Glossary

An exam that a health care professional gives a female. The doctor gently removes cells from the cervix. This doesn't hurt. The cells are then looked at to make sure they are healthy. If they look unhealthy, it could be a warning sign of cancer or a cervical infection, but not always. A woman should have one done every year once she starts her period.

An infection of a woman's reproductive system. PID is usually caused when an STD (most of the time either chlamydia or gonorrhea) is not treated right away. Symptoms for PID include cramping, tenderness, or pain in the pelvic area. PID can cause a woman's reproductive organs to not work properly. It can cause lifelong pain and even make her infertile (unable to have children).

Any kind of sex that can spread an STD involves penetration of some kind. Penetration includes vaginal sex (a man putting his penis in a woman's vagina), oral sex (someone licking, sucking, or putting his/her mouth on another person's genitals), and anal sex (someone putting their mouth or penis in someone's anus).

The sex organ outside the male's body. Between the legs, it is made of soft tissue and blood vessels. This is what a male uses to urinate. Most of the time it is small and soft, but when a male gets excited, blood goes into the tissues. This makes the penis get larger and stiff, or erect.

A penis must be erect for a condom to be put on it. The tip or head of the penis is very sensitive and gives the male a lot of pleasure when it is touched. The hole at the tip of the penis is where germs that cause STDs, including HIV, can get into the man's body during sex.

A name for menstruation.

How often a woman menstruates, how long menstruation lasts, and how much blood comes out varies and can change for the same woman from month to month. Sometimes menstruation happens regularly every twenty-eight days, but the menstrual cycle can last twenty-one, thirty, or more days. Sometimes menstruation can last for three days or for up to five days. Sometimes there are a few days of spotting only a little blood. Such variation is completely normal.

During menstruation, only about 3 to 4 tablespoons of blood come out of a woman's vagina. The blood comes from the lining of the uterus (womb). It is not dirty blood and when it comes out, it is not "cleaning" the woman's body. The purpose of the blood was to make a healthy place for a pregnancy to grow.

If a woman does not become pregnant, the blood lining leaves the body. It is important to know that women don't need to menstruate every month in order to be healthy or to get pregnant. Some women don't menstruate regularly and some woman who use hormonal methods of birth control stop menstruating every month. This is normal and healthy and does not hurt the woman in any way.

It is also very important to know that a girl can become pregnant even before gets her first menstruation.

Touching another person's sex organs for sexual pleasure.

A condom made out of a plastic called polyurethane. People who are allergic to latex condoms can use these without a problem.

Fluid released from a man's penis before he ejaculates (cums). Another word for pre-seminal fluid. Pre-cum can come from a man's penis even without him realizing. It can cause an STD.

Physical pain or emotional difficulties that a woman might have up to two weeks before she has a period. This could be things like cramps, sore breasts, bloating or holding extra water inside the body, or headaches. Sometimes people feel sad, angry or depressed. Everyone might get different things. If a woman has really bad cramps, feel very emotionally upset, or has any other problem with her period, she should tell someone like a school nurse, parent, teacher or doctor.

PMS can be helped by taking certain vitamins and minerals, eating healthy, and exercise.

When the egg and sperm meet, it is called fertilization. About four days after fertilization, the fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of the uterus. When this happens, a woman is pregnant.

There is a lot of incorrect information about getting pregnant. For example, a woman doesn't need to have an orgasm to get pregnant. She doesn't have to have intercourse to get pregnant, either. As strange as it sounds, a woman can become pregnant even if a man ejaculates outside of, but near, her vagina. This is because sperm can swim up her vagina and get to the egg. Once sperm get to the vaginal opening, there is no way of stopping them from swimming up to the egg. Jumping up and down, douching, or putting things in the vagina doesn't work and can be dangerous.

If a woman has had seman near or in her vagina and she doesn't want to become pregnant, she can take emergency contraceptive pills. These stop the sperm and egg from meeting, and anyone can get them from a clinic or doctor's office.

Another phrase for genitals or sex organs.

Any person who has sex to get something else. Sometimes prostitutes have sex for money, drugs, food, or a place to sleep. They are also called sex workers.

Doing things to take care of yourself or someone else. Latex condoms are also called protection because they can help protect people from getting STDs, during oral, vaginal, or anal sex.

When a girl or boy begins to change into a young man or a young woman. It doesn't happen to everyone at the same time.

For a girl, puberty begins to happen between ages 8-14. Her body changes in many ways. For example, a girl's breasts begin to develop and she will get her first period. In a boy, puberty starts around 12 years old. His penis and testicles grow and develop. His voice also starts to change. Both boys and girls begin to grow pubic hair. They also grow hair on other parts of their body. These changes are usually finished by age 20.

It is also a time where feelings about self, family, or other people change. Moods and emotions change, and puberty can be a very confusing and frustrating time for girls and boys.

The area between the legs in both males and females where the genitals (sex organs) are located. After puberty, pubic hair grows in this area.

Hair that grows on and around the genitals.

When a man removes his penis from the vagina, anus, or mouth before he ejaculates. It does not keep him from giving another person an STD. It can work to prevent pregnancy if it is done correctly so that no sperm gets near the vaginal opening. "Pulling out" is another term for "withdrawal."