Glossary


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S

Safer sex

Sexual activity in which informed decisions are taken

Salvage therapy

Treatment options for people with lengthy experience of anti-HIV drugs

Scrotum

The paired sac that holds the testes and epididymides outside the abdominal cavity

Self esteem

A good opinion of your self

Self harm

When someone harms or injures themselves intentionally

Semen

The fluid ejaculated from the penis at sexual climax

Sensual

A sense, sensation or sensory experience in relation to sex

Sex

Act of sexual intercourse

Sexual intercourse

Physical contact that involves stimulation of the genitals

Sexually Transmitted Infection

An infection transmitted through sexual intercourse

Shaft

Length of the penis

Smear tests

A specimen of cellular material scraped from the cervix of the uterus that is stained and examined under a microscope to detect cell changes indicating the presence of cancer

Sodomy

Anal intercourse

Spasm

A sudden involuntary muscular contraction

Sperm

The male reproductive fluid

Spermicide

A substance that can kill sperm

Spina bifida

A congenital defect of the spine

Statute

Written law

Statutory

Required, enacted or permitted by statute.

Stereotypical

A way in which a person conforms to a standarised behaviour

STI

Sexually Transmitted Infection

Stools

Faeces discharged from the anus

Straight

Women and men who are sexually or romantically attracted to the opposite sex

Stress

Anything that threatens the physical and emotional well being of the body, having an adverse reaction on how it functions

Stroke

A sudden disabling attack or loss of consciousness caused by an interruption in the flow of the blood to the brain

Symptom

An indication of ill health, disease or disorder