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Glossary
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Abortion  The ending of a pregnancy and the expulsion of the contents of the uterus; may be spontaneous or induced by human intervention.
Abstinence (sexual)  Not engaging in sexual activity.
Acculturation  The process of incorporating the beliefs and customs of a new culture.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)  A sexually transmitted disease that destroys the body’s natural immunity to infection.
Activating effects of hormones  Effects of sex hormones in adulthood resulting in the activation of behaviors, especially sexual behaviors and aggressive behaviors.
Adrenal gland  An endocrine gland located just above the kidney; in the female, it is the major producer of androgens.
Adrenarche  A time of increased secretion of adrenal androgens, usually just before age 8.
Adrenogenital syndrome  See congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Adultery  Sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than her or his spouse.
Afterbirth  The placenta and amniotic sac, which come out after the baby during childbirth.
AIDS  See Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Ambisexual  See bisexual.
Amenorrhea  The absence of menstruation.
Amniocentesis  A test done to determine whether a fetus has birth defects; done by removing amniotic fluid from the pregnant woman’s uterus.
Amniotic fluid  The watery fluid surrounding a developing fetus in the uterus.
Amyl nitrate  A drug, usually inhaled, that some people use to prolong or intensify orgasm.
Anal intercourse  Sexual behavior in which one person’s penis is inserted into another’s anus.
Analogous organs  Organs in the male and female that have similar functions.
Anaphrodisiac  A substance that decreases sexual desire.
Androgens  “Male” sex hormones, produced in the testes; an example is testosterone. In females, the adrenal glands produce androgens.
Androgyny  Having both feminine and masculine characteristics.
Andropause  The time of declining androgen levels in middle-aged men. The male version of menopause, also called ADAM (androgen decline in the aging male).
Anilingus  Mouth-anus stimulation.
Anorgasmia  The inability of a woman to orgasm; a sexual disorder.
Antigay prejudice  Negative attitudes and behaviors toward gays and lesbians. Also termed sexual prejudice.
Anus  The opening of the rectum, located between the buttocks.
Aphrodisiac  A substance that increases sexual desire.
Areola  The dark circular area of skin surrounding the nipple of the breast.
Artificial insemination  Artificially putting semen into the vagina or uterus for the purpose of inducing pregnancy.
Asceticism  An approach to life emphasizing discipline and impulse control.
Asexual  Without sexual desires.
Asphyxiophilia  A desire for a state of oxygen deprivation to enhance sexual arousal or orgasm.
Asymptomatic  Having no symptoms.
Attachment  A psychological bond that forms between an infant and the mother, father, or other care giver.
Autoeroticism  Sexual self-stimulation; masturbation is one example.
Axillary hair  Underarm hair.
AZT  A drug used to treat HIV-infected persons; also called ZDV.
Baby pro  A young prostitute, generally 16 years of age or younger.
Bartholin glands  Two tiny glands located on either side of the vaginal entrance.
Basal body temperature method  A method of rhythm birth control in which the woman determines when she ovulates by keeping track of her temperature.
Behavior modification  A set of operant conditioning techniques used to modify human behavior.
Behavior therapy  A system of therapy based on learning theory and focusing on the problem behavior, not the unconscious.
Bestiality  Sexual contact with an animal; also called zoophilia.
Bibliotherapy  The use of a self-help book to treat a disorder.
Bisexual  A person whose sexual orientation is toward men and women.
Blastocyst  A small mass of cells that results after several days of cell division by the fertilized egg.
Body-centered sex  Sexual expression in which the emphasis is on the body and physical pleasure.
Bondage  A type of sadomasochism in which sexual pleasure is derived from feeling restricted, usually by being tied up with ropes.
Bondage and discipline  The use of physical or psychological restraint to enforce servitude, from which both participants derive sensual pleasure.
Braxton-Hicks contractions  Contractions of the uterus during pregnancy that are not part of actual labor.
Breech presentation  Birth of a baby with buttocks or feet first.
Brothel  A house of prostitution.
Buccal smear  A test of genetic gender.
Bulbourethral glands  See Cowper’s glands.
Butch  A very masculine lesbian; may also refer to a very masculine gay man.
CAH  Congenital adrenal hyperphasia, a condition in which a genetic female produces abnormal levels of testosterone prenatally and therefore has male-appearing genitals at birth.
Calendar method  A type of rhythm method of birth control in which the woman determines when she ovulates by keeping a calendar record of the length of her menstrual cycles.
Call girl  The most expensive and exclusive category of prostitutes.
Candida albicans  A yeast or fungus in the vagina; if its growth gets out of control, it causes vaginitis, or irritation of the vagina, with an accompanying discharge.
Carpopedal spasm  A spastic contraction of the hands or feet which may occur during orgasm.
Castration  The removal (usually by means of surgery) of the gonads (the testes in men or the ovaries in women).
Celibate  Unmarried; also used to refer to someone who abstains from sexual activity.
Cervical cap  A birth control device similar to the diaphragm.
Cervical mucus method  A type of rhythm method of birth control in which the woman determines when she ovulates by checking her cervical mucus.
Cervix  The lower part of the uterus; the part next to the vagina.
Cesarean section  Surgical delivery of a baby through an incision in the abdominal and uterine walls.
Chancre  A painless open sore with a hard ridge around it; it is an early symptom of syphilis.
Chancroid  A sexually transmitted disease.
Chastity  Sexual abstinence.
Chlamydia  An organism causing a sexually transmitted disease.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)  A technique for early detection of birth defects in the fetus.
Cilia  Tiny hairlike structure lining the vas deferens and the fallopian tubes.
Circumcision  Surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.
Classical conditioning  A learning process whereby a previously neutral stimulus (CS) is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US) that reflexively elicits an unconditioned response (UR). Eventually the CS will evoke the response.
Climacteric  See menopause.
Climax  An orgasm.
Clitoral orgasm  Freud’s term for orgasm in the female resulting from stimulation of the clitoris.
Clitoridectomy  Removal of the clitoris.
Clitoris  A small, highly sensitive sexual organ in the female, located in front of the vaginal entrance.
Cloning  Producing genetically identical individuals from a single parent.
Cognitive  Relating to mental activity, such as thought, perception, understanding.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy  A form of therapy that combines behavior therapy and restructuring of negative thought patterns.
Cognitive interference  Negative thoughts that distract a person from focusing on the erotic experience.
Cohabitation  Unmarried persons living together (with sexual relations assumed).
Coitus  Sexual intercourse, insertion of the penis into the vagina.
Coitus interruptus  See withdrawal.
Coitus reservatus  Sexual intercourse in which the man intentionally refrains from ejaculating.
Colostrum  A watery substance that is secreted from the breast at the end of pregnancy and during the first few days after delivery.
Combination pills  Birth control pills that contain a combination of estrogen and progesterone
Coming out  The process of acknowledging to oneself, and then to others, that one is gay or lesbian.
Companionate love  A feeling of deep attachment and commitment to a person with whom one has an intimate relationship.
Conceptus  The product of conception; sometimes used to refer to the embryo or fetus.
Condom  A sheath placed over the penis; used in the prevention of pregnancy and of sexually transmitted diseases.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)  A condition in which a genetic female has an abnormally functioning adrenal gland that produces an excess of androgens so that she is born with genitals that look like a male’s. Also called adrenogenital syndrome.
Congenital syphilis  A syphilis infection in a newborn baby resulting from transmission from an infected mother.
Content analysis  A set of procedures used to make valid inferences about text.
Contraceptive technique  A method of preventing conception.
Conversion therapy  Any one of a number of treatments designed to turn LBGs into heterosexuals.
Coprophilia  A sexual variation in which arousal is associated with defecation or feces.
Copulation  Sexual intercourse.
Corona  The rim of tissue between the glans and the shaft of the penis.
Corpora cavernosa  Two cylindrical masses of erectile tissue running the length of the penis; also present in the clitoris.
Corpus luteum  The mass of cells remaining after a follicle has released an egg; it secretes progesterone.
Corpus spongiosum  A cylinder of erectile tissue running the length of the penis.
Correlation  A number that measures the relationship between two variables.
Correlational study  A study in which the researcher does not manipulate variables but rather studies naturally occuring relationships (correlations) among variables.
Cost-benefit approach  An approach to analyzing the ethics of a research study, based on weighing the costs of the research against the benefits of the research.
Couvade  The experiencing of the symptoms of pregnancy and childbirth by a male.
Covert homosexual  A homosexual who is ‘‘in the closet,’’ who keeps his or her sexual orientation a secret.
Cowper’s glands  A pair of glands that secrete substances into the male’s urethra.
Crabs  See Pediculosis pubis.
Cramps  Painful menstruation, or dysmenorrhea.
Cremaster muscle  A muscle in the scrotum.
Cryptorchidism  Undescended testes.
Cul-de-sac  The end of the vagina, past the cervix.
Culdoscopy  A female sterilization procedure.
Cultivation   In communications theory, the view that exposure to the mass media makes people think that what they see there represents the mainstream of what really occurs.
Cunnilingus  Mouth stimulation of the female genitals.
Cystitis  Inflammation of the urinary bladder; the major symptom is a burning sensation while urinating.
Dartos muscle  A muscle in the scrotum.
Decriminalization  Removing criminal penalties for an activity that was previously defined as illegal.
Defloration  The rupture of a virgin’s hymen, through intercourse or other means.
Depo-Provera  A drug containing progestin; used as a form of birth control in women, as well as a treatment for male sex offenders.
Deprivation homosexuality  Homosexual activity that occurs in certain situations, such as prisons, when people are deprived of their regular heterosexual activity.
Detumescence  The return of an erect penis to the flaccid (unaroused) state.
Diaphragm  A cap-shaped rubber contraceptive device that fits inside a woman’s vagina over the cervix.
Diethylstilbestrol (DES)  A potent estrogen drug that was used for a “morning-after” pill.
Dilation  An opening up of the cervix during labor; also called dilatation.
Dildo  An artificial penis.
Discrepancy of sexual desire  A sexual disorder in which the partners have considerably different levels of sexual desire.
Documenting  Giving specific examples of the issue being discussed.
Dominance and submission  The use of power consensually given to control the sexual stimulation and behavior of the other person.
Don Juanism  Hypersexuality in a male.
Double standard  A standard in which premarital intercourse is considered acceptable for males but not for females.
Douche  To flush out the inside of the vagina with a liquid.
Drag queen  A male homosexual who dresses in women’s clothing.
Dualism  A religious or philosophical belief that body and spirit are separate and opposed to each other and that the goal of life is to free the spirit from the bondage of the body; thus a depreciation of the material world and the physical aspect of humanity.
Ductus deferens  See vas deferens.
Dysmenorrhea  Painful menstruation.
Dyspareunia  Painful intercourse.
Ectopic pregnancy  A pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus.
Edema  An excessive fluid retention and swelling.
Editing  In communication, censoring or not saying things that would be deliberately hurtful to your partner or that are irrelevant.
Effacement  Thinning out of the cervix during labor.
Effective communicator  A communicator whose impact matches his or her intent.
Ego  According to Freud, the part of the personality that helps the person have realistic, rational interactions.
Ejaculation  The expulsion of semen from the penis, usually during orgasm.
Electra complex  In Freudian theory, a little girl’s sexual desires for her father; the female analogue of the Oedipus complex.
Embryo  In humans, the term used to refer to the unborn young from the first to the eighth week after conception.
Embryo transfer  A technique in which a fertilized, developing egg (embryo) is transferred from the uterus of one woman to the uterus of another woman.
Endocrine gland  A gland that secretes substances (hormones) directly into the bloodstream.
Endometriosis   A condition in which the endometrium grows in some place other than the uterus, such as the fallopian tubes.
Endometrium  The inner lining of the uterus.
Epididymis  Highly coiled tubules located on the edge of the testes; the site of sperm maturation.
Episiotomy  An incision that is sometimes made at the vaginal entrance during childbirth.
Equity theory  A theory that states that people mentally calculate the benefits and costs for them in a relationship; their behavior is then affected by whether they feel there is equity or inequity, and they will act to restore equity if there is inequity.
Erectile disorder  The inability to get or maintain an erection.
Erection  An enlargement and hardening of the penis which occurs during sexual arousal.
Erogenous zones  Areas of the body that are particularly sensitive to sexual stimulation.
Erotica  Sexually arousing material that is not degrading to women, men, or children.
Erotophilia  Feeling comfortable with sex, the opposite of erotophobia.
Erotophobia  Feeling guilty and fearful about sex.
Estrogens  A small group of “female” sex hormones; also produced in smaller quantities in males.
Estrus  The period of ovulation and sexual activity in nonhuman female mammals.
Ethics  A system of moral principles; a way of determining right and wrong.
Ethnocentrism  The tendency to regard one’s own ethnic group and culture as superior to others and to believe that its customs and way of life are the standards by which other cultures should be judged.
Eunuch  A castrated male.
Evolution  A theory that all living things have acquired their present forms through gradual changes in their genetic endowment over successive generations.
Evolutionary psychology  The study of psychological mechanisms that have been shaped by natural selection.
Excitement  The first stage of sexual response, during which erection in the male and vaginal lubrication in the female occur.
Exhibitionism  Showing one’s genitals in a public place, to passersby; indecent exposure.
Exhibitionist  A person who derives sexual gratification from exposing his or her genitals to others.
Experiment  A type of research study in which one variable is manipulated by the experimenter while all other factors are held constant.
Extramarital sex  Sexual activity by a married person with someone other than her or his spouse.
Failure rate  The pregnancy rate occuring using a particular contraceptive method; the percentage of women who will be pregnant after a year of use of the method.
Fallopian tube  The tube extending from the uterus to the ovary; also called the oviduct.
Fellatio  Mouth stimulation of the male genitals.
Female circumcision  Amputation of the clitoris.
Female impersonator  A man who dresses up as a woman as part of a job in entertainment.
Female orgasmic disorder  A sexual disorder in which the woman is unable to have an orgasm.
Female sexual arousal disorder  A lack of responding to sexual stimulation by a woman.
Femme  A feminine lesbian.
Fertility cult  A form of nature-religion in which the fertility of the soil is encouraged through various forms of ritual magic, often including ritual sexual intercourse.
Fertilization  The union of sperm and egg, resulting in conception.
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)  Serious growth deficiency and malformations in a child born to a woman who abuses alcohol.
Fetishism  A sexual variation in which a person is sexually aroused by and attaches great erotic significance to an inanimate object.
Fetus  In humans, the term used to refer to the unborn young from the third month after conception until birth.
Fighting fair  A set of rules designed to make arguments constructive rather than destructive.
Fimbriae  Fingerlike projections at the end of the fallopian tube near the ovary.
First-stage labor  The beginning of labor during which there are regular contractions of the uterus; the stage lasts until the cervix is dilated 8 centimeters (3 inches).
Fitness  In evolutionary theory, an individual’s reproductive success.
Flaccid  Not erect.
Follicle  The capsule of cells surrounding an egg in the ovary.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)  A hormone secreted by the pituitary; it stimulates follicle development in females and sperm production in males.
Follicular phase  The first phase of the menstrual cycle, beginning just after menstruation.
Foreskin  The sheath of skin covering the tip of the penis in an uncircumcised male.
Form fetish  A fetish whose object is a particular shape, such as high-heeled shoes.
Fornication  Sexual intercourse between two unmarried people.
Fourchette  The place where the inner lips come together behind the vaginal opening.
Frenulum  A highly sensitive area of skin on the underside of the penis next to the glans.
Frequency  How often a person does something.
Frigidity  Lack of sexual response in a woman.
Gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT)  A procedure in which sperm and eggs are collected and then inserted together into the fallopian tube.
Gametes  Sperm or eggs.
Gay  Homosexual; particularly a male homosexual.
Gay bar  A cocktail lounge catering to lesbians or gays.
Gay baths  Clubs where gay men can socialize; features include a swimming pool or whirlpool and access to casual sex.
Gender  The state of being male or female.
Gender dysphoria  See transsexual.
Gender identity  The psychological sense of one’s own maleness or femaleness.
Gender identity disorder (GID)  A strong and persistent cross-gender identification.
Gender role  A cluster of socially defined expectations that people of one gender are expected to fulfill.
Genital herpes   A sexually transmitted disease, the symptoms of which are small, painful bumps or blisters on the genitals.
Genitals  The sexual or reproductive organs.
Genital warts  A sexually transmitted disease causing warts on the genitals, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).
Gerontophilia  Sexual attraction to the elderly.
Gestation  The period of pregnancy; the time from conception until birth.
GIFT  See Gamete intra-fallopian transfer.
Gigolo  A male who sells his sexual services to women.
Glans  The tip of the penis or clitoris.
GnRH  A hormone secreted by the hypothalamus that regulates the pituitary’s secretion of gonad-stimulating hormones.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH)  A hormone secreted by the hypothalamus that regulates the pituitary’s secretion of hormones.
Gonadotropins  Pituitary hormones (FSH, LH) that stimulate the activity of the gonads.
Gonads  The ovaries or testes.
Gonorrhea  A common sexually transmitted disease.
Gossypol  A substance used as a male contraceptive in China.
Gräfenberg spot (G spot)  A hypothesized small gland on the front wall of the vagina, emptying into the urethra, which may be responsible for female ejaculation.
Granuloma inguinale  A rare sexually transmitted disease.
Gynecomastia  Temporary enlargement of a male’s breasts during puberty.
Hedonism  A moral system based on maximizing pleasure and avoiding pain.
Hegar’s sign  A sign of pregnancy based on a test done by a physician, in which a softening of the uterus is detected.
Hepatitis B  A disease that can be transmitted by anal intercourse or oral-anal sex.
Hermaphrodite  A person with both male and female sex glands, that is, both ovaries and testicular tissue (see also pseudohermaphrodite).
Herpes genitalis  A disease characterized by painful bumps on the genitals.
Heterosexual  A person who is sexually attracted to members of the other gender.
HIV   Human Immune Deficiency Virus, the virus that causes AIDS.
Homologous organs   Organs in the male and female that develop from the same embryonic tissue.
Homophily  The tendency to have contact with people equal in social status.
Homophobia  Strong, irrational fear of homosexuality.
Homoseductive mother  Bieber’s term for the mother who is seductive toward her son, traumatizing the boy and turning him into a homosexual.
Homosexual  A person whose sexual orientation is toward members of her or his own gender.
Homosocial  A pattern of social grouping in which boys associate with other boys and girls associate with other girls.
Hormones  Chemical substances secreted by the endocrine glands into the bloodstream.
HPV  Human papilloma virus, the organism that causes genital warts.
HSV  The herpes simplex virus.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)  A hormone produced by the placenta; HCG is what is detected in most pregnancy tests.
Humanism  A philosophical system which denies a divine origin for mortality and holds that ethical judgments must be made on the basis of human experience and human reason.
Human papillomavirus (HPV)  The organism that causes genital warts.
Hustlers  Male prostitutes who sell their services to other males.
Hyaluronidase  An enzyme secreted by the sperm that allows one to penetrate the egg.
Hymen  A membrane that partially covers the vaginal opening.
Hypersexuality  An excessive, insatiable sex drive.
Hypothalamus  A part of the brain which is important in regulating certain body functions including sex hormone production.
Hysterectomy  Surgical removal of the uterus.
Hysterotomy  A method of abortion sometimes used during the second trimester.
I language  Speaking for yourself, using the word "I," not mind reading.
Id  In Freudian theory, the part of the personality containing the libido or sex drive.
Immediate causes    Various factors that occur in the act of lovemaking that inhibit sexual response.
Impact  What someone else understands the speaker to mean.
Imperforate hymen  A condition where the hymen is unusually thick and covers the vaginal entrance completely.
Implantation  The burrowing of the fertilized egg into the lining of the uterus.
Impotence  See erectile disorder.
Impregnate  To make pregnant.
In-call service  A residence in which prostitutes work regular shifts, selling sexual services on an hourly basis.
Incest  Sexual activity between close relatives, such as a brother and sister.
Incest taboo  A regulation prohibiting sexual activity between blood relatives.
Incidence  The percentage of people giving a particular response.
Infertility  A woman’s inability to conceive and give birth to a child, or a man’s inability to impregnate a woman.
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