Abstinence: Refraining from sexual intercourse

Acne: inflammation of the skin causing pimples, can result from clogged pores, dirt, and pollution

Anti-perspirant: deodorants that come in different scents and forms as roll-on, spray, or cream, used to prevent sweating and body odor from under the arms and other areas

AIDS: It stands for “Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome,” a disease that causes the breakdown of the immunity system in the body. AIDS occurs when a person is infected with the HIV virus, a sexually transmitted infection.

Anus: the opening from which solid waste comes out of the digestive system

Advocacy: a word that is used to describe the process of sharing new ideas with people in order to gain their support for a certain cause or aim.

Breast: organs that develop around a girl’s nipples during puberty that are later used to produce milk when a baby is born, can be large or small depending on each person

Clitoris: a small organ that is located above the vagina and causes sexual pleasure

Cognitive: cognition, the act or faculty of knowing, the product of this act a perception or insight.

Cervical cancer: a type of genital cancer that occurs in the cervix, that is the opening between the uterus and the vagina

Chlorofluorocarbons: chemicals that are harmful to the environment, found in many sprays and other items

Contraception: a method used to prevent pregnancy

Condom: a rubber contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy by acting as a barrier between the egg and sperm. Male condoms are the most common and are placed over the penis; female condoms are placed inside the vagina.

Discharge: fluid ejected from the body

Epididymus: a long, narrow tube in the testicles where the sperm is made

Estrogen: Hormones responsible for female sexual development

Erection: the state of a penis when it becomes hardened and there is a change in shape and size

Ejaculation: the process during which the semen, made up of sperms and other fluids, is discharged through the penis

Fallopian tubes: A pair of slender ducts that connect the uterus to the region of each ovary. It carries the ovum (egg) from the ovary to the uterus, and carries the sperm from the uterus toward the ovary. Conception usually takes place in the fallopian tube

Fertilization: meeting of an egg with a sperm, resulting in pregnancy

Genital: having to do with the area around the sexual organs

Genital tract: part of the reproductive system linking the reproductive organs

Glands: a group of cells in the body that produces a substance which is then released

Gender: a word that is used to describe the social differences between boys and girls or between men and women.

Homosexuals: people having sexual attraction towards other people of the same sex

Hormone: A chemical substance formed in one organ or part of the body and carried in the blood to another organ or part. It affects the activity of other organs or parts of the body through chemical action.

HIV: stands for “human immunodeficiency virus,” it is the STI that causes AIDS

Hymen: a protective membrane located in the opening of the vagina; the size and thickness depends on each girl. This membrane is torn when sexual intercourse takes place for the first time; for some people this results in bleeding while for others it may not.

Larynx: the structure inside a person’s neck containing the vocal cords

Masturbation: the act of touching your genitals for the purpose of reaching sexual pleasure

Menstruation: menstrual cycle, also known as period

Menstrual cycle: monthly cycle that begins during puberty for girls, when the egg produced by the ovaries is released through the vagina if it has not been fertilized by a sperm

Nipple: the small dark bump on the breast; for women this is used after pregnancy to feed the baby with milk produced by the breast

Oral contraception: pills containing hormones that can be taken on a regular basis by a woman to prevent pregnancy

Orgasm: a pleasurable feeling that is reached during sexual intercourse or masturbation

Ovulation: monthly process taking place over several days during which the egg is released from the ovary and travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus, which prepares for the egg by increasing the cushioning of its walls through a building up of cells.

Ovaries: female reproductive organs that produce eggs and female sex hormones.

Pregnancy: a nine-month period during which an egg develops into a baby after it has been fertilized by a sperm during sexual intercourse

Penis: the male sexual organ

Period: another word commonly used for the “menstrual cycle”

Perspiration: cooling mechanism of the body, also known as sweating or transpiration

Progesterone: A hormone produced by the ovaries, preparing the uterus for pregnancy.

PMS: Pre-menstrual syndrome, a term used to describe the physical and emotional aspects experienced each month before menstruation

Physiological: having to do with the body’s internal functions

Physical: having to do with the body’s external functions

Pituitary Gland: Sometimes referred to as the master gland is the most important of the endocrine glands (i.e. glands that release hormones directly into the bloodstream). It regulates and controls activities of other endocrine glands and body processes. It is a pea sized structure situated in the base of the brain.

Puberty: development stage from childhood to adulthood

Pubic hair: Hair in the genital region.

Reproductive organs: organs that allow reproduction; for females they include the ovaries, uterus, and vagina, and for males they include the penis, testicles, and surrounding glands

Scrotum: the external sac of skin enclosing the testicles

STI: abbreviation of “Sexually Transmitted Infections.” STIs are infections spread from one person to another through contact of their sexual organs

Sexual intercourse: the penetration of the man’s penis into the woman’s vagina

Semen: substance made up from sperms and other fluids produced by the testicles and surrounding glands

Sperm: the male reproductive cell, similar to the female egg but with a different size and shape

Steroids: chemicals found in medical tablets; some kinds can improve athletic performance and strength but have serious side-effects

Sanitary pad: a pad that is placed on the underwear to absorb blood and other material released during menstruation

Sebum: oil produced by glands to make the skin soft

Sebaceous glands: glands in the skin that produce sebum

Sex hormones: hormones that cause sexual characteristics to develop

Sexual organs: organs that allow sexual intercourse, i.e. the vagina is the female sexual organ and the penis is the male sexual organ

Tampon: a pad that is placed inside the vagina to absorb blood and other material released during menstruation

Transpiration: cooling mechanism of the body, also known as sweating or perspiration

Testicles: male organs found near the penis that function to produce sperm

Testosterone: Male sex hormone produced by the testicles that promotes the development of the genital glands and male sexual characteristics.

Uterus: female organ where the baby grows during pregnancy

Urethra: the canal through which urine is discharged from the bladder and also through which semen is discharged in the male

Virginity: the state of being a virgin; that is someone who has not engaged in sexual intercourse

Vagina: The tube that forms the passage between the cervix/uterus and the vulva. It receives the penis during sexual intercourse and serves as the delivery passage for birth and for menstrual flow.

Vulva: the opening of the vagina

Wet Dreams: or nocturnal emission, ejaculation that occurs during sleep. It is normal in male adolescents and is common cause of unnecessary worry.