The lingo
abstinence – avoiding sexual activity until in a mutually-monogamous marriage relationship
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome – A disease, caused by the virus, HIV, that compromises the immune system so that the body cannot fight off infections. Eventually can leads to death.
Acyclovir -A medication prescribed to suppress the symptoms of Herpes symplex viruses. This is not a cure.
AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
anal sex – anal intercourse committed by a man with a man or woman
antibiotics – drugs given to cure bacterial infection. Cannot be used to cure viral infections
antibodies – natural substances found in the lymph system that are produced when a person gets an infection. First line of defense against subsequent infections with the same microbe.
arthritis – inflammation of a joint or joints
bacterial – relating to or caused by bacteria
bacterium – small, cellular organisms, often responsible for causing disease; can be treated with antibiotics
bodily fluids – in this case, blood, semen, vaginal secretions, saliva and breast milk: the five predominate fluids through which sexually transmitted infections are passed from person to person.
candidiasis – commonly called yeast infection or thrush; best known as the most common cause of vaginal irritation of vaginitis but can also involve other mucous membranes.
cervix – the place where the uterus joins with the top end of the vagina.
chancres – a small hard painless nodule at the site of entry of a pathogen (as Syphilis)
Chlamydia – a sexually-transmitted bacterial infection, affecting over 3 million people in the US every year
consistently and correctly – terminology used in condoms research and sales, describing perfect use of condoms: according to the manufacturer’s instructions, every single time you have sex
contract passive – an uninfected person receives an infection from an infected person dormant non-symptomatic stage of infection; not active but capable of becoming active
ectopic pregnancy – implantation of fertilized egg in a place other than the uterus–often the fallopian tubes
ejaculation – the discharge of semen in males
genitalia – external sex organ
Gonorrhea – a sexually-transmitted bacterial infection
gynecologist – a physician specializing in female reproductive health
hemorrhage – flow of blood from a ruptured blood vessels
Hepatitis B – a sexually-transmitted viral disease that causes acute and chronic liver disease. Typically, this disease is blood borne.
Herpes – a sexually-transmitted viral infection
HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HPV – Human Papillomavirus
Human Immunodeficiency virus – the virus that causes AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Human Papillomavirus – a virus which affects humans. Some of its effects are classed as sexually transmitted infection
infertility – in a female, the inability to carry a child to full-term pregnancy. In a male, the inability to impregnate a female.
intercourse – the act of “making babies” between a man and a woman; the man’s penis is inserted into the woman’s vagina and excited until orgasm and ejaculation occur
lymph nodes – sites at various points in the body where white blood cells are produced to fight off infection
masturbation – manual stimulation of the genital organs (of yourself or another) for sexual pleasure
menstrual cycle – cycle in the female of fertility, often between 28-30 days
menstrual period – point in the menstrual cycle when a woman, having ovulated, does not become pregnant. The uterus then sloughs off nutrient enriched blood and fluids to begin a new cycle. Usually lasts for about 1 week
mucous membranes – tissues that line the mouth, cervix, vagina, urethra and anus
mutual masturbation – manual stimulation of the genital organs of another for sexual pleasure
opportunistic infection – any infection caused by a microorganism that does not normally cause disease in humans
oral sex – oral-genital stimulation
orgasm – the moment of most intense pleasure in sexual intercourse
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease – scarring and inflammation of internal reproductive organs in female, often caused by Chlamydia or Gonorrhea infection. Causes infertility in women.
PID – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
pneumocystis pneumonia - pneumonia occurring in infants or in persons with impaired immune systems (as AIDS suffers)
point-of-contact disease – wherever the disease enters the body is where a symptom will show up
reimplantation – the act of planting again; in this case, of the fertilized egg into the uterus
Semen – thick, white male reproductive fluid containing sperm that is ejaculated by the genital tract
STIs – sexually-transmitted disease(s)
symptoms – evidence (visible or anecdotal) of infection/illness
Syphilis – sexually-transmitted bacterial infection that occurs in three distinct stages
thrush – candidiasis of the oral cavity; seen mostly in infants or debilitated adults
toxoplasmosis – disease, most common in animals, that causes small worms to appear in fecal matter. Opportunistic infection that afflicts AIDS sufferers
tuberculosis – bacterial lung disease, often inhaled or ingested that causes small lesions in the lungs and other body parts that can lead to death if untreated
unimplantation – in this case, surgical removal of an implanted embryo
Valtrex – A medication prescribed to suppress the symptoms of Herpes symplex viruses. This is not a cure.
wasting syndrome – progressive involuntary weight loss seen in patients with HIV infection; may be due to a number of factors acting alone or in combination, including inadequate oral intake of food, increased metabolic rate and/or difficulty absorbing nutrients.