- abstinence
- the practice of refraining from engaging in certain activities or behaviors, such as from sex before marriage
- ambiguous genitalia
- genitals that do not look as expected for a male or female
- androgynous
- gender expression that does not conform to societal expectations of how males or females should look and/or act
- anilingus
- oral sex involving the anus
- aromantic
- individuals who do not experience romantic attraction
- asexual
- relating to or being an individual who does not experience sexual attraction or has a lack of interest in sexual activity
- biological sex
- sex assigned to an individual at birth
- bisexual
- relating to or being an individual who acknowledges that they have the potential to be attracted (romantically, emotionally and/or sexually) to people of more than one gender
- chancre
- a painless sore associated with a syphilis infection that develops where the organism entered the body
- chromosomes
- threadlike structures containing DNA that are located in the nucleus of a cell
- cisgender
- relating to or being an individual whose gender identity aligns with the biological sex they were assigned at birth
- congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
- a genetic disorder affecting the adrenal glands that causes an overproduction of sex hormones, resulting in enlarged external female genitalia in infants, early appearances of pubic hair, and acne and rapid growth patterns during adolescence
- cunnilingus
- oral sex involving the vagina, vulva, or clitoris
- erogenous zones
- areas of the body that trigger sexual arousal when stimulated or touched
- fellatio
- oral sex involving the penis
- fertilization
- the process in which sperm unites with an egg to form a zygote
- foreplay
- intimate physical and emotional interactions that occur before sexual intercourse
- gay
- a term used to describe men who are romantically or sexually attracted to other men; also used more broadly to describe individuals of any gender that are attracted to individuals of the same gender
- gender
- a social construct that includes norms and behaviors associated with being a man or a woman
- gender binary
- a classification of gender into two distinct categories (male and female)
- gender dysphoria
- distress experienced by some people when their sex assigned at birth and assumed gender is not the one with which they identify
- gender expansive health care
- a care-delivery model that is inclusive and affirming of gender identity
- gender fluid
- relating to or being an individual who feels as if they are both male and female either simultaneously or at different times
- gender identity
- a person’s deeply felt, internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond to the person’s physiology of designated sex at birth
- gender nonbinary
- a gender identity that does not fit within the traditional framework of being male or female
- gender nonconforming
- relating to or being an individual who displays behaviors or appearances that do not align with societal expectations of their sex assigned at birth
- gender role expression
- the way a person communicates their gender to others, such as by clothing, appearance, and mannerisms
- gender roles
- strict societal beliefs that define “acceptable” behaviors for each gender
- heterosexual
- relating to or being an individual who is sexually attracted to a person of a different gender or sex
- infertility
- the inability to conceive a child
- intersex
- relating to or being an individual whose chromosomes, hormones, or reproductive or sexual anatomy does not fully align with either male or female
- lesbian
- relating to or being a woman who is romantically or sexually attracted to other women
- LGBTQIA+
- lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer, intersex, asexual, gender diverse, and other identities and orientations
- masturbation
- self-stimulation of genitals or other areas of the body for sexual arousal or pleasure
- monogamy
- having only one romantic or sexual partner at a time
- oral-genital stimulation (also, oral sex)
- the stimulation of an individual’s genitals by another individual’s mouth, lips, or tongue
- orgasm
- a peak of sexual excitement, characterized by intense physical pleasure and a series of involuntary muscle contractions in the genital area
- pornography
- materials, such as books, magazines, videos, and websites, that depict explicit sexual content primarily intended to stimulate sexual arousal
- puberty
- the stage of development during which physical and sexual maturity occurs and individuals become capable of reproduction
- questioning
- referring to a time of exploration and self-discovery about one’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression
- sex chromosomes
- a specific pair of chromosomes that determine an individual's biological sex
- sex trafficking
- exploitation of individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of sexual exploitation
- sexual arousal
- the state of being physically and mentally excited by sexual stimuli; involves physiological responses such as increased heart rate, blood flow to the genital areas, lubrication in women, and erections in men
- sexual assault
- sexual contact or behavior, often physical, that occurs without permission or consent from the victim
- sexual behavior
- acts in which an individual engages to experience sexual arousal, sexual pleasure, orgasm, and/or reproduction of offspring
- sexual discrimination
- treatment of an individual less favorably because of their sex, which includes sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, and any other sex-related stereotypes
- sexual dysfunction
- difficulty experienced by an individual or a couple during any stage of normal sexual activity, including physical pleasure, desire, preference, arousal, or orgasm
- sexual fulfillment
- the state of experiencing satisfaction, pleasure, and contentment in one’s sexual relationships
- sexual harassment
- unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other forms of physical or verbal harassment of a sexual nature
- sexual intercourse
- penetration of the vagina or anus
- sexual orientation
- who an individual is attracted to sexually, emotionally, and/or romantically
- sexual pleasure
- enjoyable and satisfying physical and emotional sensations experienced during sexual activity
- sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- an infection that is primarily spread through sexual contact
- transgender
- relating to or being an individual whose gender identity does not align with the sex assigned to them at birth
- transsexual
- relating to or being an individual who uses medical interventions such as hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgeries to align their physical characteristics with their gender identity