Glossary

Open, painful, sores that appear inside or around the mouth and/or lips, and are sometimes confused with herpes sores. No one knows what causes them, but they may be caused by such things as stress and food allergies.

A person who has a germ or virus that can cause an STD, including HIV, even though they may have not signs or symptoms of the STD. A carrier can transmit the germ or virus to someone else through unprotected sex without knowing it.

Everyday things that we might do with other people. Hugging, holding hands, kissing with a closed mouth, wiping tears, playing games, drinking from the same glass, eating from the same plate, or using someone's soap or clothes are examples. These are NOT ways someone can get sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, from another person.

Choosing not to have any kind of sex, also called abstaining from sex.

These come from a woman's cervix, travel through the vagina and out of the body through the vaginal opening. Usually a whitish color, cervical secretions are normal and healthy. If a woman has HIV or another STD, her cervical secretions can transmit (give) the STD to another person.

The lower part of the uterus. It looks and feels like a small, soft, rubber ball and has a very small opening into the vagina that lets blood come out of the uterus during the menstrual period. It also lets sperm travel up into the uterus and fallopian tubes. It opens during childbirth to let the baby pass through. The cervix can be felt with a finger. Sometimes the cervix is touched by the penis during sex. If it is touched too hard, it can make sex uncomfortable for the woman.

A sore that appears at the place where infection with syphilis takes place. The sore is generally not painful for women, however it can be very painful for men.

Another word for birth.

Something that happens repeatedly for a long period of time.

A simple operation that removes the foreskin of a male's penis. This is usually done soon after a boy is born, but can also be done on older boys and men.

Is an organ above the opening of a female's vagina and above the opening of the urethra. It is located where the folds of the vaginal lips ([no-glossary]labia) come[/no-glossary] to a point in the upper / top / front part of a female's pubic area. It is very small, sensitive, and about the size of a pea. It feels good when it is rubbed or touched in certain ways.

When a man stops having vaginal intercourse with his partner before he ejaculates. It is not effective as a means of preventing STDs, but can work to prevent pregnancy if done right.

An instrument that uses a special magnifying lens to examine the tissues of the vagina and cervix. An examination using a colposcope may be used to see if a woman has human papillomavirus (genital warts), other infections, and cancer. The examination is called a colposcopy.

Another word for orgasm.

Something, like a germ or virus, that is spread from one carrier or infected person to another.

A device, usually made of latex or polyurethane, that is used during sexual intercourse. It is put on a male partner's penis for the purpose of preventing pregnancy and/or transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such a gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. A condom can also be made of a form of animal skin that is good for pregnancy prevention, but should not be used to prevent STDs.

If you get a confidential test for HIV or another STD, then only you and the medical staff where you had the test performed can see the results. If someone else wanted to see the results, they would have to get your permission.

A medical condition that is present at birth; a congenital condition may be acquired (as an infection), or may be hereditary. STDs may be acquired at or before birth, but no STD is genetically transmitted.

Ways or methods people use to stop pregnancy from happening. Abstinence, birth control pills, spermicide, diaphragms, sterilization and latex condoms are some examples of contraception.

A special substance that is used to grow germs. It may also mean the process of taking a specimen from a person and putting it into the special substance. Cultures may be used to test for certain STDs, for example, chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea.

Another word for semen.

When a person uses his or her mouth to sexually pleasure a female partner's [no-glossary]genitals[/no-glossary]. This is one way to have oral sex. People can get STDs this way. If they are doing it to someone who has an STD they can get the germ if infected blood or sexual fluid gets inside their mouth. If someone is doing it to them, they can get infected if blood from the infected person's mouth gets inside their vagina. A moisture barrier such as a dental dam or plastic wrap stops this from happening either way.

Cytomegalovirus is a virus related to Herpes, but it is usually not very harmful to people with healthy immune systems. Persons with HIV or other illnesses or conditions that weaken the immune system can have serious health complications from CMV.