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Below you will find terms related to the topics we teach defined! #educationstation

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS): A disease of the immune system due to infection with HIV. Officially diagnosed when the T-cell count of the immune system drops below 200, leaving the immune system unable to function and the body subject to life-threatening diseases.

Agender: Individuals who identify as not having a gender. Some describe themselves as genderless, while others see themselves as gender neutral.

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): how much ethanol is in a drink. Depicted by a percentage.

Alcohol Proof: twice the percentage of alcohol by volume (ex: if abv is 40%, then the liquor is 80 proof).

Androgynous: Individuals who have a gender which is both feminine and masculine, although not necessary in equal amounts.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART): medications specifically used to fight retroviruses that individuals who are HIV positive take to prevent the onset of AIDS.

Asexual: individuals who do not experience sexual attraction to anyone, regardless of gender. These individuals may still feel romantic attraction.

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC): percent of an individual’s blood that is concentrated with alcohol. Ex: if a person’s BAC is 0.1, then 0.1% of their bloodstream is composed of alcohol.

Bisexual: Individuals who experience sexual, romantic, and/or emotional attractions to people of more than one gender or people who are attracted to genders similar to their own and to genders different from their own.

Chlamydia: an STI that is spread through sex without a condom, sharing sex toys, or childbirth (if the mother is infected she can pass it on to her child). Caused by a bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis and typically does not show symptoms. Can be tested through urine or a vaginal swab and is generally easily treated with antibiotics.

Cisgender: Individuals who identify with the gender that was assigned to them at birth (i.e., people who are not transgender)

Coercion: using guilt and persistent persuasion or making and/or carrying out threats to a person unless they do what is asked of them, whether that be a sexual favor or otherwise.

Condom: small, thin pouches made of latex (rubber), plastic (polyurethane, nitrile, or polyisoprene) or lambskin, that cover the penis during sex and collect semen. 98.5% effective in pregnancy prevention when used correctly.

Consent: a clear “yes” given by words or actions by someone who is willing to progress with an activity. It is freely given, reversible, informed, enthusiastic, and specific. This can apply to any situation, sexual or not.

Dental Dam: thin, square pieces of latex that help prevent STDs during oral sex on a vulva or anus. Dams protect you by keeping vaginal fluids out of your mouth, and preventing skin-to-skin contact between your mouth and a vulva or anus. They also protect you during oral-to-anal sex from germs that can cause digestive infections.

Gaslighting: an extremely effective form of  emotional abuse that causes a victim to question their own feelings, instincts and sanity, which gives the abusive partner a lot of power (and we know that abuse is about power and control). Once an abusive partner has broken down the victim’s ability to trust their own perceptions, the victim is more likely to stay in the abusive relationship.

Gay: men who are emotionally/romantically and/or sexually attracted to other men.

Gender fluid:  Individuals whose gender varies over time. A genderfluid person may at any time identify as male, female, agender, or any other non-binary identity, or some combination of identities.

Gonorrhoea: an STI caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae or gonococcus. Spread by unprotected sex, sharing sex toys, or childbirth (a mother who is infected may pass it on to her baby). Main symptom is discharge from the penis or vagina. Tested through urine or a vaginal swab and is easily treated with antibiotics. May cause fertility issues if left untreated.

Heterosexual:  Men who experience sexual, romantic, and/or emotional attractions toward women, and vice versa. Also known as “straight.”

Homosexual: Men who experience sexual, romantic, and/or emotional attractions toward women, and vice versa.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): the retrovirus that causes AIDS. May be transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal secretion, and breast milk. Incurable, but can be treated to prevent the onset of AIDS. It is perfectly feasible to live a comfortable, normal life while being HIV positive.

Internal condom: little nitrile (soft pouches that are put inside the vagina. They cover the inside of the vagina, creating a barrier that stops sperm from reaching an egg.

Intersex: An umbrella term used to describe a wide range of natural biological variations of individuals who are born with a chromosomal pattern, a reproductive system, and/or sexual anatomy that does not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies.

Incapacitated: to make legally incapable or ineligible; to deprive of capacity or natural power; to disable. In an alcohol/drug related situation, this is when intoxication is taken to the next level and the person is unable to function at all. Consent may NOT be obtained by someone in this state.

Intoxicated: affected by alcohol or drugs especially to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished. Consent may still be obtained by someone in this state.

Intrauterine Device (IUD): a little, t-shaped piece of plastic that gets put in the uterus and it thickens cervical mucus to keep sperm from reaching the uterus.

Lesbian: women who are emotionally/romantically and/or sexually attracted to other women.

Non-binary:  Individuals who do not fit into traditional “male” and “female” categories.

Pansexual: An individual who is attracted to anyone regardless of sex characteristics or gender identity.

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): a course of HIV drugs taken by HIV negative people to prevent infection. Stops the virus from replicated in the body when taken correctly.
Queer: An umbrella term to refer to all LGBTQ+ people. It is also a non-binary term used by individuals who see their sexual orientation and/or gender identity as fluid.

Rape Kit: s sexual assault forensic exam. This may involve external exams as well as internal exams inside the vagina, anus, or mouth. May also involve blood tests.

Retrovirus: infects the cells of the body by integrating its viral DNA into the DNA of the host cell, allowing it to replicate. Cannot be cured without killing off the cells themselves.

Sexual Assault: any type of sexual contact that occurs when consent has not been given, has been denied, or has been withdrawn.

Stonewalling: persistent refusal to communicate or to express emotions

Syphilis: an STI caused by a bacteria called Treponema pallidum.Symptoms include ulcers or blisters on the genitals, anus, or mouth. Can be passed on through any type of sexual activity. A blood test is needed for diagnosis. Easily treated but can cause serious health complications in the heart and brain when not treated early.

Transgender male: someone who was born with female sex characteristics but identifies as a male.

Transgender female: someone who was born with male sex characteristics but identifies as a female.

Trichomoniasis: an STI caused by a tiny parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) found in the vagina and urethra, or the head of the penis or the prostate gland. Is not passed through oral or anal sex. Passed through vaginal intercourse. Can be easily treated with antibiotics. Can be dangerous in pregnant women and can cause low birthweight in newborns. Tested with urine or vaginal swab. Symptoms include burning, pain while peeing, and discharge.

“Yes Means Yes”: meaning that an enthusiastic and willing “yes” qualifies as consent, but anything other than a yes, including lack of response, does not qualify as consent.


Sources:
https://www.umass.edu/stonewall/sites/default/files/documents/allyship_term_handout.pdf
https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia
https://www.thehotline.org
http://awareawakealive.org/educate/blood-alcohol-content
https://www.plannedparenthood.org
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary
https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/
https://www.avert.org/sex-stis/sexually-transmitted-infections/
https://www.rainn.org/


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