Abstinence: Not having any vaginal, anal or oral sex (intercourse).
Antibiotics: Medicines prescribed to help the body fight bacterial infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia. Antibiotics will not cure viral infections such as herpes or genital warts.
Antibody: A substance produced by the body when a disease-causing organism (i.e. bacteria, virus, parasite or fungus) invades the body. Antibodies are found in the blood.
Asymptomatic: No outward or physical signs of infection.
Bloodborne pathogens: Bacteria and viruses present in the blood and body fluids of an infected person that can cause disease to others.
Communicable: Able to be passed from one person to another.
Condoms: A sheath that fits over the penis or a pouch that fits into the vagina to prevent the exchange of body fluids. Used to prevent pregnancy and/or transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.
Culture: A mass of microorganisms or cells collected from the body and allowed to grow on glass or in a nutrient fluid.
Cure: A medicine or treatment that gets rid of a disease.
Dental Dam: A square piece of latex placed over the vulva or anus during oral sex to prevent exchange of body fluids.
Discharge: A fluid substance that is excreted or drips from the penis or vagina. May indicate that an infection is present.
Disease: A condition that does not allow the body or mind to remain healthy.
Epidemic: An outbreak of a disease that spreads rapidly and widely.
Fungus: A term used to classify yeast and molds. Most plant diseases are caused by fungus, whereas they cause relatively few infections in humans.
Genitals: Sexual organs including the penis, scrotum, vulva and vagina.
Germ: A virus, bacteria, fungus or parasite that cannot be seen by the human eye without magnification and can cause infection or disease.
Groin: The area around the genitals or sex organs.
Infection: A condition in the body caused by a disease-producing microorganisms (also called "germs").
Immune System: A variety of cells and substances within the body that help it resist disease-causing organisms like viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi.
Monogamy: Having only one sexual partner who only has sex with you.
Opportunistic Infection: A variety of infections that occur in people whose immune systems are not as strong as they should be..
Oral Sex: Also called oral intercourse. Refers to contact of mouth or tongue with another person's genitals or sex organs.
Parasite: An organism that lives on or in another organism in order to derive nourishment and survive. Some sexually transmitted diseases are caused by parasites.
Safer Sex: Sexual practices which reduce the chance of pregnancy or disease by preventing the exchange of bodily fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluid). Safer sex includes using condoms and dental dams.
Semen: Fluid released from the penis during ejaculation that contains sperm.
Sexual Fluids: Fluids released from a man or woman during sexual arousal and ejaculation.
Sterility: Condition of being incapable of producing children. Can occur in both males in females as a complication of untreated sexually transmitted disease.
Symptom: Any variation in normal or healthy functioning caused by injury, illness, infection or disease.
Syndrome: A group of symptoms.
Urethra: Opening through which urine leaves the body.
Vaccine: A preparation, usually in the form of a shot, given to make a person immune to a specific disease.
Vaginal Fluid: Fluids produced by female genitals that provide lubrication in the vagina.
Virus: A microscopic disease-causing organism.
Vulva: The external organs of the female reproductive system.
White Blood Cell: A type of cell in blood that fights infection by destroying disease-causing germs.