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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Safer sex: Any sexual practice that aims to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy and of passing HIV (and other sexually transmitted infections) from one person to another. Examples are non-penetrative sex or sex with a latex or polyurethane barrier. During unsafe sex, fluids that can transmit HIV and other STIs (semen, vaginal fluid or blood) may be introduced into the body of the sex partner.1
Same-Sex Relationship: an intimate relationship between tow people of the same sex.
Scabies: A contagious disease with sever itching and red papules, cause by a mite.11
Scrotum: The pouch of skin that contains the testes in the male.7
Semen: The fluid that is ejaculated from the penis during orgasm; it contains sperm.7
Seminal Vesicles: Sac-like structures that lie above the prostate which produces about 70% of the seminal fluid.7
Sex education: Basic education about reproductive processes, puberty, sexual behaviour, etc. Sex education may include other information, for example about contraception, protection from sexually transmitted infections and parenthood.1
Sexual Activity: The wide range of sexual and intimate behaviours.11
Sexual Assault: if someone forces any form of sexual activity on someone else (kissing, fondling, touching, sexual intercourse, etc.) without that person’s consent.
Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services: Defined as the constellation of methods, techniques and services that contribute to reproductive health and well-being through preventing and solving reproductive health problems. It also includes sexual health.1
Sexual Health: The integration of the somatic, emotional, intellectual and social aspects of sexual being, in ways that are positively enriching and that enhance personality, communication and love ... and thus the notion of sexual health implies a positive approach to human sexuality and the purpose of sexual health care should be the enhancement of life and personal relations and not merely counselling and care related to reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases.1
Sexual Health Education: Enables individuals, couples, families, and communities to develop the knowledge, motivation, skills and critical awareness needed to enhance sexual health and to avoid sexual problems.11
Sexual Harassment: unwelcome, uninvited remarks, gestures, or actions of a sexual nature that make a person feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
Sexual Intercourse: Penetrative sexual behaviours, including oral sex, anal sex, use of toys and penile-vaginal sex.1
Sexual Orientation: Sexual orientation refers to the primary sexual attraction to the same, opposite or both sexes1. Your feelings of sexual attraction toward others. Your sexual orientation could be gay or lesbian (attraction to the same gender); straight (attraction to the opposite gender); or bisexual (attraction to both genders).15
Sexual Rights: The right to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to one’s sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. Equal relationships between women and men in matters of sexual relations and reproduction, including full respect for the integrity of the person, require mutual respect, consent and shared responsibility for sexual behaviour and its consequences.
Sexuality: The sexual knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviours of individuals. Its dimensions include the anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry of the sexual response system; identity, orientation, roles and personality; and thoughts, feelings, and relationships. The expression of sexuality is influenced by ethical, spiritual, cultural, and moral concerns.1
Sexuality education: Education about all matters relating to sexuality and its expression. Sexuality education covers the same topics as sex education but also includes issues such as relationships, attitudes towards sexuality, sexual roles, gender relations and the social pressures to be sexually active, and it provides information about sexual and reproductive health services. It may also include training in communication and decision-making skills.1
STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections): (sometimes called sexually transmitted diseases or STDs) Disease resulting from bacteria or viruses and often acquired through sexual contact. Some STIs can also be acquired in other ways (i.e. blood transfusions, intravenous drug use, and mother-to-child transmission). The term 'STI' is slowly replacing 'STD' (sexually transmitted disease) in order to include HIV infection. Most STIs, like HIV, are not acquired from partners who are obviously ill, but rather through exposure to infections that are asymptomatic or unnoticeable at the time of transmission.1
Smegma: The white substance composed of glandular secretions, dead cells, dirt particles, and bacteria that accumulate under the foreskin of the penis.11
Sodomy: Sexual intercourse that is not the union of the genital organs of a man and a woman. The term is most frequently applied to anal intercourse between two men or to sexual relations between people and animals.12
Sperm: The mature reproductive cell, capable of fertilizing an egg.7
Spermicides: Chemical contraceptives that inactivate and kill sperm and to a certain extent form a barrier over the cervix. Spermicides are more effective when used in conjunction with other contraceptives such as condoms or diaphragms. They offer protection against some sexually transmitted infections, but the possibility of a protective effect against HIV has not been proved clinically. Spermicides are available in various forms: creams and jellies, foams, suppositories, foaming tablets and plastic films.1
Squamous Cells: Thin and flat cells, shaped like soft fish scales. Layers of them make up skin-like epithelium. In the cervix they form the skin on the outer surface of the cervix (ectocervix). They meet up with columnar cells in the squamo-columnar junction. 80 to 85% of cancers of the cervix are associated with squamous cells. Abnormalities associated with squamous cells are the most likely abnormalities to be picked up by Pap smears.13
SRH: The acronym for Sexual and Reproductive Health.
Sterilization: The sterilization procedure blocks either the sperm ducts (the vas deferens) or the oviducts (fallopian or uterine tubes) to prevent the sperm and ovum from uniting.1
Straight: A person who is emotionally and sexually attracted to people of the opposite gender15. Also known as Heterosexual.
Sympto-thermal method (STM): This combines various natural family planning techniques, especially cervical mucus changes, the calendar method and BBT. The use of multiple techniques is more accurate than a single technique for identifying the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle, while the days of required abstinence can be kept to a minimum. All these methods of detecting the fertile phase are also helpful for couples who wish to use barrier methods on those days estimated to be fertile, and for couples who are trying to improve their chances of conception.1
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Tampon: A small roll of absorbent material worn inside the vagina to catch and absorb menstrual flow.15
Testicles (Testes): The pair of glands in the scrotum that manufacture sperm and sex hormone.7
Testicular Self-Examination (TSE): Technique a man uses to examine his own testicles for lumps or other abnormalities.11
Testosterone: Male sex hormone that is made by the testicles. It causes the changes in boys during puberty.15
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS): A bacterial infection associated with the use of tampons. It is rare but sometimes fatal.11
Transgender (TG): is an umbrella term that includes people who do not fit traditional male or female roles and expectations, and/or who identify with a gender other than the one assigned at birth.5 People who feel that their gender identity conflicts with their sexual anatomy – that is a girl who feels like she ought to have been a boy, or a boy who feels like he ought to have been a girl. People who are transgender often choose to live the role of the opposite gender.15
Transphobia: The fear and dislike of transgender people.5
Transsexual (TS): Anyone who wants to have, or who has had, a sex-change operation.10 Someone who has had one may be referred to as a former transsexual. Transsexuals want to appear convincing as their new selves. Transsexuals are further categorized as MTF (male to female) or FTM (female to male). It is respectful to refer to their new gender as the main gender, and to their gender as the main descriptive, not “transsexual” (ie. A MTF transsexual is a transsexual female, not a male transsexual.) Transsexuals may be heterosexual, bisexual, or homosexual in their sexual orientations.
Transvestite: a synonym for ‘cross-dresser’, which is the preferred term. See “Cross-dresser”.10
Tubal Ligation: A permanent operation a woman may have to prevent pregnancy. The fallopian tubes, which carry the eggs from the ovary to the womb (uterus) are burned, clipped, cut or tied (the tubes are sealed). The tubes are therefore closed so the sperm and egg do not meet.4
Two-Spirited: An aboriginal person within whom there is a balance between the male and female. They were seen as extraordinary individuals and were given respect and honour, traditionally.9
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Printable version of the entire Sexual and Reproductive Health Glossary (31 pages, PDF)
