Some common definitions
Hereunder we explain some words that have
specific meanings. All the words are related to
sex
Contraception (kon-tra-SEP-shun) Preventing pregnancy contraceptives is for men and
women, who are having sexual intercourse and
do not want to have a baby. There are nine
methods of contraception. They are:
1. combined pill
2. progestogen-only pill (or ‘mini pill’)
3. injectable contraceptives
4. IUD (intra-uterine device)
5. diaphragm (or Dutch cap) plus spermicide
6. contraceptive sponge
7. condom
8. natural methods (including the
symptothermal method) and
9. sterilization of the man or the woman.
A tenth method, the morning-after pill, is for
emergency use only.
Laparoscopy (la-pa-ROSS-ko-pi) An
examination of a woman’s uterus, fallopian tubes
and ovaries using an instrument called a
laparoscope. The doctor puts the laparoscope
through a small cut about 1 cm (3/8 in) long close
to the woman’s navel.
Lesbian (LEZ-bee-an) A woman who is
sexually attracted to another woman.
Libido (li-BEE-do) Your sex drive—the
intensity of your sexual feelings and how
sexually active you are. Your libido is affected
by your sex hormones. It is also affected by the
situation you are in.
Sterilization (ste-ri-ly-ZAY-shun) is A
permanent method of contraception for both men
and women. Sterilization makes you sterile, so
you cannot start a baby. Male sterilization is
called vasectomy and involves closing off both
of the vas deferens so that sperm cannot travel
into the man’s urethra and out of his penis. After
a man has been sterilized, and once his semen
no longer contains sperm, he cannot make a
woman pregnant. But, he can still have erections,
ejaculate and enjoy sex in the same way that he
did before he was sterilized. Female sterilization
involves closing off both fallopian tubes so that
ova cannot travel into the uterus. This means that
the woman cannot get pregnant. But, she still
has menstrual periods and she can enjoy sex in
the same ways that she did before she was
sterilized.
Fertilization (fur-ti-ly-ZAY-shun) is The
moment when a sperm fertilizes an ovum and a
baby starts. When a man and a woman have
sexual intercourse, the man put his erect penis
into the woman’s vagina. When he ejaculates, a
small amount of semen containing up to 400
million tiny sperm shoots out of the end of his
penis and into the woman’s vagina. The sperm
then swim through the woman’s cervix into her
uterus. Some get as far as the woman’s fallopian
tubes, where they may meet a mature ovum on
its way to the uterus. Fertilization takes place, if
one sperm manages to get through (or penetrate)
the outer layer of the ovum and join with the
ovum to form a new cell called a zygote. This
new cell will eventually develop into a baby.
The woman does not produce any more ova
while she is pregnant, so fertilization cannot
happen again until after she has had the baby.
Fetus (FEE-tus) An unborn baby, which has
been developing in a woman’s uterus for at least
8 to 12 weeks. Before this, it is called an embryo.
Follicle (FOL-ik-ul) A tiny ball of cells in a
girl’s or woman’s ovary. A follicle contains an
ovum.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) (FOLi-kul STI-mew-lay-ting HOR-mone) is A hormone
produced by the pituitary gland. Girls, who
have reached puberty and women, FSH (together
with another hormone called Luteinizing
Hormone) makes between 10 and 20 follicles
start to mature at the beginning of each menstrual
cycle. It also controls ovulation. Boys, who
have reached puberty and men, FSH makes the
testes produce sperm.
Forceps (FOR-steps) A surgical instrument
which may be used by a doctor in the second
stage of labor to gently pull the baby out of the
mother’s vagina. Forceps are shaped like a large
pair of tongs.
Foreplay (For-Play) Kissing, licking and
caressing in a sexually arousing way. Foreplay
can happen before penetrative sexual intercourse
to arouse both partners. It can also be a complete
sexual act in itself for people who do not want
penetrative sexual intercourse.
Frigid (Fri-gid) Someone who cannot be
sexually aroused. This doesn’t necessarily mean
they don’t have sexual feelings. They may just
be in the wrong situation or with the wrong
person when they have sexual contact.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (pree-MENstrew-ul SIN-drome) is When a girl or woman has
the same problems every time she has her
menstrual period. The problems usually start a
week or two before menstruation. They vary from
woman to woman but include things like
depression, anxiety, mood swings, headaches,
feeling dizzy, putting on weight, feeling bloated,
sore breasts, and a craving for starchy and sweet
things.
Progesterone (pro-JEST-a-rone) is One of the
female sex hormones produced by the ovaries.
The other sex hormone is estrogen.