normal in many parts of the world. Jewish and Muslim baby boys are circumcised for religious reasons. In male circumcision, part or all of the foreskin covering the tip of the penis is removed.

Female circumcision is totally different and is often called female genital mutilation (FGM). This is a tradition in many African countries, but it is illegal in almost 60 countries. The amount of damage done during FGM can vary. During FGM the inner labia and parts of the outer labia are usually removed. It is also quite normal to remove the visible part of the clitoris. Sometimes the vaginal opening is sewn together, in this case only a small opening the diameter of a pencil is left for urine and menstrual blood to pass.

Female circumcision destroys a woman’s chances of having a normal sex life and can lead to complications to do with pregnancy and giving birth. In some countries people who circumcise girls can get long prison sentences.

The clitoris is part of a woman’s genitals and is very sensitive to touch. It is a fairly large organ with sections round the vaginal opening along the pelvic bone. Only the glans (head, or tip) of the clitoris is visible. The tip of the clitoris has a small foreskin much like the penis has. This is situated where the inner labia meet in front of the vagina.

The size and shape of the clitoris varies greatly from woman to woman. The clitoris fills with blood and swells up to become stiff when the woman is sexually aroused, in the same way as a man’s penis when he has an erection. During intercourse the movement of the penis causes the inner labia to move, in turn affecting the clitoris; this is what the woman finds so pleasurable. Most women need more direct stimulation of the clitoris (for example with the fingers) to have an orgasm.

Cohabitation means that a couple live together without being married. This was previously unacceptable in many countries (and still is in some), but today it has become more normal. However, this doesn’t mean it is a good alternative to marriage. Couples who live together without being married have not publicly promised to be faithful to each other for their whole lives. The Bible says that marriage is a covenant, but cohabitation is not. Research shows that couples who only live together after getting married, are more satisfied with their marriage and are less likely to divorce. It is more secure for the children if the parents are married. The Bible is very clear that sex belongs only in the context of marriage.

The coil is a type of contraception which is placed in the womb by a doctor. There are two types of coil, the copper coil and the hormonal coil. The copper coil affects the mucous membrane of the womb so that it is not able to receive a fertilised egg. This means that the egg is rejected from the womb after fertilisation (after a new life has started). Even though this happens very early in a pregnancy, we don’t recommend the use of contraceptives which work after fertilisation. A hormonal coil contains a hormone that prevents some women from ovulating. However, some women do ovulate, and this can lead to an egg being fertilised. In such cases, the fertilised egg is rejected from the womb, in the same as when a copper coil is used. Therefore we do not recommend the use of hormonal coils.

Combined contraceptive pills (usually simply called the pill, also called combined birth control pills) are pills that stop a woman from getting pregnant. They contain two different sex hormones, oestrogen and progestogen. The main way they work is by stopping the egg cells in the ovaries from maturing. This means there is no ovulation. Because of this, the woman can’t get pregnant even if sperm cells enter the womb or the Fallopian tubes.

As well as stopping ovulation, contraceptive pills make the mucus in the cervix more sticky, making it more difficult for the sperm cells to enter the womb.

The third effect these pills have is that they affect the mucous membrane in the womb, making it more difficult for an egg cell to attach itself to the lining of the womb if it does get fertilised. So there is a slight possibility that these pills might stop a fertilised egg from attaching itself, and because of this some people choose not to use these pills.

If these pills are taken regularly every day, they will stop ovulation so that there can be no fertilisation. However, if you forget to take one, you should also use another type of contraception, such as a condom. Then there will be less chance of getting pregnant, and if ovulation has occurred the condom will stop the egg cell from being fertilised and then rejected after fertilisation.

The phrase ‘to come out of the closet’ is used when someone makes it known publicly that they feel that they are (for example) homosexual (gay), lesbian, bisexual or transsexual.

Egg cells mature in the woman’s ovaries. During ovulation the egg is released from the ovaries and moves into the Fallopian tube. The egg then starts to move through the Fallopian tube towards the womb.

If sperm cells from the man reach the womb or the Fallopian tube, one of them can merge with the egg. This is known as conception, or fertilisation, and this is the start of a new human life. Genes from the man and the woman mix so a completely new person is created, someone inheriting characteristics from both the mother and the father.

Once the sperm and egg cells have merged together, the fertilised egg divides into two new, identical cells. The cells continue to divide about once every 24 hours. First there are four, then eight, then sixteen cells. After three weeks the heart starts to beat, and after four weeks the heart is pumping blood to the liver and the main arteries.

The foetus (as the baby is called before it is born) attaches itself to the inside of the womb and gets nutrition through the blood in the umbilical cord, and then continues to grow until it is ready to be born after nine months.

A condom is normally made of latex (rubber) and can be rolled onto the penis when it is stiff, before sexual intercourse. When the man has an orgasm the semen will be collected in the condom, preventing it getting into the woman’s genitals. Thus the condom stops the woman from getting pregnant. Because the condom covers the penis, stopping direct contact with the vagina, it also provides some protection against viral and bacterial infection. The chance of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) is much less if a condom is used, but areas not covered by the condom can still be infected. The best way to avoid infection is not to have sex with someone who might be infected with an STD.

Contraception or birth control means different methods used to stop a woman getting pregnant during intercourse. Some methods are more reliable than others, but none are totally reliable. Condoms stop sperm cells coming in contact with the egg cell.

Combination pills, the contraceptive patch, the vaginal ring and the contraceptive implant stop the egg cells in the ovaries from maturing, and thus stop ovulation. This means that fertilisation can’t take place. The contraceptive shot has the same effect but doesn’t always stop fertilisation, this is also true of the hormonal coil. The copper coil and mini pills do not stop ovulation. This means that the egg cell can be fertilised and then rejected from the womb after a human life has started. Condoms stop the sperm cell meeting the egg cell and are the only contraceptive that give some protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

The contraceptive implant is a contraceptive about the size of a matchstick. A healthcare professional can insert it under the skin of the inside upper arm. In many countries there are lots of contraceptive implants available, including those which do not stop fertilisation. The common implant Nexplanon stops ovulation and makes it more difficult for the sperm cells to get through the cervical mucus. The implant is effective for three years, after that it has to be removed or changed. Using the implant can disturb the menstrual cycle. Some people lose their periods totally, while others get regular or irregular periods. An advantage when compared to the combined contraceptive pill is that you do not need to take a pill every day. The contraceptive implant is one of the most reliable contraceptives on the market.

The contraceptive patch works like the combined contraceptive pill, but is like a plaster or band-aid. It’s a little less than two inches across, is beige and should be changed once a week.

The contraceptive shot (or birth control injection) is a method of contraception whereby the hormone progestogen is injected into the muscle every third month. It works the same as mini pills; the cervical mucus gets thicker which blocks sperm cells from getting to the egg. It also makes it more difficult for a fertilised egg to attach itself to the lining of the womb. The shot can sometimes, but not always, stop ovulation. This means that there is a chance that an egg cell might get fertilised and then be rejected from the womb as it cannot attach itself to the lining of the womb. There are other disadvantages with the shot: the woman might get irregular periods and it increases the risk of osteoporosis.

Copper coil

See coil.

See oral sex.

Cyberbullying can be sex abuse or serious bullying on the internet. In some countries tricking, pressuring or threatening someone to send naked photos or to perform sex acts with themselves or others on the internet, is counted as rape. Rape is punishable by a long prison sentence.

Other types of cyberbullying can be:

– sexualised language in a chat between a child and a youth or adult

– a naked photo sent from an adult to a child

– a child or youth being pressured to perform sex acts with themselves or others on the internet

– someone pressuring another person to perform sex acts with themselves while the other person watches by web camera, even if both are adults.

Cybersex means when several people all sit with their own computer, iPad or smartphone (with or without a web camera) and pretend to have sex with each other. This can either be by filming their own sex acts or by describing sex acts to each other.

A cycle in the medical sense is a series of things that occur one after the other, and which are regularly repeated. When we talk about a woman’s cycle we normally mean her menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle usually takes between 25 and 30 days. The cycle starts the first day the woman has her period and lasts until the next time her period starts. Hormones govern the changes that occur in the body during the menstrual cycle. A woman will ovulate in about the middle of the cycle, and will usually have her period two weeks later.

A date is an arranged meeting between a guy and a girl, in order to find out if they want to be boyfriend and girlfriend.

The same word is used for an arranged meeting between two partners, for example to have a meal, go to a restaurant, cinema or to go for a walk.

These are photos a man sends of his penis. See also nudes.

A dildo is an imitation of an erect penis, made of plastic or other artificial material.

Discharge is a fluid that leaves the woman’s vagina. This is totally normal. When girls enter puberty a secretion is produced in the cervix and in the mucous membrane of the vagina. This discharge is usually pale in colour and almost odourless. The amount of discharge can vary from woman to woman, but it is usually small amounts. The discharge can change appearance and thickness around the time of ovulation, or when the woman starts to use combined contraceptive pills or has intercourse. The discharge helps protect the mucous membrane of the vagina. If there is a notable change in colour or if it starts to smell strongly, this may be a sign of vaginitis. In this case a doctor should be consulted.

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A donor is someone who gives something. In the medical sense it can mean to give blood, sperm (for assisted fertilisation/IVF procedure) or an internal organ for transplantation.

To donate originally meant to give away something of great value or importance to the recipient.

Drag is an abbreviation of ‘dressed as a girl’ and means to use clothes and make-up to exaggerate and imitate the male or female expression of gender, in order to get attention and to entertain. Drag is something someone does, and is not about gender or sexual identity.

Dressing in drag is not the same as being a transgender person. The process of clothing oneself in other clothes is important in order for a transgender person to feel like a whole person, but this is not the case with drag.

Drug abuse is a common phrase used to describe drug or medicine dependence or overuse. This does not include medicines prescribed by a doctor to treat a disease. The phrase sex abuse is used to describe an assault that is sexual, see abuse.

A woman’s ovaries produce an egg cell (also called ovum) every month, it is released in one of the Fallopian tubes. If the egg cell comes in contact with a sperm from a man, the two combine and fertilisation occurs, meaning that a new human life has started.

The word ejaculation is used to describe what happens during a man’s orgasm. During an ejaculation the muscles around the penis contract several times one after another, causing the semen to be pressed out through the urethra and exit through the penis. Boys and men can also have an ejaculation when they sleep. This is called a wet dream. This is normal and happens when the body needs to get rid of surplus semen. Some women also have a slight discharge of fluid during orgasm. This fluid comes from glandular tissue which is similar to the man’s prostate gland, and it lies around the urethra.

See morning-after pill.

An engagement means that on a certain date a man and a woman have made a public decision to get married (see marriage). In many countries it is common for the woman to be given an engagement ring, which is often decorated with one or more diamonds. In other countries the custom is to buy gold rings for both partners; these are engraved with the partner’s name and date of engagement. The same rings are used after the wedding and are then called wedding rings.

An engaged couple have decided to get married, but they are not yet married. An engagement can therefore be broken if the couple find out that they do not want to get married after all. The Bible is very clear that sex only belongs within marriage, so engaged couples should wait to get married before having sex.

Along each testicle is an epididymis. This stores sperm before they come into the seminal glands. If bacteria gets into the epididymis it can lead to inflammation. This is painful and has to be treated by a doctor, who will prescribe penicillin or other antibiotics.

An erection means a stiff penis. A stiff penis is generally between thirteen and fifteen centimetres long, from root to tip. However, some are longer while others are shorter. The size of a non-erect penis does not predict its size when erect.

The penis is composed of three types of spongy tissue. These are soft when the penis is not erect, but when it becomes erect these fill with blood. The veins carrying blood away from the penis close, so that blood is trapped in the penis. This leads to the penis becoming stiff. When it is stiff it often becomes curved; in some men it will curve down, in others upwards or to the side.

Erections usually occur in situations when you are sexually aroused. Young men often get this without having any sexual thoughts or feelings. This is totally normal, and is a result of the body’s hormones being very active in puberty. It is also normal for men to have an erection when they wake up in the morning, especially when they are young. This does not necessarily mean that they want sex or have had a sexual dream.

When the man has an erection his penis can more easily enter the vagina during sexual intercourse.

When women are sexually stimulated, they also get an erection. Then the clitoris and the spongy tissue around the opening of the vagina swells.

Erogenous zones are parts of the body that can give sexual feelings when they are touched or caressed. Some examples of erogenous zones are the lips, breasts, neck, ears, inside of the thighs and the area around the genitals.

The word erotic comes from Eros which was the god of love in Greek mythology. The word erotic is usually used to describe stories, pictures and films which build up to sexual activity. The boundary between eroticism and pornography is unclear.

Exhibitionism is an urge to show oneself and constantly be the centre of attention. The expression is often used of people who have a compulsion to expose their naked bodies or show their genitals to other people, in order to be sexually stimulated. This is also called indecent exposure, or flashing.

Indecent exposure, or exposing the genitals to strangers who don’t want to see them, is a punishable offence.

A man’s external genitalia (external genitals) consist of the penis and the scrotum. The penis contains three areas of spongy tissue that fill with blood when he has an erection. The urethra passes through one of these areas along the underside of the penis. The scrotum is a kind of skin bag containing the testicles (balls) and epididymides. Muscles in the scrotum can pull the testicles up nearer the body when it is cold, and release them down again when it is warm. The testicles produce sperm cells and the male sex hormone testosterone.

A woman’s external genitals consist of the outer and inner labia and the clitoris. The collective name for these is the vulva. The labia cover the vaginal opening and the urethral opening. Just as the man’s penis has areas of spongy tissue, the clitoris also has a corresponding area that fills with blood when the woman is sexually aroused. The woman also has spongy tissue on each side of the vaginal opening; they make the opening narrower when they fill with blood.

These are two tubes, each one stretching from one of the ovaries (where egg cells are produced) to the womb (also known as the uterus). These tubes are called Fallopian tubes. Once the egg cell is released from the ovary, the egg cell moves down through the Fallopian tube until it reaches the womb.

See oral sex.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the circumcision of girls. The most common form is when all or parts of the clitoris and the inner labia are cut away. Sometimes the inner and outer labia are sewn together, in this case only a small opening is left for urine and menstrual blood to pass. This leads to many serious complications and it is illegal in many countries. This tradition is common in some cultures in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

See conception.

Fetishism means to experience sexual arousal or satisfaction by association with certain nongenital parts of the body, certain body types, objects, materials or acts.

To finger means to use the hand and fingers to have sex, either alone (masturbation) or with someone else. The word fingering is used when the act is performed on a woman, the corresponding expression when the act is performed on a man is wank or jerk off (both slang).

The word foetus is used to describe the child while in the womb.

Foreplay means caressing and sexual touching that takes place before sexual intercourse. The body readies itself for sex during foreplay. The man’s penis becomes stiff (an erection) and the woman’s genitals swell up and release a fluid that prepares the vagina to receive the penis. It is particularly important for the woman to spend ample time in foreplay, so that her body is ready for intercourse. It can be frustrating to start foreplay and then stop it without going further. Heavy petting is a form of foreplay that makes the body ready for intercourse, so you should keep this till after the wedding. In addition to stopping in the middle of foreplay being frustrating, it can also be difficult not to progress to intercourse when the body is ready for it.

The foreskin covers the end of the penis and can be pulled back so that the tip or head of the penis emerges. In some countries and cultures (such as Jewish and Muslim cultures) it is normal to remove the foreskin when the boy is a baby. See circumcision.

Similarly, the glans, (or head) of the clitoris has a small foreskin, and is situated where the inner labia meet in front of the vagina.

The foreskin of young boys is normally too tight (constricted) to be able to be pulled back, but as they approach puberty it usually gets bigger. If the foreskin is so tight that it is painful during an erection it can be treated with ointment or a minor operation. This condition is known as foreskin constriction or phimosis.

A French kiss is when the tongues meet while kissing, also known as a deep kiss or tongue kiss.

A fungal infection can lead to itching around a man’s or woman’s genitals. A woman can also have a fungal infection in the vagina. A fungal infection can be extremely itchy. The infection is usually caused by a type of yeast called candida. This fungus multiplies if the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina is disturbed. This can take place if the woman is taking antibiotics such as penicillin. A fungal infection is not a sexually transmitted disease, and a doctor will be able to treat it effectively. In order to avoid fungal infections it is best not to wear close-fitting trousers and underwear made of artificial fibres which do not let air circulate.

The word gay is used to describe a homosexual man.

There are at present several different perspectives on gender:

Biological gender is defined from the internal and external genitalia, sex chromosomes, and the level of sex hormones in the body. This is the traditional understanding of gender.

Legal gender is the gender written in a person’s passport. In some countries people who are over sixteen can apply to change their legal gender. Younger children may also be able to apply to do this with their parents.

Gender identity is the person’s sense of gender, this means what the person feels they are irrespective of their biological gender.

Gender expression is how a person expresses their gender using clothes, body language, hairstyle, voice and social behaviour.

Gender dysphoria is a feeling of being very uncomfortable with the gender your body shows (biological gender).

Gender expression is how a person expresses their gender using clothes, body language, hairstyle, voice and social behaviour.

Gender identity is the person’s sense of gender, this means what the person feels they are irrespective of their biological gender.

Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV virus) that results in cauliflower-like lesions on the genital organs. These are from two to ten millimetres wide. Genital warts on men are on the head of the penis (glans), on the foreskin and around the anus. Women can have genital warts on the labia, at the vaginal opening, inside the vagina, at the urethral opening and around the anus. Genital warts can also spread to the pharynx (part of the throat) and vocal cords by oral sex.

The virus transmits easily and there is no treatment to stop it. A year can pass from time of infection till the warts are visible, and often people can be infected without ever having visible warts. Genital warts can be treated with ointments, or be cut, painted, frozen or burnt away by a doctor.

The virus giving genital warts can also result in cervical cancer later in life. Long-term HPV infection can result in both men and women having cancer of the mouth, the pharynx and the anus. Men can also get cancer of the penis.

The genitals (or genitalia, sex organs) are the parts of the body that are different for men and women. These enable us to have babies. The external genitalia lie outside the body. A woman’s external genitalia are the labia and the clitoris, and a man’s external genitalia are the penis, scrotum, epididymis and testicles. The internal genitalia are inside the body. A woman’s internal genitalia are the vagina, the womb, Fallopian tubes and the ovaries. A man’s internal genitalia are the spermatic cord, the prostate gland and the seminal vesicles.

The woman’s clitoris and the man’s penis have a sensitive area of thin skin under the foreskin, this is called the glans (meaning head or tip). When the foreskin is pulled back the clitoris and the penis become very sensitive to touch.

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD, also known as venereal disease) that can be transmitted by sexual contact. It can infect the vagina, the penis (urethra), throat and anus.

Infection occurs by direct contact between an infected person’s and a healthy person’s mucous membranes during sexual intercourse, both vaginal and anal, or by oral sex. It is possible to be indirectly infected via the fingers when touching the genitals, or by sex toys. Gonorrhea can also infect the throat.

Most people who are infected with gonorrhea have a discharge of fluid from the penis or vagina and experience pain when they pee. If the disease is not treated it can lead to sterility (not being able to have children). The disease can also be passed on from a mother to a baby during birth, so that the baby’s eyes get infected. If the baby doesn’t get treated it may result in blindness.

Some people are infected without having any symptoms; in this case it can be passed on without the carrier knowing about it.

This means that three or more people have sex with each other at the same time. People were not created to have sex with several people at the same time. God created sex to be a beautiful and private act between a man and a woman who are married to each other.

Different professionals have debated whether the G-spot actually exists, but many women say that there is a place in the vagina which feels good when it is touched. This area lies in the front of the vaginal wall a few centimetres inside the vaginal opening. There is glandular tissue around the urethra, similar to the man’s prostate gland. A lot of people think this glandular tissue is the G-spot and that it swells when subjected to pressure or touch. Fluid may occasionally be released from this tissue during a woman’s orgasm, passing through the urethral opening. This fluid looks like the man’s semen.

A doctor who specialises in childbirth and women’s health is called a gynaecologist.

Handjob (slang) describes either giving or receiving sex by hand. This can be done alone (masturbation) or with others. See finger.

A vulgar slang word for erection. See erection.

Heavy petting means to caress or stimulate each other sexually, using the hands or other parts of the body but without the penis being inside the vagina. Heavy petting leads to sexual arousal just like sexual intercourse, and is actually foreplay. It can be very hard not to go on to intercourse when you stimulate each other in this way. Touching each other’s genitals is a kind of sex, similar to intercourse and oral sex, and you should wait till you are married before you do this.

Hepatitis B is a viral disease affecting the liver. The virus is passed on by sexual contact and also by contact with blood. There is also a risk to drug addicts if they use dirty needles. Babies can also be infected by their mother at birth.

There is now an effective vaccine and in some countries all children are vaccinated as infants if their parents give permission.

Herpes develops after you have been infected with the herpes simplex virus (often abbreviated to HSV). There are two types of herpes, HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both types can result in oral herpes or genital herpes.

Herpes is extremely common and results in painful blisters or cold sores. About 67 per cent of the world population under the age of 50 has HSV-1. Most infected people never have visible symptoms such as cold sores, some have cold sores once in their lifetime, while others can get it several times.

The virus can be passed on through saliva, the skin and mucous membranes. The chance of infection is slight if there are no blisters or cold sores, but it is possible to have such mild symptoms that you can be infectious without knowing it.

Most people with oral herpes get infected in childhood when they share food and drink with parents or other children, as the virus can be passed on by saliva. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be passed on through saliva. Cold sores are a sign that you have the infection in the mouth.

The virus is passed on by skin or mucous membrane contact, and so can be transmitted during sexual intercourse, oral sex and anal sex. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can infect the genital area. Herpes in the genital area is called genital herpes. Using a condom reduces the risk of infection, but there is still a slight risk as you can be infected in areas not covered by the condom.

Heterosexual describes a person who is primarily attracted to people of the opposite gender.

HIV is an abbreviation for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, a virus that causes the body’s immune system to fail. HIV can lead to AIDS and is passed on by sexual contact, blood products and at birth, from mother to child. In some European countries the disease is mostly spread by sperm from infected men coming in contact with their partner’s mucous membrane. The risk is greater during anal sex as the mucous membrane in the anus is thin and tears easily. However, you can also be infected during normal sexual intercourse. Using a condom reduces the risk of infection during intercourse.

HIV cannot be passed on by normal bodily contact, so it is safe to shake an infected person’s hand, or give them a hug. There is now treatment available which has led to the risk of developing AIDS being much less than before, and a lot of people who have AIDS today will probably live almost as long as those without it. After successful HIV treatment the risk of infection is low.

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Homo (offensive, slang) is a word usually used to describe homosexual men.

The word homosexual describes a person who is mostly attracted to people of the same gender, and/or that they have sex with them. It describes both women and men. The word gay means a homosexual man, and the word lesbian means a homosexual woman. Not everyone who is attracted to the same gender will identify themselves as homosexual. There are many people who do not want (or do not think it’s important that) their feelings decide their identity.

The hormonal coil (also known as hormonal IUD) is a small plastic device with some of the hormone progestogen round the shaft. The hormonal coil can sometimes stop ovulation, but it also affects the mucus in the cervix, making it more difficult for sperm to enter the womb. It also thins the lining of the womb, so that a fertilised egg can’t attach to the lining. In this case the effect takes place after fertilisation, causing the fertilised egg to be rejected; this also happens when using the copper coil. We do not recommend using contraceptives that work after fertilisation, even though this occurs very early in the pregnancy.

A hormone is a chemical that the body uses to start processes in certain parts of the body. Hormones are produced in different endocrine glands and are moved around the body in the blood.

Boys start to produce the male sex hormone testosterone and girls start to produce the female sex hormone oestrogen during puberty. These hormones cause the boy’s body to develop into a man’s body, and the girl’s body to develop into a woman’s body.

Also lusty, randy. See aroused.

HPV is an abbreviation for human papillomavirus. This virus causes genital warts. Women can have these warts around the vaginal opening, in the vagina and around the anus. Men can have them round the anus and on the penis.

Genital warts can also grow in the mouth, the throat and on the vocal cords. HPV is passed on by sexual contact, such as sexual intercourse, anal sex and oral sex. Condoms give some protection but only where the condom covers the skin.

Some types of HPV result in genital warts, while others do not, but result in an increased risk of cervical cancer and other forms of cancer both in men and women. Long-term HPV infection can result in both men and women having cancer of the mouth, the pharynx (part of the throat) and the anus. Men can also get cancer of the penis.

See HPV vaccine.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends HPV vaccines as part of routine vaccinations in all countries. The vaccines require two or three doses depending on a person’s age and immune status. Vaccinating girls around the ages of nine to thirteen is typically recommended. The vaccines provide protection for at least five to ten years. They protect against the form of HPV which causes at least 70 per cent of cervical cancer.

HPV can result in other forms of cancer in both men and women. Long-term HPV infection can result in both men and women having cancer of the mouth, the pharynx (part of the throat) and the anus. Men can also get cancer of the penis.

The hymen is a thin piece of mucous tissue that surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal opening. Some women may experience small tears in the hymen the first time they have sexual intercourse, and it may bleed a little. Small tears can also be the result of other factors, such as using tampons. Many women do not bleed the first time they have intercourse.

Impotent means that the man can’t complete sexual intercourse as he can’t get an erection. Impotence among young men usually has psychological causes.

Worry about how they will ‘perform’, fear of infection or fear of an unwanted pregnancy might stop the man getting an erection. A lot of older men become impotent due to physical reasons, such as clogged blood vessels, being overweight or diabetes. Men who are impotent due to sickness can be treated with medicines such as Viagra.

Incest is sexual contact between people who are closely related. In most countries sex between parents and children, step-parents and children, uncles/aunts and children, and between siblings is illegal.

It is a punishable offence to have sexual contact with children, stepchildren, foster children, siblings and grandchildren. This includes all forms of sexual contact, from inappropriate touching to sexual intercourse. These laws are created to protect children, and it is always the adult who is punished.

Children and youths who are exposed to incest often have serious psychological and sexual problems. It is important that these children receive the help and treatment they need. If you are aware of a child being sexually abused you must inform the child protection agency or police. The school nurse will be able to help you.

lørdag 6. juni 2020

An induced abortion (usually simply called an abortion) is an artificially induced miscarriage in which a pregnancy is stopped in order to stop a baby being born. Induced abortion can be done medically or surgically.

The man’s internal genitalia consist of testicles situated in the scrotum, these produce sperm and the male sex hormone testosterone. A spermatic cord runs from each testicle to the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland. The seminal vesicles and the prostate gland produce most of the fluid in the sperm.

The woman’s internal genitalia consist of the ovaries which produce the egg cells and the female sex hormone oestrogen. Once a month an egg cell is released into one of the Fallopian tubes. A Fallopian tube runs from each of the ovaries to the womb. If the egg cell meets a sperm cell new life starts, and the fertilised egg starts to grow and attaches itself to the lining of the womb. If the egg cell does not meet a sperm cell, it will be flushed out of the vagina along with the period.

Internet porn (also called online porn) is all kinds of pornography which is on the internet. It is easy to find, but it is very addictive. This is why it is important to be very careful which websites you visit. A lot of people have started to watch porn because they were curious, but have ended up being so addicted that they cannot stop watching it. Both boys and girls can get addicted to porn. Pornography shows naked people and sex acts in order to awaken sexual arousal and create sexual fantasies. Sex is shown out of the context of love and faithfulness. Porn creates an unnatural desire for sex and can make it harder to be faithful to the same person for a whole lifetime.

Intersex is a rare (circa 1 in 5000) malformation of the genitals making it hard to decide if a newborn baby is a boy or a girl.

Intimate shaving means to shave (partially or totally) the pubic hair. Also called pubic hair shaving.

Women have two outer and two inner labia (Latin for lips). The outer labia are made up of fat and skin that stretches from the mons Venus (the triangular area of pubic hair) back to the area between the vagina and the anus. The inner labia lie inside the outer labia and consist of thinner folds of skin. The labia cover the vaginal opening and the urethral opening. The inner labia meet at the foreskin of the clitoris. The size and shape of the labia vary greatly from woman to woman, and the outer labia do not always cover the inner labia.

Legal gender is the gender written in a person’s passport. In some countries people who are over sixteen can apply to change their legal gender. Younger children may also be able to apply to do this with their parents. See gender.

The word lesbian describes a woman who is mostly attracted to and falls in love with other women, and/or has sex with other women. Not all women who are attracted to other women will identify themselves as lesbian. There are many people who do not want (or do not think it’s important that) their feelings decide their identity. See homosexual.

LGBTI is an abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. It is used by authorities, rights organisations, and researchers as an umbrella term. The term LGBTI includes descriptions relating to sexual orientation (LGB), gender identity (T) and gender characteristics (I).

When a man and a woman get sexually aroused a clear fluid is released from the man’s urethral opening and from the woman’s vagina. This fluid, particularly that from the vagina, is important as it helps the penis to slide in and out during intercourse, otherwise it can be painful if it gets too dry. The amount of fluid that is released varies, so sometimes it may be necessary to use a lubricant. Tubes of lubricant can be bought at a chemist’s.

Lust is a strong desire controlled by an inner drive. It is possible to lust after different things, like power, money and material things. When we talk about lusting after someone, this means that we daydream and fantasise about sex acts with that person. Lust is not about love or being sexually attracted. Lust is selfish, something you want for yourself.

Marriage is a type of relationship between a man and a woman who are married, either in a church or in a civil ceremony. In a Christian wedding ceremony the man and woman promise to love each other ‘for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part’.

This means that marriage is meant to last a lifetime and that the couple are committed to being faithful to each other always.

According to the Bible, marriage is a covenant, which is more than a contract. When we enter a covenant with someone we commit ourselves to do the best for the other person in every situation, even if the other person can’t do as much back. This gives a security that no other type of relationship can offer, both for the partners and their children. The Bible says that sex is only allowed in the context of marriage between a man and a woman.

Masochism means to get sexual pleasure out of being humiliated and experiencing pain.

Masturbation means to get sexual satisfaction by stimulating your own genitals.

Medicine is used to conduct most induced abortions. In a medical abortion, the woman takes tablets which cause the womb not to react to the body’s pregnancy-preserving hormones. This means that the baby dies. The woman goes back to the hospital after two days, where she is given suppositories that make the womb constrict and the foetus and placenta is pushed out. She can also choose to take the suppositories home and do it there. There is a risk of bleeding and a lot of pain, and there may be a little bleeding for up to two weeks after the abortion.

mandag 6. juli 2020

The menstrual cycle begins on the first day of the period and often lasts three to six days. A new egg cell starts to mature in the ovaries when the period is over, and the mucous membrane or lining of the womb thickens in order to receive a fertilised egg.

Ovulation occurs twelve to fourteen days before the next period. A mature egg leaves the ovaries and moves into the Fallopian tube where it can be fertilised by a sperm cell. At the same time, the lining of the womb thickens in order to receive and nourish the fertilised egg. If the egg is not fertilised, the lining will push it out with bleeding. This takes place about two weeks after ovulation, and then the menstrual cycle starts all over again. The menstrual cycle lasts on average 28 days, but varies from woman to woman.

A girl might have to wait several months after her first period till the next one comes, and it can take one to two years before the period becomes regular.

Mini pills (progestogen-only pills or POP) are a type of contraception containing the sex hormone progestogen. This hormone makes the slime in the cervix more sticky, so it is more difficult for the sperm cells to move up into the womb and fertilise the egg cell.

Mini pills also affect the lining of the womb, making it impossible for a fertilised egg to attach itself to the lining once it is fertilised. This means that mini pills do not always stop an egg from being fertilised, and that the fertilised egg is rejected just after new life has started. Human life starts at fertilisation, so we would not recommend the use of mini pills as contraception.

The mons Venus is the area just above a woman’s labia, it is covered with pubic hair.

The morning-after pill (also known as emergency contraception) can be taken by women who have had sexual intercourse without contraception, or where the contraception has failed, for example a torn condom, and who may get pregnant without wanting to. It should be taken as soon as possible after sex. If the pill is taken a short time after the last period it might stop ovulation. However, if ovulation has already occurred, then a sperm might have joined an egg. In this case, the woman is pregnant. In some countries the morning-after pill is available over the counter at the chemist.

Nudes are shared photos of naked bodies. Photos showing bras, breasts and thongs are also counted as nudes.

The following are important to think about:

– if you send a photo to someone you lose control over what might happen with the photo and where it might be sent

– in some countries* it is illegal to send nudes to someone who hasn’t asked for them

– in some countries* it is illegal to store nudes of people under eighteen on a mobile phone or computer

– in some countries* it is illegal to share nudes someone has sent you, especially if the person is under eighteen

* You can check the internet for the law in your specific country.

Oestrogens (or estrogens) is the name for the substances that act like the female sex hormones. Oestrogens make the girl develop into a woman during puberty. The womb gets bigger, the mucous membrane of the vagina gets thicker, the mammary glands in the breasts develop, the pelvis broadens and the distribution of fat in the body changes.

Online dating, also called internet dating, means to find a boyfriend, girlfriend or sex partner on the internet. There are several websites where people upload information about themselves, and read information about others. Some chat with each other on the net, and others arrange to meet by email. However, on websites like these there is always the risk that people pretend to be someone they are not. A lot of children and youths have been sexually abused when they met adults who pretended to be the victim’s age.

Oral sex means to use the mouth and tongue to stimulate the other person’s genitals (sex organs). If a woman gives oral sex to a man it is called fellatio, and if a man gives oral sex to a woman it is called cunnilingus. Oral sex is as intimate as sexual intercourse, and can lead to STD infection. According to what the Bible teaches about sex, intimate acts like intercourse and oral sex should be kept for marriage. Not everyone who is married thinks this is natural or wants to have oral sex. It is never right to pressure someone to take part in sex acts if they don’t want to.

An orgasm occurs at the height of sexual arousal. When a man has an orgasm, the muscles around the penis contract several times one after the other, and semen spurts out through the urethral opening. The woman also has muscle contractions around the vagina when she has an orgasm. People experience orgasms differently, and it often affects the whole body. Most people feel tired and relaxed after having an orgasm.

After having an orgasm the man’s penis returns to normal. It can be quite sensitive and touch can be uncomfortable. It takes time for it to be able to get stiff again. This varies with age: young men can sometimes get a second erection after a few minutes, while older men may have to wait several hours until they can have another orgasm. If a woman is further stimulated, she can sometimes have two or more orgasms in a row.

Women have two ovaries. The ovaries usually release one egg cell a month, in the middle of the menstrual cycle. This is called ovulation. Each ovary releases an egg cell every second month. When a girl is born, her ovaries already contain all the egg cells she will release during her entire life. At birth, her ovaries contain about one million egg cells, but when she starts to menstruate there are about 400,000 left. From the time of first menstruation to the end of the menopause, 400–500 egg cells mature and are released in order to be fertilised by a sperm cell, and a new human life is created.

The ovaries continue to mature and release egg cells until the woman reaches the menopause when she is 45–55 years old.

lørdag 6. juni 2020

Ovulation is the time in a woman’s menstrual cycle when an egg cell is released from the ovary, is caught in a Fallopian tube, and is taken down to the womb (uterus).

The time between ovulation and the next menstruation is fairly regular, being from twelve to fourteen days. The time between the start of the menstruation and the next ovulation is also about fourteen days, but this can vary widely from woman to woman, and from month to month.

The egg cell can be fertilised for about 24 hours after ovulation. Some women feel the ovulation as a slight pain in the abdomen.

Pan means ‘all’ and pansexuality is a word to describe people who feel an attraction for other people regardless of their biological gender or gender identity. However, not everyone who feels this attraction would identify themselves as pansexuals. There are many people who do not want (or do not think it’s important that) their feelings decide their identity.

A pedophile is an adult who is sexually attracted to children. See pedophilia.

Pedophilia means that an adult wants to have sexual intercourse or perform other sex acts with children.

In most countries it is illegal to have sex with someone under sixteen. It is classed as abuse and can be punishable with a prison sentence. A child who has been sexually abused can suffer lifelong problems. If you hear of an adult sexually abusing a child you must report it to the child protection agency or police. The school nurse can help you do this.

Penetration means to enter by pushing into. It is used in a sexual context to mean that something (for example a finger, penis or dildo) is put into the vagina, rectum or mouth.

The penis is part of a man’s external genitalia. The penis contains the urethra and three areas of spongy tissue. These fill with blood when the man has an erection so the penis gets stiff. When the man pees, the urine comes out through the urethra, this is also where semen exits during orgasm. The end of the penis is called the head or glans. If the man is not circumcised then the head of the penis is covered by the foreskin. This can be pulled back. The head is the most sensitive part of the penis. The size and appearance of the penis varies from man to man. Some boys worry that their penis is too small, but there is no need to worry. It’s not necessary to have a large penis in order to function well sexually.

A penis ring is an aid for men who have problems keeping their penis stiff during sexual intercourse. See erection. It is a plastic ring which is put on the penis and tightens around the base of the penis, keeping blood in the areas of spongy tissue in the penis.

When girls reach puberty they start to bleed a little from the vagina once a month, this is called the period, time of the month, or menstruating. Most girls have their first period when they are between eleven and sixteen, and most women stop menstruating when they are between 45 and 55. The mucous membrane in the womb grows every month, so that it can receive an egg cell if it is fertilised. If there is no fertilisation, the egg cell is pushed out along with cells from the uterine wall and some blood. This bleeding usually lasts from three to eight days, and there are usually 21 to 35 days between periods.

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See combined contraceptive pills.

Poof (offensive, slang) means a homosexual (gay) man.

Porn is short for pornography and is found in magazines, films and on the internet. Porn can be text, pictures or video that describes and shows naked people and sex in order to create sexual arousal and fantasies. Porn often shows sex in a way that is far removed from reality, and removes sexuality from love and faithfulness. The porn industry makes huge profits from showing degrading pictures of women in which they are used simply to satisfy the male sex drive.

Sex is often shown in a violent way, with sex acts that are unnatural and would be destructive in a relationship. Porn is very addictive and creates an artificial need for sex that cannot be satisfied naturally. A lot of people become addicted to porn and need bigger and bigger doses and more extreme porn to get satisfied. Sexual fantasies that porn creates cannot usually be fulfilled in real life without having damaging results.

The word potency is used to describe the man’s ability to get an erection and keep it during sexual intercourse. Impotence occurs if a man has problems getting an erection.

Some clear fluid can be released from the urethral opening of the penis when the man gets an erection. This fluid is called pre-ejaculate fluid (pre-cum in slang) and can contain some sperm. This means that the woman can get pregnant even though the man withdraws his penis from the vagina before ejaculation if they do not use contraception during sexual intercourse. See withdrawal method.

When a sperm cell has combined with an egg cell, the woman is pregnant. She will be pregnant for about 40 weeks until she gives birth. When a girl reaches puberty and her ovaries start to produce egg cells, she can get pregnant if she has sexual intercourse. This can also happen before she has had her first period. You will usually discover that you are pregnant when your period doesn’t come. You can buy a pregnancy test at the chemist’s to find out if you are pregnant or not.

Progestogens are hormones that work like progesterone, the only natural progestogen. They are used in hormone-based contraception such as the pill, mini pill and hormonal coil (or hormonal IUD).

mandag 6. juli 2020

The prostate gland is a gland situated around the first part of the urethra. The prostate gland produces and contains a thin, milky fluid that forms part of semen.

Prostitution is the sale of sexual services for money or other services. A person selling sex is called a prostitute. Most prostitutes are women but there are also male prostitutes. Paying for sex is illegal in many countries.

Puberty is the transition from child to adult, when the body gets ready to be able to have children. Boys and girls reach puberty at slightly different ages, and the start and length of puberty varies from boy to boy and girl to girl. During puberty big changes take place both physically and psychologically. The body grows a lot and changes from being a child’s body to an adult’s body over a few years. Teenagers’ emotions also change a lot and a lot of people experience that their mood can swing more than before.

Girls often start puberty when they are between ten and twelve years old, and puberty has usually finished by the time they are between fifteen and seventeen. The womb, Fallopian tubes and ovaries all mature at this time. Ovulation starts and girls have their period about once a month. Their breasts develop and grow, and they get hair around their genitals and under their arms. They grow taller and the pelvis gets broader. Girls also acquire more fat, particularly around the hips and breasts.

Boys often start puberty between eleven and thirteen, and are finished when they are sixteen to seventeen. Boys get bigger muscles and heavier bones, and they grow taller. The voice box (larynx) grows and their voices break, resulting in a deeper voice. At this stage boys get facial hair, and hair in their armpits, on their chest and around the genitals. The penis, scrotum and prostate gland grow. The testicles start to produce the hormone testosterone and sperm cells. The skin also changes, becoming thicker and more fatty.

During puberty boys start to get facial hair and hair in their armpits, on their chest and around the genitals. Genital hair is called pubic hair. Girls also get hair in their armpits and pubic hair around the genitals.

Queer is an offensive slang word for homosexual.

Rape* means:

– having sexual contact by the use of force, threats, power or violence.

– having sexual contact with someone who is unconscious, sleeping or is so drunk that they can’t say no.

– threatening to or actually using violence to have sexual contact with others or themselves.

It is important to remember that all sexual contact with children under fourteen is classed as rape. This is the same for sex acts.

Some examples:

– having intercourse with children under fourteen is rape. It doesn’t matter if the child is willing or not.

– getting a child under fourteen to masturbate himself or herself is rape. This can also happen on the internet.

– touching the genitals of a child under fourteen is rape.

* This is the definition and law in Norway, legal definitions may vary from country to country. Please check the internet for the definition and law in your specific country.

The rectum is the lowest part of the colon, going down to the anus, or ass hole (slang).

Sadism means to get sexual satisfaction from tormenting, oppressing and dominating other people. Masochism means to get sexual pleasure out of being tormented and humiliated. Sadomasochism (also called BDSM) is when two people voluntarily mix sexual activity with one of them tormenting, binding, humiliating or hurting the other.

Accidents and injuries can take place during such sexual activities, so it is really important that it is voluntary and has safe limits. It is never right to pressure someone to take part in sex acts if they don’t want to, and this includes married couples.

A woman is most likely to get pregnant if she has intercourse in the days just before and just after ovulation. Ovulation takes place in the middle of the time between two periods. The chance of getting pregnant is less if she has intercourse just before or just after the period. This is why the days just before and just after the period are called the safe period (also called safe days or infertile days). However, the timing of ovulation can vary a lot, and sperm cells can survive for several days in the woman’s genitals after intercourse. She can never be totally sure she will not get pregnant even if she avoids intercourse in the days around ovulation. Safe periods are not a safe contraceptive method.

The term safe sex (also called safer sex or protected sex) means sexual activity using methods to avoid the risk of being infected by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The term can also be used to mean sexual intercourse using a contraceptive to lower the possibility of pregnancy. Condoms give some but not total protection from infection. The condom only protects the area that is covered, and they can also tear. The only way you can be totally sure of not being infected is not to have sex with someone who might have an STD.

The scrotum is part of the male genitals hanging under the base of the penis. It contains the two testicles, which need a constant temperature in order for the sperm cells to function normally. In cold temperatures muscles under the skin of the scrotum pull the testicles nearer the body to keep warm, but in hotter temperatures the testicles are released to move further down in order to stay cooler.

Semen is the white fluid that comes out of the penis when the man has an ejaculation. Semen consists of sperm and other fluids such as seminal fluid. Sperm cells are produced in the testicles, located in the scrotum. A sperm cell is 0.06 millimetres long, and has a long thin tail helping it to swim in the fluid. The rest of the fluid is produced by the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland. This fluid nourishes the sperm cells and helps them to move around more easily when they enter the woman’s vagina. There can be as many as 350 million sperm cells in one ejaculation.

Having sex with someone means to have sexual contact or to perform sex acts with that person. Sex includes much more than intercourse. When the Bible says that sex should be limited to within the framework of marriage, this also means sexual contact such as heavy petting and oral sex. These acts are so intimate that only a man and woman who are married to each other should be involved in this way. See sexuality.

Sex chromosomes are chromosomes that decide gender. The female sex chromosome is called the X chromosome and the male chromosome is called the Y chromosome. Women have two similar sex chromosomes (XX) and men have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). Every cell in the body has 46 chromosomes (23 pairs). Egg cells and sperm cells have half the amount of chromosomes (23) in relation to other cells in the body.

Sex toys (also called marital aids) are apparatuses and objects that are made to give sexual stimulation. Some examples of sex toys are vibrators, dildos and penis rings. A vibrator or massager can help a woman who finds it difficult to reach orgasm during sexual intercourse.

Sexual contact (also called sexual relations) intercourse. Other examples of sexual contact can be inserting something in another person’s vagina or anus, oralsex and masturbating someone. Every country has a minimum age below which it is illegal to have sexual contact with a person, whether they want to or not. See age of consent.

Sexual debut means when you have sexual intercourse for the first time. Also known as losing your virginity.

This means the age at which a guy or a girl has sexual intercourse for the first time.

Sexual identity (or sexual orientation) means who you fall in love with, who you are sexually attracted to, and who you want to date.

Not everyone thinks sexual identity or orientation is all that important, and some people don’t want to define themselves as one or the other. Some people might not even know what sexual identity they have, and others might need more time to discover what it is. There are many people who do not want (or do not think it’s important that) their feelings decide their identity.

Sexual intercourse means for a man and a woman to be together in such a way that the man’s penis is in the woman’s vagina.

The word sexuality comes from the Latin word sexus meaning gender. Sexuality includes everything to do with sex drive (that you want to have sex) and sex life (the sexual activity you are involved in). Sexuality is usually used to describe all the sexual activity a person is involved in, either alone or with others. Sexuality also includes our fantasies and our feelings.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs, also known as venereal diseases, or VDs) are caused by viruses and bacteria that are passed on by sexual contact. This is why they are called sexually transmitted diseases. Most STDs are passed on by both sexual intercourse and oral sex. Some examples of STDs are Hepatitis B, herpes, AIDS, chlamydia, genital warts, gonorrhea and syphilis. Some STDs give a discharge or sores and can be painful. However, not all give symptoms. Some people can be infected without knowing it, this is particularly true with HIV and chlamydia. Contact your doctor for an examination if you think you may have been infected without knowing about it, you will then be offered treatment if necessary. Condoms give some protection against STDs, but the safest way to avoid being infected is never to have sex with someone who might have an STD.

Being single means not having a boyfriend or girlfriend, and not being engaged or married.

Boys and men can often wake up in the morning with a stiff penis (erection). This is normal and cannot be controlled. Also called morning wood.

To snog means to kiss intimately. See French kiss.

Sterile can mean two things:

– free of bacteria

– a person is not able to have children

Sterilisation is a good alternative to other types of contraception when a couple are absolutely sure that they do not want to have more children. For women, the operation is done under general anaesthetic and the Fallopian tubes are either closed or cut. This is done by keyhole surgery, whereby the surgical instruments enter the body through a small cut in the skin. The woman will still have her normal period after the surgery. It is easier to sterilise men. For men, the surgery is done while awake, under local anaesthetic. Two small cuts are made beside the scrotum and the spermatic cord is cut. Even after sterilisation, the semen appears the same, a microscope has to be used to see if the semen contains any sperm cells.

Abortions (induced abortions) between nine and twelve weeks are usually performed surgically. The procedure is conducted while the patient is under a local anaesthetic. The cervix is partially blocked, and the foetus and placenta are removed by vacuum suction. Surgical abortion rarely leads to serious medical complications. However, in some instances the cervix is not completely emptied. This can lead to bleeding and perhaps infection. In that case the remaining matter has to be scraped out.

A surrogate mother is a woman who is pregnant with a baby and then gives it to someone else after its birth. The woman is often not the biological mother of the baby; a fertilised egg from another woman has been placed inside her. In a sense she ‘lends’ her womb out as a kind of incubator in which the baby can grow. Surrogacy poses a lot of ethical dilemmas.

Syphilis is a rare sexually transmitted disease. It is passed on by both sexual intercourse and oral sex. If you have sex with an infected person, the risk of you getting syphilis are between 30 and 50 per cent. In some countries syphilis is most common between men who have sex with men, but it is also passed on between women and men. The disease is caused by a bacteria which leads to sores in the area of infection, usually on the genitals or in the mouth. After a few weeks the sores disappear, but later on the disease can spread to the whole body. Symptoms are wart-like spots on the skin, loss of hair, tiredness and fever. If untreated, syphilis can lead to brain damage, heart disease, skeletal problems and blindness. Doctors can find out if you have syphilis by examining the sores and taking blood tests. Syphilis is treated with antibiotics such as penicillin. Using a condom gives some protection, but only protects the area covered by the condom. The only sure way to avoid being infected is never to have sex with someone who might have syphilis.

The testicles are the two small ‘balls’ (slang, offensive) in the scrotum. They are part of the man’s external genitals. They produce sperm cells and the male sex hormone testosterone. An epididymis lies beside each testicle, this is where the sperm cells are stored before they come out into the spermatic cord.

You should go to the doctor if you notice a lump on a testicle. See testicular cancer.

Testicular cancer is a malignant growth in a testicle. This is a rather rare form of cancer that affected just under 700,000 men worldwide in 2015. Testicular cancer normally affects younger men, from fifteen to 50. Most lumps in and around the testicles are not dangerous, however you should visit the doctor if you notice a lump on a testicle. A simple ultrasound scan will show if it is cancer or not. Most people who have medical treatment for testicular cancer recover, but it is an advantage if the lump is discovered as soon as possible.

Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in males. Its production starts when the male foetus is only two months old; at this stage the concentration is just as high as is normally found in men, right up until just before the birth. During this time testosterone stimulates the development of the male genitals. Testosterone levels drop just before birth and are just a little higher than girls have. The levels rise later on, and are just below the normal male level for three months, until it once again falls to a low level at the age of one. This increase in testosterone may be important for the normal development of the genitals during puberty. The level of testosterone stays the same from one until puberty.

Testosterone is also normally produced in a woman’s ovaries, but the level in the woman’s blood is only about five to ten per cent of that found in men.

This describes three people having sex with each other. See group sex.

Trans means across, or beyond in Latin. A transgender person is the collective name for different ways people have of viewing their own gender identity (apart from a man in a man’s body and a woman in a woman’s body), and how people express that identity. Another way to express this is to say that a transgender person is someone who – either wholly or partially – does not identify with their biological gender.

The word transsexual refers to people who feel (over a long period of time) that they are a different gender from their biological gender.

A transvestite is a person who has a desire to wear clothes belonging to the opposite gender. A transvestite does not want to be the opposite gender and is therefore not a transgender person.

To be unfaithful means to have a sexual relationship with someone you are not married to or dating, while you are married or dating. Even though you are married or are dating, you can still feel attracted to others. However, it is up to you to choose what to do with these feelings. When you want to be faithful you can choose to move your attention from the person you are attracted to, on to the person you are actually committed to. Unfaithfulness is always destructive in a relationship. It can be hard to forgive unfaithfulness, and it is even more difficult to trust the person who let you down.

The vagina also fanny (slang), and cunt (slang, offensive) is part of the woman’s internal genitalia. The vagina is like a tube that goes from the inner labia to the womb. It is the shape of a flattened tube and is from ten to twelve centimetres long in an adult woman, but it is also very elastic. The vagina can stretch to make room for the man’s penis during intercourse, and during childbirth the vagina stretches so much that the baby can come out through it. There is no need to worry if it is too small or too big, as it is so elastic. The vagina can constrict (become smaller) or enlarge so that it suits the size of the man’s penis. This is why the man does not have to worry if his penis is big enough.

The vaginal opening is the outermost part of the vagina. The woman’s external genitalia consist of the vaginal opening, the labia and the clitoris. The vaginal opening varies in appearance. The hymen lies a couple of centimetres inside the vaginal opening. The opening in the hymen often stretches the first time a woman has intercourse, but other things can also cause it to stretch, for example the use of tampons.

The vaginal ring, or contraceptive vaginal ring is plastic and contains the same hormones as the combined pill (oestrogen and progestogen). It works in the same way as the combined pill. It is placed in the vagina, and can remain there during sexual intercourse. It can also be removed for up to three hours before being put back. The ring should be taken out after three weeks, after which time there will be a period. When this is finished, a new ring is inserted into the vagina.

Vaginal secretion is the name for the fluid that is produced in the vagina. There are two types of vaginal secretion: discharge and lubrication. Discharge is the normal fluid that the vagina produces every day. Its appearance and smell vary according to where the woman is in her menstrual cycle. Lubrication is the fluid the vagina produces when the woman is aroused. This fluid lubricates the vaginal opening and helps during intercourse. If the vagina produces too little lubricant before and during intercourse, then it might be painful. In this case it may be a good idea to use artificial lubricant, this can be bought at a chemist’s.

Vaginismus is a kind of cramp in the vagina. This means that the muscles of the pelvic floor contract involuntarily when something enters the vagina.

Vaginitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the vagina. Normally the vagina contains lots of ‘good’ bacteria which keep the mucous membrane healthy. However, if other bacteria enter the vagina they can disturb the good bacteria, leading to inflammation. The discharge (the fluid leaving the vagina) may be grey and have a different smell. Sometimes it may be painful to pee or have intercourse. You should visit your doctor if you suspect you have vaginitis.

Vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted disease, but occurs when the normal bacteria mix (flora) is imbalanced, this is often caused by intestinal bacteria. This may lead to increased discharge and a bad smell. This can be treated with antibiotics.

A vibrator is an electrical device that vibrates when the power is on. Vibrations are small back-and-forth movements. The woman’s genitals, and especially the clitoris, contain lots of nerves that are very sensitive to vibration. Some women therefore find a vibrator helpful if they find it hard to have an orgasm during sexual intercourse.

The word virgin is often used to describe someone who has never had sexual intercourse, in other words that the penis has not been in the vagina. However, other sexual acts such as using the hands to stimulate someone else’s genitals, or oral sex are just as intimate as intercourse. There are therefore many different opinions as to what it actually means to be a virgin. As a result, some people define virgin as being someone who has not been involved in sex acts with another person.

The woman’s vulva consists of the external and internal labia and the clitoris.

A vulgar slang word for male masturbation. See masturbate.

A wedding is a ceremony in which a man and a woman get married, there is usually a party to celebrate the fact that the man and woman are now a couple. Although the Biblical understanding of marriage is between one man and one woman, in some countries now people of the same gender can get married and celebrate their wedding.

In many countries people have traditionally been married in church, by a priest, and it is still very common for a priest or other spiritual leader to conduct the marriage. Many people choose to have a civil wedding, where the ceremony is conducted by a civil official in the town hall or registrar’s office. In a Christian wedding ceremony the man and woman promise to love each other:

‘for better, for worse,

for richer, for poorer,

in sickness and in health,

to love and to cherish,

till death us do part’.

This means that marriage is meant to last a lifetime and that the couple are committed to being faithful to each other always.

When a boy enters puberty his body starts to produce semen, even though he has not had sex. When the body needs to get rid of some of the semen it has produced, the boy will have an ejaculation while sleeping. Sometimes this happens while he is dreaming about something sexual. This is known as a wet dream, and is totally normal. Also known as a nocturnal emission.

Whore (offensive) is a woman who sells sex, a prostitute. See prostitution.

This means withdrawing the penis before ejaculation during sexual intercourse. Some people use this as a way to stop the woman getting pregnant, but it is a very unreliable method of contraception. This is because sperm can leave the penis long before ejaculation. This can happen when the man gets an erection, and shortly after a clear fluid leaves the urethral opening. This fluid is called pre-ejaculatory fluid. This means that the woman can get pregnant even though ejaculation occurs outside the vagina. Also known as coitus interruptus.

The womb (or uterus) is part of a woman’s internal genitalia and consists of a muscle the size and shape of a pear. The womb is situated between the bladder and the rectum. In the top of the womb a Fallopian tube leads to each side, these end in the ovaries and collect the egg cells that the ovaries produce. The womb ends in the cervix which lies uppermost most in the vagina.

When an egg cell has joined with a sperm cell it attaches itself to the inside of the womb and starts to grow. A placenta also develops, through which the baby will be nourished. After about 40 weeks the baby is big enough to be born. At this point the muscle in the womb constricts so that the baby can be born through the vagina. The womb can be the size of a football just after birth, but it soon returns to the size of a pear.

Dictionary

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B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Copper coil

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Dictionary

A

Abortion

Abuse

Abortion pill

Adam’s apple

Abstinence

Addiction

Adopt

Age of consent

AIDS

Alcohol

Anal sex

Androgyny

Anus

Aroused

Arsehole

Artificial insemination

Asexual

B

Barrier method

C

D

E

F

G

H

BDSM

Bent

Biological gender

Bisexual

Blowjob

Bondage

Breasts

Castration

Celibate

Cervical cancer

Cervix

Child

Chlamydia

Chromosomes

Circumcision

Clitoris

Cohabitation

Coil

Combined contraceptive pills

Come out of the closet

Conception

Condom

Contraception

Contraceptive implant

Contraceptive patch

Contraceptive shot

Copper coil

Copper coil

Cunnilingus

Cyberbullying

Cybersex

Cycle

Date and dating

Dickpics

Dildo

Discharge

Donor

Drag

Drug abuse

Egg cell

Ejaculation

Emergency contraception

Engagement

Epididymis

Erection

Erogenous zones

Erotic

Exhibitionism

External genitalia

Fallopian tubes

Fellatio

Female genital mutilation

Fertilisation