abortion – When a woman decides to end her pregnancy and has an operation to remove the embryo or fetus from her uterus

abstinence – To abstain from sex – meaning to not have sex

AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: a medical condition caused by HIV

that destroys the body's immune system and leads to death

anal sex – Just like it sounds: inserting something (penis, dildo, finger...) in the bum hole for pleasure

anus – Bum hole

bisexual – A person who is physically and emotionally attracted to both men and women

blow job – Slang for oral sex on a guy: using the mouth on the penis for pleasure

cervix – The narrow lower part of the uterus that has an opening that connects the uterus to the vagina

clitoris – The female sex organ that is located between the labia at the upper end of the vulva; stimulation of it can make a girl have an orgasm

condom – A thin small baggy that is made of latex or polyurethane and that covers the penis to catch all ejaculate fluid

contraceptive – Something that helps prevents pregnancy

cum (come) – Slang for ejaculation and/or semen; also slang for orgasm (male or female)

cunnilingus – The clinical word for oral sex on a girl; using the mouth/tongue on a women's vagina for pleasure

cyber sex – When people use the internet to talk to others in an arousing or sexy manner

cyst – A fluid-filled mass or bump growing on or inside the body that is usually sore but not serious or harmful

date rape – Rape or sexual assault by someone a woman is on a date with or is see- ing, dating, etc.

date rape drug – A drug that can be slipped into a woman's drink, making her unable to function properly or take care of herself (even pass out), allowing the per- son who slipped the drug to take advantage of the woman sexually

dental dam – A thin piece of material that is silky and soft, to hold over the vagina during oral sex to stop fluid exchange

diaphragm – A shallow, dome-shaped cup a woman places inside her vagina against the cervix to help prevent pregnancy by preventing sperm from reaching the egg

dick – Slang for penis

dildo – A rubber toy, usually shaped like a penis, that is used for sex

discharge – A slighty thick fluid from the vagina, usually onto underwear

doggy style – Slang for a sexual position where one person is on their hands and knees and the other person penetrates from behind

douche / douching – Using scented water to clean the vagina and cervix. Douching can encourage certain infections of the vagina. For most women, it is unnecessary because the vagina is a self-cleaning organ with its own secretions.

down low – Slang for a person in a heterosexual relationship but having sex with the same sex secretly

dyke – Slang for lesbian

eating out – Slang for oral sex on a girl

ejaculation – When a guy cums and his penis squirts semen

embryo – A fertilized human egg before it grows into a fetus (at about 8 to 12 weeks after the sperm fertilized the egg)

Fallopian tube – Inside a woman's body, one of two narrow tubes that carry an egg from the ovary to the uterus

fellatio – The clinical word for oral sex on a guy (blow job)

female condom – A polyurethane pouch worn by a woman during sex; it entirely lines the vagina and it helps to prevent pregnancy and STIs including HIV

fetus – An embryo after it has taken the rough shape of a human (at about 8 to 12 weeks after the sperm fertilized the egg)

finger cot – A device resembling a male condom and used to cover the fingers dur- ing sex; it helps protect against STIs

fingering – Slang for having intercourse with fingers in a partner's vagina rather than a penis

fisting – Inserting a fist in another person's anus or vagina for sexual stimulation foreplay – All the stuff that gets you excited before sex: flirting, touching, rubbing, kissing, licking ...

fuck buddy – Slang for a chosen friend who you have sex, but not a serious relation- ship, with

gay – Being physically and emotionally attracted to someone of the same sex gender – The characteristics and behavior that society expects from a person based on that person's biological sex

go down – Slang meaning to give oral sex

G-spot – A small area on the front wall of the vagina that is especially sensitive to sexual stimulation in some women and may be the source of a small amount of fluid ejaculated at orgasm

hand job – Slang for using your hand to rub a guy's penis until he cums head (giving head) – Slang meaning to give oral sex

heterosexual – Being physically and emotionally attracted to someone of the opposite sex

HIV – Human immunodeficiency virus: the virus that causes AIDS. It can be passed from an infected person through blood, semen (cum), vaginal fluids, or breast milk. Activities like unprotected sex and sharing needles are at a high risk for trans- mitting HIV.

ho – Slang for whore or slut

homosexual – Being physically and emotionally attracted to someone of the same sex

hormones – Natural chemicals in your body that affect how your mind and body work. Women tend to have more estrogen hormone, and men tend to have more testosterone.

hymen – A thin piece of tissue that stretches across part of the opening of the vagina. It is usually broken by first-time sexual intercourse but can also break from bike riding, horseback riding, or other activities.

labia – The lips of the vagina

lesbian – A woman who is emotionally and physically attracted to other women

lube / lubricant – A water-based slippery substance used in sex to make things more comfortable and safe. Oil-based lubricants can damage condoms and so should not be used.

masturbation – Touching oneself in a sexual manner for pleasure with fingers, toys (such as dildos), etc.

menstruation – A woman's period: the time of month that her uterus sheds its lining, and the blood and tissue comes out her vagina. When a woman is pregnant, she does not have her period: the lining stays in the uterus to protect the egg.

Menstrual cup – A small soft plastic cup to place inside the vagina to catch menstrual blood (used instead of tampons)

miscarriage – When a pregnant woman's embryo or fetus unexpectedly leaves the uterus before it can survive on its own; also known as a spontaneous abortion

oral sex – Using your mouth and tongue on your partner's genitals to excite him or her

orgasm – The feeling, during sex or masturbation, of the greatest pleasure and release of pressure from your muscles contracting. With guys, this usually happens when he ejaculates.

ovary – The organ inside a woman's body that releases an egg once per month

ovulation – The point in a women's cycle where her body produces an egg and it is released from the ovary into the Fallopian tubes. An egg fertilized with sperm results in pregnancy.

ovum – The egg that women's bodies releases once per month from the ovary pad – A piece of material a girl uses during her period to absorb the menstrual

blood; also called a maxi-pad, sanitary pad, or sanitary napkin

Pap smear – A test to detect cervical cancer. Your doctor wipes a bit of tissue from your cervix and looks at it under a microscope.

penis – The male sex organ

period – When a women menstruates, meaning the blood and tissue from her uterus come out through her vagina. This is usually once per month and lasts a few days.

phone sex – Simulating sex by describing it to someone on the phone

Pill (the Pill) – Short for birth control pill; a pill taken daily to prevent pregnancy queer – Slang for being of a different sexuality than straight (heterosexual)

rag (on the rag) – Slang for getting your period (menstruating)

rape – Unwanted sexual intercourse

rimming – Performing oral sex on someone's anus

semen – The white stuff that comes out of a guy's penis when he ejaculates. It contains sperm, the male sex cells that combine with a woman's egg to make her pregnant.

sex toy – Any object that is designed and used to make sex fun and exciting sexual assault – When someone is forced into any sexual act or has any sexual act forced upon them against their will

shag – Slang for sexual intercourse, having sex

sixty-nine – Slang for a sexual position where both partners are able to give oral sex to each other at the same time

slut – A slang word that is meant to demean women for having a lot of sex or for having sex with someone besides their steady boyfriend or girlfriend

speculum – A small plastic or metal device placed in a woman's vagina to help a doctor examine inside

sperm – The male reproductive cell that combines with a woman's egg to make her pregnant. When a guy ejaculates semen, it contains many, many sperm.

spermicide – A gel that contains a chemical that kills sperm before it can fertilize a woman's egg

spotting – When a girl's menstrual blood comes out a little bit at a time instead of as full period

statutory rape – A legal term to describe when an adult has sex with someone who is not old enough to consent to sex according to the law. In Canada, this term has been replaced with the phrase "sexual interference."

STD – sexually transmitted disease; also called sexually transmitted infection (STI)

STI – sexually transmitted infection; also called sexually transmitted disease (STD)

straight – Slang for heterosexual

tampon – A small cylinder of cotton (or a similar material) that is placed up into the vagina to absorb menstrual blood.

transgendered – When a person feels that the gender they were assigned at birth does not reflect the gender they feel inside themselves

uterus – The pear-shaped organ in a woman's body that holds and nourishes a fertilized egg as it grows from embryo to fetus to a baby ready for birth. The narrow lower part of the uterus becomes the cervix, a canal that connects to the vagina.

vagina – A woman's internal genitals: the tunnel that begins between the legs of a woman and leads inside her body to the cervix and uterus

vaginal sex – Penetration in the vagina for sexual gratification by fingers, penis, toys, etc.

virgin – Someone who has never had sex before

vulva – A woman's external genitals, including the labia, the clitoris, and the opening to the vagina

womb – The area of your body where a baby grows; same as uterus

yeast infection – An overproduction of yeast in the vagina, which causes pain and itching