Glossary
- AIDS
- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Diseases one gets when HIV damages the immune defence
- Amenorrhoea
- No bleeding during the time of the cycle when you normally would expect bleeding (menstruation)
- Anal Sex
- Caressing the area around rectum or penetration of rectum with fingers or penis (anal intercourse)
- Cervix
- Part of the female reproductive organ (the neck of the womb situated at the top of the vagina)
- Cervical cancer
- Cancer of the cervix
- Clitoris
- The most sensitive part of the female sexual organ
- Diaphragm
- Female contraceptive, a rubber disc which the woman places into the vagina to cover cervix, the opening to the uterus. The diaphragm blocks sperms from entering the cervix to fertilise the egg
- EC/ Emergency contraception
- A pill which can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. Not available without a prescription
- Ejaculation
- When semen spurts out of the urethra/penis
- Endometrium
- Lining of the uterus
- Erection
- When penis gets stiff
- Failure Rate
- Term used in studies to describe the effectiveness of a contraceptive method. It is indicated as failure rate for perfect use (how effective the method is when it is used consistently and correctly) and failure rate for typical use (how effective the method is when it is not used perfectly)
- Fallopian Tubes
- Part of the female reproductive organs – tubes leading from the ovaries to the uterus (womb)
- Fertility
- Ability to procreate, become a parent
- Foreplay
- Hugging, kissing and fondling before intercourse
- Gender
- Basic gender identity can be described as an unquestioned conviction of self as being a girl or a boy
- Genitals
- Male and female sexual organs
- Heterosexuality
- An inner conviction that gives one the ability to love someone of the opposite gender
- HIV
- Human Immune deficiency Virus, the virus that causes AIDS
- HPV
- Sexually transmitted human papilloma virus, viruses associated with cancer of the cervix
- Impotent
- Inability of the man to maintain an erection to have sexual intercourse
- Infertility
- Inability to procreate
- IUS
- Female contraceptive, a small plastic device that is fitted into the uterine cavity by a trained doctor. It changes the environment in the womb and prevents fertilisation of the egg
- Labia minor
- Part of the female sexual organs
- Labia major
- Part of the female sexual organs
- Masturbation
- Attainment of sexual satisfaction, through the manipulation and fondling of the sexual organs
- Menopause
- The last menstrual period. Also: phase of a woman’s life when oestrogen production slows down and fertility comes to an end
- Menstrual cycle
- The period from day one of menstrual bleeding, to the day before day one of the next menstrual bleeding
- Menstruation
- Monthly bleeding that occurs in fertile women that are not pregnant. If the egg-cell isn’t fertilised the inner lining of the uterus will shed and come out through the vagina as menstrual bleeding (Period)
- OC/OCP/COCP
- Oral contraceptive pill, known as the pill
- Oestrogen
- Female hormone, produced mainly in the ovaries. Its synthetic form (ethinyl estradiol) is used as a component of oral contraceptive pills
- Ovulation
- When the ovaries release an egg-cell (ovum) into the fallopian tubes where it can be fertilised by a sperm
- Ovaries
- Female reproductive glands where egg-cells and female sexual hormones are produced
- Ovarian Cancer
- Cancer of the female egg-producing organs (ovaries)
- Ovum
- Female reproductive cell, egg cell
- Penetrative sex
- Includes vaginal sex, anal sex, oral sex
- Petting
- Sexual fondling and the touching of partners genitals
- Pap test
- Stands for Papanicolau smear test. A routine test to screen for cancerous cells in the cervix as a prevention of cervical cancer
- Pelvic Exam
- Examination of the inner and outer female reproductive organs
- PID
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Inflammation of the inner reproductive organs of a female, which can lead to infertility
- POP
- Progesterone Only Pill, a hormonal contraceptive
- Potent
- Sexually capable
- Progesterone
- Hormone mainly produced in the ovaries
- Progestogen
- Synthetic female hormone, used for hormonal contraception, either in combination with an oestrogen or alone
- Prostate Gland
- Male reproductive glands that produce parts of the semen liquid
- Pre-ejaculation
- Small amounts of fluid reels at the tip of the penis before ejaculation (may contain sperm)
- Puberty
- The period in life when children physically and anatomically mature to adulthood
- Rape
- Forcing someone to get involved in sexual intercourse or other sexual acts
- Safer sex
- Ways to reduce the risk unwanted pregnancy and STIs including HIV/AIDS during the sexual act
- Self-esteem
- A state whereby a person builds self-confidence through his or her decision-making process
- Semen
- The fluid that spurts out of the penis at ejaculation – contains sperm
- Seminal vesicle
- Male reproductive glands that produce parts of the semen liquid
- Sperm
- Male reproductive cell
- Spotting
- Loss of small amounts of menstrual blood outside the normal menstruation (period)
- STI
- Sexually Transmitted Infection
- Testicles
- Male reproductive glands that produce parts of the semen liquid
- Thrombosis
- Blood clots that can impair blood circulation
- Tubal Ligation
- Female sterilisation by clamping/tying off the fallopian tubes
- Urethra
- The tube that transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. Runs through the penis in the man and also delivers semen at ejaculation
- Uterus
- Also called womb. The hollow organ in a woman’s body where a baby grows
- UTI
- Urinary tract infection – also called cystitis
- Vagina
- One part of the female sexual and reproductive organs
- Vas diferens
- The tubes which transport the sperms from the testes to urethra
- Vasectomy
- A permanent contraceptive method on men. The tubes, vas diferens, carrying sperm from the testes to the urethra are blocked so that sperm cannot get into the semen
- Vulva
- Female external sexual organ
- Wet dream
- Ejaculation during sleep
- Withdrawal
- The man ejaculates outside the vagina during intercourse in order to avoid pregnancy (A woman can still get pregnant if a man pulls out of her vagina before he comes)
