Glossary

This glossary helps you understand the acronyms and terminology associated with sexual health used in Northern Ireland.

• Abbreviations and acronyms

  BHSCT – Belfast Trust

  BV – Bacterial vaginosis

  CSE – Child sexual exploitation

  GP – General practitioner

  GUM clinic – Genitourinary medicine clinic also referred as sexual health clinic

  HIV – Human immunodeficiency virus

  HPV – Human papillomavirus

  HSV – Herpes simplex virus

  IUD – Intrauterine device

  IUS – Intrauterine system

  mPox – Monkey pox

  NHSCT – Northern Trust

  PeP – Post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV

  PID – Pelvic inflammatory disease

  PrEP – Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV

  SEHSCT – South Eastern Trust

  SHSCT – Southern Trust

  SRH clinic – Sexual and reproductive health clinic, also known as contraceptive clinic

  STI – Sexually transmitted infection

  TV – Trichomonas vaginalis

  UTI – Urinary tract infection

  WHSCT – Western Trust

• A

  Abortion

  A procedure to end a pregnancy, sometimes known as termination.

  Abstinence

  Not having sex with anyone. You can be abstinent if you’ve had sex before, are in a relationship, or have never had sex.

  Age of consent

  The age at which state law considers a person old enough to decide to have sex with someone.

  AIDS

  AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the name used to describe a number of potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that happen when the immune system has been severely damaged by the HIV virus.

  Anal sex

  When the penis is inserted into another person’s anus.

  Asexual

  A person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to others.

• B

  Bacterial vaginosis (BV)

  Inflammation of the vulva/vagina (vaginitis) caused by a change in the balance of vaginal bacteria. It’s not an STD. Things like douching or having sex with a new partner can lead to BV.

  Barrier methods of birth control

  Birth control that blocks sperm from passing through the cervix (the barrier between the vagina and uterus). These include the condom, female condom, and diaphragm.

  Birth control

  Any behaviour, device, medicine, or procedure used to prevent pregnancy. Also known as contraception.

  Bisexual

  Being sexually attracted to two or more genders.

• C

  Chlamydia

  A sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria.

  Coil (IUD)

  A device, usually T-shaped, that contains copper and is fitted inside the womb to prevent pregnancy. IUD stands for intrauterine device.

  Combined pill

  Contraceptive pill containing two hormones, oestrogen and progestogen.

  Condom

  A thin latex or plastic sheath placed over the penis (male condom) or in the vagina (female condom) to help prevent sperm reaching and fertilising the female egg. Used to help prevent pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted infections.

  Contraception

  A range of methods for preventing pregnancy, including the use of hormones, surgery and devices.

  Contraceptive clinic

  Contraceptive clinics, also known as Sexual and Reproductive Health clinics, are a free and confidential service offering a range of contraceptive methods and advice about family planning and sexual health.

• D

  Dental dam

  A dental dam is a square piece of latex or polyurethane. This can be placed over the anus or female genitals during oral sex to act as a barrier to help prevent STIs passing from one person to another.

   

• E

  Ejaculate/ejaculation

  When a man reaches climax and his penis produces sperm.

  Emergency contraception

  Commonly known as the ‘morning after pill’. Used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex (sex without a condom) or sex without another form of contraceptive.

  Erectile dysfunction

  Inability to achieve an erection (an erect penis), also known as impotence.

  Erection

  When a man’s penis is temporarily harder and bigger than usual, and points upwards.

• F

  Family planning

  Term used for managing birth control through the use of contraception.

  Foreplay

  Any kind of sexual activity that leads up to, but doesn’t include, full intercourse.

• G

  Gay

  Homosexual. Someone who is sexually attracted to people of their own sex.

  Genital herpes

  A sexually transmitted viral infection of the genitals.

  Genital warts

  A viral infection of the genital area.

  Genitals

  The outer sexual organs, especially the penis or vulva.

  Gonorrhoea

  A sexually transmitted bacterial infection.

  GUM

  Genitourinary medicine. The diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

  GUM clinic

  Genitourinary medicine clinic, also known as sexual health clinic. A clinic which provides a range of sexual health services to treat and prevent sexually transmitted infections. Often combined with family planning clinics (as with Umbrella) to form full sexual health clinics.

  Gynaecology

  Specialist study of women’s reproductive health.

• H

  Heterosexual

  Attracted to people of the opposite sex.

  HIV

  HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that damages the cells in your immune system and weakens the ability to fight everyday infections and disease.

  Homophobia

  Dislike or fear of, discrimination against, or hatred towards homosexuals.

  Homosexual

  A person who is sexually attracted to people of the same sex.

• I

  IUD

  Intrauterine device. A device, usually T-shaped, that contains copper and is fitted inside the womb to prevent pregnancy.

  IUS

  Intrauterine system. A T-shaped device that contains the hormone progestogen and is fitted inside the womb to prevent pregnancy.

   

• L

  Lesbian

  A female who is sexually attracted to other females.

• M

  Masturbation

  Touching or stimulating your own genitals for sexual pleasure.

• N

  Non-binary

  An umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably with ‘man’ or ‘woman’. People may identify with some aspects of binary identities, while others reject them entirely.

• O

  Oral sex

  Stimulating a partner’s genitals with the mouth, lips or tongue. This includes fellatio (sucking or licking somebody’s penis), cunnilingus (licking somebody’s vagina, vulva or clitoris), or anilingus (licking somebody’s anus).

• P

  PeP

  Post-exposure prophylaxis after sexual exposure to HIV. A treatment given to help reduce the chance of catching HIV after unprotected sex.

  PrEP

  Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV. A regular pill given to a person to stop them from getting HIV.

  Progestogen-only pill (POP)

  Oral contraceptive pill containing one hormone, progestogen.

• Q

  Questioning

  The process of exploring your sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

• R

  Rod

  Also known as contraceptive implant. A small, flexible plastic rod placed under the skin of the arm, which slowly releases the hormone progestogen over a period of around three years.

• S

  Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

  Infections passed by oral, vaginal and/or anal sexual contact.

  Sexual reproductive health clinic (SRH clinic)

  Sexual and reproductive health clinics, also known as contraceptive clinics, are a free and confidential service offering a range of contraceptive methods and advice about family planning and sexual health.

  Symptoms

  Any feeling of illness or physical or mental change which is caused by a particular infection or disease.

  Syphilis

  Bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI). Can be passed by sexual contact with an infected person.

• T

  Termination of pregnancy

  Also known as abortion. The medical process of ending a pregnancy.

  Transgender

  An umbrella term for people whose gender identity is not the same as or does not sit comfortably with the sex they were assigned at birth.

   

• U

  Unprotected sex

  Sex without using a condom.

• V

  Viral

  Caused by a virus.

  Virus

  An extremely small organism which multiplies within a living host (for example, a human), and spreads among hosts, causing disease.