Abortifacient:
A substance or device that induces an abortion.
Abortion:
The termination of pregnancy before the fetus is viable
(that is: being able to survive outside of the uterus).
A spontaneous abortion is also called a miscarriage.
For more: See Abortion
Laws.
Abstinence:
Not having sexual intercourse. (Or any sexual activity with
another person).
Abstinence-Only
Curriculum:
Sexual education programs that advocate sexual abstinence
before marriage. The majority of these programs do not provide
information about contraception, safer sex, or sexual orientation.
Adolescence:
The period of physical and emotional change between puberty
and adulthood.
Adultery:
Sexual intercourse between a married person and someone
who is not his or her spouse.
Age
of Consent:
The age at which one is legally considered old enough to
decide to have sexual intercourse or "consensual
sex".
AIDS
(Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome):
Active HIV disease and medical conditions associated with
it. HIV
being the retrovirus that infects human T cells and causes
AIDS.
Amenorrhea
The absence of menstruation.
Anal
Intercourse:
Intercourse in which the penis penetrates the anus.
Anal
Sex:
Anal sex
is stimulation of the anus during sexual activity. It can
be done in several different ways: manually, orally or by
anal intercourse.
Androgens:
A hormones that promotes male characteristics. They stimulate
male sexual development and secondary male sex characteristics.
Most are produced in the testicles of men but are also produced
in small amounts in women's ovaries. Testosterone is the
most common androgen.
Androgyny:
A gender identity that allows expression of both gender
roles.
Anti-Choice:
Opposed to the belief that women have the right to choose
to have an abortion; or the right to even make that choice.
Anus:
The opening from the rectum from which solid waste (feces)
leaves the body.
Aphrodisiac:
A drug or substance that increases sexual desire and or
drive.
Areola:
The dark area surrounding the nipples of women and men.
Asphyxophilia:
A paraphilia in which sexual arousal becomes dependent on
being strangled up to the point of passing out.
Autoerotic:
Providing sexual stimulation for oneself.
Autoerotic
Asphyxiation:
Self-strangulation for the purpose of sexual arousal. A
form of sexual behavior in which the individual masturbates
while depriving him or herself of oxygen through hanging,
strangulation, or other means. This activity is very dangerous
and causes many accidental deaths yearly.
Axillary
intercourse:
A sexual variation in which a man thrusts his penis into
the armpit of his partner.
