Perhaps one of the most politically polarizing of medical interventions, this procedure is performed in order to terminate a pregnancy. Depending on how far the pregnancy has progressed, specific options—ranging from pharmaceutical to induction—are recommended by the medical community. According to the Guttmacher Institute, an average of 1 in 4 women in the United States will have an abortion before the age of 45. For the clarification of the rest of the definition, it is important to note that as the medical community becomes more aware of, and actively implements non-gendered language, the terms “birthers” has come into our lexicon to include the vast array of genders that a pregnant person may identify as, rather than defaulting to “women” as being the only pregnant people. As birthers have conventionally been designated as the default primary guardians of children (whether or not ready for this responsibility) the option of terminating an unwanted pregnancy has been seen by many as a necessary means of allowing pregnant people the same agency as cis-hetero males in regard to reproduction. The landmark 1973 United States Supreme Court case, Roe v. Wade, ensured that a pregnant individual ultimately could make their own decision regarding giving birth or terminating pregnancy without excessive intervention on the part of legislation. Since this decision’s adoption, there have been consistent efforts to undermine its preservation, which could lead to tens of thousands of illegally performed abortions in the US annually.

Simply put, when someone refrains from engaging in (what they perceive as being) indulgent activities. When someone is sexually abstinent, which is one of the most popular forms of abstinence, they refrain from any type of sexual contact. When someone abstains from drinking alcohol or smoking, they cease doing it altogether.

These terms refer to individuals who advocate on behalf of their ideological perspectives and the often controversial work that these individuals do. In the United States, the Constitution guarantees (via the First Amendment, “[…] Right to free speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances”) that though their viewpoints may not always be shared by the current mainstream, these individuals will always be permitted to voice them.

To legally welcome a minor who the parent(s) have not physically or biologically given birth to. This is a process that requires years of patience and can be expensive. However, for those who do not wish to (or do not have the ability to) have a child of their own, adoption is an alternative route which brings an infant, child, and/or teen into a home of people who have chosen them. In the United States under the Trump Administration, a proposal was made to allow faith-based adoption centers to deny LGBT+ couples who wished to adopt. In 2020, the Tennessee senate passed a bill allowing adoption agencies to deny LGBT+ couples. Unfortunately, domestic adoptions are easier for the LGBT+ community to gain access to than international adoptions, though it comes with many difficult and exclusionary obstacles nonetheless.

This is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands which rest on top of the kidneys. Also known as “epinephrine”, this hormone is released in moments of stress, resulting in increased blood circulation, heavier breathing, and carbohydrates being broken down by the metabolism, all in preparation for physical exertion. In BDSM, the output of this chemical can make a scene all the more heady and seductive as the breath gets heavier and nerve endings become more receptive to the environment and touch.

This acronym stands for Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, a sexually transmitted disease that develops if HIV (Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus) goes unsuccessfully treated. It severely compromises the host's immune system, which normally acts to defeat a range of harmful infections, diseases, and viruses. Transmission occurs primarily through the exchange of bodily fluids such as semen, blood, and chest milk. Identified by the medical community in 1983, the disease would ravage communities globally (taking a unique and political toll upon gay and trans communties) for decades to come. The advent of HAART pharmaceutical treatments in 1997 resulted in a 47% decline in deaths related to the virus, and further development of drug therapies have made available once-a-day pills capable of reducing a host’s viral load to undetectable levels, effectively making them incapable of transmitting the disease to a partner. The medical community now widely asserts that the health of those with the virus can be successfully managed long-term through drug therapies, allowing them to live healthy lives.

Historians generally bookend this period by locating the first published cases of a new imuno-compromising virus (1981) and the introduction of mortality- rate-mitigating, multi-drug therapies—often called “drug cocktails”—over a decade later (1996). In between, a devastating toll was taken on gay, trans and of-color communities, among others. Within this period, the media’s evolving depiction of AIDS shifted gradually and tentatively from a high-stigma “Gay Cancer” to a more humanized global health issue affecting a broad range of communities. Hollywood Golden Age actor Rock Hudson (who passed away in 1985 due to AIDS-related complications), Ryan White (an American teen diagnosed with HIV in 1984 as a result of his hemophilia and the blood transfusions it required), and Magic Johnson (an icon within professional basketball who went public with his HIV+ status in 1991) are among those landmark figures who brought galvanizing realities of the disease into American homes throughout this period of urgency to curb the virus’ toll.

This term refers to the practice of physical and emotional care-taking for one’s partner or partners, post sexual activity or scene play. Many view it as of the utmost importance within communities like BDSM, where personal vulnerabilities are intentionally explored, leaving some participants with the need for post-experience support and shared processing.

This liquid contained in the amniotic sac serves as a protective home for a growing fetus, not only creating a buffer from trauma but also supplying vital nutrients courtesy of the carrying parent.

With no shortage of nicknames (eating ass, butt munching, tossing salad), this is the act of stimulating a partner sexually by tonguing his, her, or their anus. During this sex act, one partner uses their oral skills (mouth and tongue) to stimulate the other’s anus and often in turn, the receptive partner’s prostate or Skene’s gland. As hygiene becomes a chief concern, partners should be in agreement about levels of desired cleanliness and preparation prior to commencing with this practice.

This is the practice of blurring the gender binary using one’s appearance, the result of which is perceived as masculine and feminine. It’s been a mode of radically disrupting a culture’s aesthetic norms, engaged by a wide range of iconic figures from music mavericks like David Bowie and Prince to mid-nineties models like Jenny Shimizu and Kristen McMenamy. Boldly carving a hybrid space of gender presentation has never ceased to open eyes and occasionally drop jaws in the process.

A person who believes that those who have wombs should be forced to give birth, regardless of the circumstances of their pregnancy. Often called “Pro-Lifers,” they have demonstrated time and time again that they care more about removing the freedom of choice from those who may not, cannot, or do not want to healthfully carry a fetus to term than they do about the lives of babies after they are born. One can usually spot antiabortionists harassing and intimidating patients outside of women’s health clinics and Planned Parenthood offices, but rarely can one spot them adopting children out of the overburdened US foster care system or lobbying for gun control (as guns are the leading cause of death for children in the USA). Indeed, in the political divide, antiabortionists routinely fail to advocate for the things that have been proven lead to fewer abortions, such as expanded birth control access, comprehensive and medically accurate sex and consent education, expanded federal and state support for low-income parents, higher minimum wages, affordable healthcare, and longer paid maternity and paternity leave, to name but a few.

Historically, this has referred to the orifice at the conclusion of the body’s digestive tract from which waste is eliminated. Contemporary definitions now consider the sexually receptive capacity (for people across the gender spectrum) of this organ as well.

These are substances—often culinary, medicinal, or pharmaceutical (organic or synthetic) in nature—that stimulate, amplify, and/or sustain sexual desire. Some examples could include oysters, chocolate dipped strawberries and Spanish Fly. Ultimately, their effects are largely realized by key concentrations of chemicals that interact with human bio-chemistry to produce sexual response.

This is the sexual orientation indicative of those who lack sexual attraction to others, and/or deprioritize sex as a means of relating to others.

Encompassing a vast array of acts and communities, this abbreviation roughly stands for Bondage/Discipline, Dominance/Submission, and Sadism/Masochism. In this sexual terrain, the consensual adoption of amplified power dynamic play is the turn-on and a “safe word” keeps all aware of the limits. Controlled pain, restriction, sensory deprivation, subordinance, and worship are among the range of kinks discussed by partners, in order to establish boundaries, before engaging in acts.

When someone is quietly confident and secure with themself. This term originated in 2018 when a tweet Ariana Grande posted on Twitter about her then-boyfriend Pete Davidson’s large phallus went viral; his laid-back attitude and lack of braggadocio led users to describe him as having ‘Big Dick Energy’ (much to his later chagrin). While ‘Big Tit Energy’ and ‘Big Clit Energy’ have been offered as counterparts, and this term refers to and originated in reference to male anatomy, be assured that having a big dick is not a requirement to possessing Big Dick Energy.

This is the practice of compressing one’s chest, usually with the objective of reducing one’s resonance with others as conventionally “female”. Bandages, binders and other specially-designed garments are among the implements employed in this practice. It is important to make sure that one is binding safely, as improper binding can result in serious harm, with broken ribs being a worst-case scenario.

This acronym stands for Black/Indigenous/People-of-Color a new evolution in the American racial lexicon. The people of African descent, Native American lineage, and a range of other non-European ethnicities for whom this term offers greater, more nuanced visibility see a timely value in defining race in America beyond an overly simplistic “Black/White” binary.

This is a form of contraception meant to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. While only tubal ligation and vasectomies boast near-100% pregnancy prevention, these surgeries can be expensive and, in some cases, are permanent procedures (like that of tubal ligation, or “getting your tubes tied”). Other common forms of birth control are: “the pill”, IUDs, and condoms. Please keep in mind that while these methods may work to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, none are 100% preventative and only condoms or dental dams can hinder STD/STI transmission.

This is the sexual orientation indicative of those who are attracted to both female- and male-identified and -presenting persons. Unlike pansexuals (who locate attraction to individuals on endless points of the gender/sex spectrum), this orientation maintains patterns of attraction related to the male/female binary's conventions of gender and/or sex.

This phrase refers to the discomfort or mild pain experienced by those having sustained a prolonged erection without ejaculatory release for an extended period. In mainstream American culture, it came to be a euphemism for the frustration those with penises felt as a result of not having been sexually intimate for longer than desirable, which evolved into a phenomenon of pressuring their partners into consent under a pseudo-medical premise.

This term—namesake of the 1996 Blackstreet single, and the 1997 Jamie Foxx-fronted film—refers to an instance of telecommunication that is initiated solely for sexual (as opposed to long-term romantic) purposes. Mobile technology and the ubiquity of texting in our lives has resulted in a single SMS (usually “sup”, “you up?”, or “WYD?”) operating in much the same manner. The term can also refer to the often elicit sexual encounters that ensue as a result of these calls or texts, or those individuals among our sexual options who we reserve for these purposes.

This practice is the restraint of a partner—via ropes, cuffs, leather straps and/or other means of limiting range-of-motion and mobility—resulting in heightened sexual response. Some explore being restrained or restraining another purely for the present moment’s thrill, sexual or otherwise, while others—consistently working with trained professionals—utilize mobility restriction as a means of processing and healing from past traumas.

This role’s name evolved as a result of the penetrative/receptive conventions of gay, cis-male anal sex but has now come to exemplify an—at times stigmatized, at times celebrated—adoption of the receiving (as opposed to the giving) sexual role.

This term refers to the limits we set for ourselves and others, emotionally and physically, throughout our life. Most confusion, miscommunication, and misinterpretation can be avoided by being self-aware enough to assess one’s own boundaries and forthcoming enough to communicate them to one’s partners explicitly.

These terms refer to the practice of considered inhalation and exhalation that can be a part of mindful wellness, meditative, and sensual (among endless other) practices.

If the traditional blowjob is a single serving, welcome to an “all you can eat” buffet. Believed to have been codified in 1980s Japanese porn, this act places a consensual oral bottom on the receiving end of multiple ejaculations upon her, his, or their face.

This slang term originated within the Black gay community and is an intentional feminization of the anus (likening it to the vagina, or “pussy”) for the purpose of sexual allure.

This device—often a molded conical latex form with a smooth-domed top—can be worn internally within the anal cavity for incrementally extended durations (or for a single extended period of time during the day, if you’re up for the challenge) in order to help you learn to relax your sphincter muscles, become familiar with the sensation of having something up your ass, and stimulate the bundle of sensitive nerve endings around the anus. As prostate stimulatation is often experienced upon insertion or during use, many now incorporate these devices within their partnered or solo sex-play. For people with vaginas, orgasms reached due to anal stimulation are in fact still clitoral orgasms! The “bulbs” of the clitoris which reach back and into the body are more easily stimulated during anal penetration.

This verb is used to describe someone (cis-female or no) who models, strips, masturbates, or performs any other number of intimate acts in front of a live webcam for their audience.

This term refers to a natural drug created from the marijuana plant. Utilized for a wide range of purposes (medicinal and recreational among them), it can have substantially different effects based on the proportion of CBD (Cannabidiol) to THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) within a given dosage. Among their range of effects, CBD is touted as a non-psychoactive anxiety and chronic pain suppressant while THC elicits a euphoric, psychoactive response. Beyond traditional smoking, many new cannabis forms of consumption (from vaping and tinctures to edibles and even lube) have become available as the drug grows in legality throughout the USA's 50 states.

Historically, this friend of the nun, the monk, the priest, and the prude was viewed as abstinence from sex, often in keeping with faith or spiritually-based beliefs or vows. In contemporary contexts, it may often be more about a personal decision to prioritize non-sexual modes of relating to others.

This term is used to identify a distinctive part of vaginal anatomy-- as the uterus narrows toward its base, this slim passage (averaging 1 inch in length) forms its conclusion in the vaginal cavity below. Sperm must travel through this course in order to fertilize an egg, so it is the point of intervention for a range of contraceptive methods (cervical caps and cervical diaphragms among them). Conversely, during child delivery, medical professionals monitor its dilation—or expansion—in order to assess birthing progress. Pleasure-wise—due to its deeply internal location—some scientists report its capacity to produce remarkably stronger orgasms (even full body!), sometimes exceeding those rendered through clitoral stimulation.

This term—taken from tantric practices rooted in Buddhism and Hinduism—refers to one of the body’s 7 energetic focal points. Placed vertically in ascension from the pelvic floor to the crown of one’s head, they are engaged in meditative, yoga, and sensual practices (among others). From top to bottom, they are the Crown chakra; Third Eye chakra; Throat chakra; Heart chakra; Solar Plexus chakra; Sacral chakra; and Root chakra.

This phrase is used to describe one’s friends and other supporters whom one is not biologically related to. These people may take the place of one’s biological family, or simply add to it. Either way, the cliché that “You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family,” has been rendered untrue in contemporary society.

Often associated with fraternity initiations, sports team hazing, and military community “deviance”, this ritual involves three or more individuals masturbating simultaneously. Often, they do so to the point of orgasm and ejaculation, and, also often, they do so with unique consequences for the person who finishes last; a common one being the consumption of a piece of bread upon which the semen of all who have ejaculated during the gathering has been collected. The practice is indicative of rarely anal-yzed spaces of “cis-hetero male” homosexual practice.

Based upon the convention of the gender binary (the acknowledgment of two genders; female and male), this term refers to those who identify with the gender assigned to them at birth by the medical community. The term can apply to those of any and all sexual orientations, meaning that a cis-gender woman can identify as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or any of the endlessly evolving spaces of sexual attraction while still standing in self-appraised alignment with the gender she was assigned at birth.

Missing from Gray’s Anatomy from 1948 until 1966, this feature of female genitalia is located below the mons pubis (where pubic hair commonly grows), and between the labia majora (outer lips). The clitoris sits on top of the vulva, where the labia minora (inner lips) meet, from there, it arcs up into a small, sometimes pea-sized, shape and is capped by a small triangle of flesh called the clitoral hood. The clitoris has legs, called bulbs, that can extend into the body by as much as 5 inches. For those with a vagina, the clitoris is often the chief means of sexual stimulation, surpassing the sensation achieved by penetration, as its high concentration of nerve-endings (double that of the penis!) amplifies the effects of its stimulation. As a result of increased blood flow when stimulated, it can swell to a slightly increased size, becoming noticeably firmer to the touch.

This device—ranging from stainless steel, to rubber, to leather and worn at the base of the penile shaft—amplifies and prolongs the rigidity of an erection via restricting the release of blood from the engorged member. Be careful not to court a painful end to this pleasure; correct sizing is of the utmost importance if you are using one made of a non-flexible material, and wearing the device with one’s balls captured versus free-hanging can make a world of difference based on the preferences of the individual.

This term’s central concept is something goes in and out of something else, resulting in sexual stimulation. Historically, penetrative acts involving the vagina and penis have been the most recognized, but the greater visibility and voice granted to cis-women and the LGBTQIA+ community is resulting in diversified dialogue around “gettin’ it in.”

This term refers to the exchange of information between two or more individuals. Many view it as a vital component of equitable sexual and romantic experiences, as it allows for all parties involved to both express their thoughts, desires, and responses, and hear those of the partners with whom they are engaging.

This is a capped sleeve, designed to be placed on the penis prior to intercourse in order to capture ejaculated semen. It is utilized as a highly effective method of birth-control and disease prevention. If used correctly it can prevent unwanted pregnancy 98% of the time and HIV transmission 90-95% of the time. The CDC specifically recommends the use of latex or polyurethane condoms along with water-based or silicone-based lubricant for those opting for this highly effective method of safer sex. Be sure to find the right condom and lube pairing for all players, as oil-based lubricants can cause latex to break, and latex allergies can be common as well.

This term refers to the institution and convention of marriage, traditionally seen as a long-term, elected union between one man and one woman. In the US, political discussions regarding same-sex domestic partnership have remained among the most politically divisive, even as 2015’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision marked the Supreme Court sanctioned legality of same-sex marriages in all 50 United States.

Often referred to as an “open relationship”, this is an agreement made by sexual partners allowing outside intimacy with others. Explicit boundaries (regarding frequency, specific acts, disclosure, etc.) are often established in order to preserve primary partner comfort within the agreement.

Permission. Consent is the permission, the “green light”, or the “fuck yes” for something to happen or the agreement to something which has been discussed and thoroughly communicated beforehand. If you’re having trouble remembering all of the specifics, Planned Parenthood has a helpful acronym; FRIES: Freely given (not coerced, manipulated, or tricked), Reversable (a person can freely change their mind), Informed (what is going to happen has been communicated and/or discussed), Enthusiastic (we may not always have the energy to be little sex bunnies, but the desire, the freely given “yes”, should be there), Specific (“Do you want to make out on my couch and if you’re feeling it we can move to the bedroom where we can make out more, topless.” Saying yes to this invitation does not imply you’ve said yes to doing anything else.)

This is the visual event that occurs post-ejaculation within a receptive partner’s vagina or anus, allowing the ejaculate to then drip out. The semen here being the cream, and the vagina or anus being the pie.

This practice centers the subjugation of one sexual partner by the other’s sexual activity with a third party; in mainstream heterosexual porn, this is often played out by a man watching his female partner have sex with a more virile male partner. Upending committed relationship traditions (as enforced by monogomous society) is usually central to the practice’s sexual thrill, so often two people in a long-term/committed relationship bring in a third person outside of the relationship for the experience of watching one’s partner have sex with someone else. The practice is rooted in a tradition of heterosexual fetishes that can at times tread upon what many deem problematic territory (“race play”, ambiguous consent, spousal abuse, queer fetishization, etc.) but is now present within the sexual kinks of an ever-broadening range of individuals across the sexual orientation spectrum.

A contemporary take on “getting pinned”, “going steady”, or “claiming”, this phenomenon of deeming a single person the focus of one’s sexual and romantic expressions is widely linked to cold weather needs to be in proximity to another warm body. As a result, this brand of coupling booms from early fall through Valentine’s day annually.

This slang term refers to the range of actions associated with orgasm and ejaculation. As indicated by the word’s prevalence of use in this present-participle-verb form (“ing” ending), it is often used during the sexual act to indicate to one’s partner/s that orgasm and/or ejaculation is occuring.

In this sexual act, one partner uses their mouth and tongue to stimulate the other’s labia, vaginal canal, and clitoris. For many individuals with vaginas, this is a direct path to orgasm and a means of priming penetrative sex. The more tender stimulation—as well as the enhanced lubrication due to saliva—have earned this practice gold stars among those who no longer condone the deprioritization of vaginal pleasure.

This is the obsessive practice of utilizing digital and mobile technology for the intrusive surveillance of another. The ubiquity of devices and digital engagement in our lives makes it tempting for those prone to compulsive behavior, while rendering others easy targets.

This title and term of endearment is often used by those who explore Daddy/little dynamics in BDSM, as well as those in the LGBTQ+ community. In both communities, however, this title is meant to convey the air of safety, mentorship, and even confidence the “Daddy” exudes. Many hear this term, and learn of Daddy/little dynamics and find themselves uncomfortable with the perceived pedophilia this dynamic appears to have upon first glance. This is a misconception, however, as those who adopt Daddy titles do so because they seek to mentor as opposed to control (a “Sir”-type dominant) or own (an “Owner” or “Master”-type dominant) their submissive. The “little” is embodied by a person who feels safest in a setting which facilitates child-like behavior (ex: curiosity and enthusiasm)--an attitude which many adults are shamed for expressing in their day-to-day lives. For both people in this Daddy/little dynamic, a sense of softness and (gentle) guidance are what drives the relationship, and encourages healing by allowing people who may be gentle and caring to express that side of themselves to a person who desires to be treated gently and cared for.

This is the feeling of wanting that individuals experience upon encountering that or those which or whom they find alluring. It may be of a sexual, romantic, platonic, or hybrid nature, compelling us to engage with its object. The manners in which we process these feelings can align with or oppose them based upon our elected ideologies. In fact, many strong sentiments of repulsion may be rooted in unacknowledged attraction.

Ever seen someone totally obsessed with a sexual partner who seems rather… subpar? They may be under the influence of the dick haze, a phenomenon not unrelated to post nut clarity, in which someone’s judgment is clouded by their horniness and/or thirst for the ‘dick’ they’re getting from their current hookup.

This is the technology-birthed convention of a penis-having person taking a picture of their penis. It may seem harmless, well-intentioned, sexy, or even authentically honest at first glance but these images are too often sent without or before solicitation. They can function almost as cyber-flashing, a phenomenon that has led to many public wifi networks no longer being open for unwanted photo air-dropping. Before you press send, consider that nudes can be a fun and sexy way to entice a partner but be aware of the rules and risks: 1) you should know for a fact that your nudes are welcomed by the individual to whom you are sending them. 2) You may want to make sure that your face and/or other means of inarguably identifying you aren’t present in the image, as it can be (and often is) seen by more people than just the person to whom it was initially sent. 3) You may want to consider the psychologically damaging effect that may result from not having your body affirmed in this context.

The digital boom of the early millennium (and its 2010’s mobile technology reverberations) birthed this, what has become one of the most popular modes of exploring romantic connection for many individuals globally. Generally, dating sites and apps allow you to create a profile that lives among those browsed by the network of other users, some platforms only allowing mutually selected users to message each other. Critics of digital dating have pointed out that data released by top online dating platforms have revealed that race plays a major role in desirability among users, as well as the prevalence of harassment and relative lack of safeguards to prevent it.

This is a cylindrical-shaped object that can be made of a variety of materials, glass and silicone being some of the few. It can be used for penetrative anal or vaginal stimulation of oneself or one’s partner and for the pleasurable simulation of oral sex, among other creative purposes. The dildo is most often represented as being phallic in shape and form, sometimes meant to be so representational as to even have veins and testicles. However, not all dildos mimic a penis. A non-representational dildo can be as smooth as a simple cylinder, have ridges meant to mimic a tenticle's suckers, or a design like a cucumber!

This is a “new millennium”-era acronym for Dad I’d Like to Fuck (a term widely stimulated by the mainstream gay comminity sexual fetishization of “daddy” archetypes).

This term refers to a physical, mental, or psychological challenge that creates a handicap for an individual. For many of these individuals, it has been endlessly restorative to have their unique intimate desires, experiences, and conventions acknowledged within contemporary discussions of sex and sexuality. Outside of the bedroom, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ratified in 1990) ensures that this community is equitably accommodated throughout our societies, physical, professional, and legal spaces.

This is an abbreviation for “Direct Message”, the chief means of sending discreet communications (not visible to the broader network) on social media. It is a widely held belief that (as confirmed by Gotti’s 2015 chart-topper “Down in the DM”) it is within these private inboxes that a vast majority of sexual propositions (such as dick pics) are launched, received, reciprocated, and/or rebuffed.

This artist and cultural provocateur influenced a generation of pro-sex feminists via her revolutionary workshops and published literature (Sex for One, Liberating Masturbation: A Meditation on Self Love) which extolled the virtues of masturbation, often in groups. In the mid-60s she introduced a masturbation approach (the “Dodson Technique'') in which a small towel is placed upon the vagina, diffusing the stimulation of a vibrator (often the Hitachi Wand, popularized by Dodson throughout her workshops) in order to prolong the euphoric build of self-pleasuring. In 2014, Dodson deemed her sex-positive, non-anti-male celebration of womanhood “4th Wave Feminism” in an effort to distance herself from previous generations of cis-women’s liberation advocates with whom she did not ideologically align.

This term describes those who lead and hold the majority of control within an established Dominant/submissive relationship. Within the BDSM community, it is the role that determines what a submissive will or will not be permitted to experience (within the agreed upon parameters of consent and negotiation). It is important to note that all parameters of the relationship have been discussed prior to "playing" (starting a relationship) with that partner during negotiations. In many Dominant/submissive (or D/s) relationships, the dominant may go by such names as "Daddy/Mommy", "Sir/Lady", "Master/Mistress", all depending on what was agreed upon during negotiations. "Dom" can sometimes be used as the masculine short form of dominant, with "Domme" being the feminine.

Largely established within the BDSM community, this term is used to describe a female-identifying or feminine-presenting person’s role in the dominant position (much like Domme is also used to describe a female-/femme-identifying person in the dominant position). This role can be sexually alluring for many, including cis-men, as it challenges classic gender roles by putting the feminine person in charge and the masculine person in the inferior position. Many have been known to hire people who are professional dominatrixes.

This compound is produced by the body as a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger that is released from the body to the brain), and is often the precursor of other hormones such as adrenaline. It plays an important role in how we feel pleasure, and it plays a part in how our bodies move and handle emotions. Getting enough sleep, eating good food, exercising, listening to good music, meditating, and many other relaxing, nourishing activities can all boost dopamine levels and help your brain function at its best. Because this is the “Feel Good” chemical, dopamine is also responsible for addictive behavior. As it is released whenever a person “feels good”, dopamine can flood our systems when we orgasm, masturbate, or engage in some tension-inducing foreplay.

The act of penetrating (or being penetrated in) two orifices, such as: vagina and anus, anus and mouth, or any combination thereof. While a person can achieve this layered stimulation with multiple partners, they are not necessary. With enough imagination, lube and toys, a single partner isn’t necessary either. Just be sure that if you have a vagina, and you’re having fun with anal play, to thoroughly clean all fingers and toys before inserting what had been in your anus into your vagina!

This refers to the irrigation of a bodily orifice (usually the vagina or the anus) for the purpose of cleaning. Liquid mixtures of water, vinegar, iodine, and/or baking soda are often the solutions of choice with which the vaginal cavity is flushed as part of the goal of expelling harbored scents, residue, and bacteria. The complication with this becomes that the vagina contains a pH balance of good and bad bacteria that douching can upset, disturbing the natural acidic environment that doctors say is present in a healthy vagina. Anal douching or enemas have become incorporated into the sexual practices of those who enjoy sexual activity that might engage the rectum (often, men who have sex with men as they engage in anally penetrative sex and/or analingus). Here, a nozzled squirting bottle or rubber bulb flushes the anal cavity with warm water, that is then expelled out to clear the body of waste. The flushing is repeated until the expelled water runs clear, indicating that all waste has been eliminated.

This term refers to a trained professional tasked with assisting with major life transitions, commonly retained by those delivering babies, navigating miscarriages, inducing abortions, experiencing stillbirths, and sometimes death (among other high stakes medical experiences). Though technically not a medical professional, the doula not only supports a patient in a host of vital manners (that much more vital for those without a partner present), but often readies her, his, or theirself to advocate on behalf of the patient (as they have previously advised) in the event that the patient is too overcome by the medical event to thoroughly communicate to all present. In public health contexts, doulas increasingly play a valuable role, making sure that patients fully understand the realities and risks involved in all procedures they may be asked to undergo prior to their granting of consent to proceed. Many have asserted that this role may help to stem patterns of mistreatment and misinformation disproportionately experienced by Black and Latinx birthers within labor and delivery units.

This is the culture of gender illusion developed largely within gay communities, but certainly also historically present in lesbian caberet and burlesque spaces as well. Unlike transvestism, it is widely viewed to be less of a sexual nature than of a performative one; while it may be sexy, it tends to be more about putting on a show rather than getting it on. Its critics question whether it trades in limited and limiting gender stereotypes in much the same way that Blackface does in racial ones, while its proponents see it as an inspiring dismantling and reassembly of the coded visual language of gender. Drag’s pop explosion has thrust its aesthetic tropes into the broader culture’s fascination with intensely amplified makeup, lace front wigs, and cleavage contouring being embraced by cis-gendered women (think Lady Gaga, Nikki Minaj, Katy Perry, and Cardi B) looking to achieve the boldest looks.

The acronym for “Down To Fuck”, this shorthand is used by many with casual partners as a means of getting straight to the point and bypassing any verbal coyness or foreplay.

While some may entirely self-manage their online presence, so has the opportunity to outsource social media management to others. E-pimps are a phenomenon usually contained to the more sexually free corners of the internet – such as OnlyFans. Typically, but not always a cishet man, an E-pimp is someone who assumes control over an OnlyFans model’s profile. Taking a steep cut of proceeds, they employ laborers to pose as the model in direct messages and also may arrange photoshoot and/or filmed opportunities. Just as one may picture a ventriloquist with their dummy, so can one imagine the role of an E-pimp manipulating their client’s online profiles.

Codified by a new wave of radically sex-positive thought-leaders (Annie Sprinkle chief among them), ecosexuality uniquely factors the natural world around us within human practices of sex and sexuality. This can range from greater environmental responsibility when discarding used contraceptives, menstruation products, and sex toys, to engaging sexually with plants, soil, stars, the moon and/or bodies of water, with celebrating the stimulating effects of sex within nature falling somewhere in between.

Now gaining popularity among cis-/straight individuals, this sex act’s name originated within the gay community’s culture of “jack-off”enthusiasts. It engages amplified sexual response through self- or partner-rendered stimulation, nearing the point of orgasm, before abruptly backing away from release...aaaaaaaaand repeat.

This is the preparation of the cervix (via thinning and shortening in length) for the birthing of a baby. It is measured in percentages by medical professionals, with 100% meaning a patient’s cervix is indicating that childbirth is imminent.

This is the expelling of fluid upon sexual climax. The release of semen, historically, was associated solely with the penis’ sexual function, but increasingly (and restoratively!) is being attributed to the vagina’s equally important potential to release fluid as a sexual function. Vive Squirting!

This is the practice of subordinating an individual (generally male-identifying) via undermining his sense of masculinity. Emasculation, or the act of being emasculated, generally means this individual feels his or their sense of male pride and dignity has been called into question, overthrown, mocked, or stripped away completely.

This term—a phonetic spelling of “n.b.”, the abbreviation for non-binary—has recently arrived to describe those who do not define their gender in terms of the binary’s limited scope; they locate their gender identity outside of the two traditional options (female or male). Fascinatingly, opinions vary on whether the Enby umbrella includes trans-identified persons whose gender identities align with female/male binary options; these persons have often explicitly, specifically, and deliberately transitioned from male to female or female to male with an insistence on not occupying an “in the middle” or “undefined” gender positioning. While the conversation around gender-identity continues to evolve, it’s vital that we acknowledge and respect the language that new communities create to name their genders, as gender applies to each of us individually.

This often-painful condition occurs when tissue that is similar to the endometrium develops in extrauterine sites. The origins of the condition are under debate, however, The World Health Organization theorizes it could be due to cellular metaplasia, or when uterine cells change into endometrial-like cells and grow. Despite the disease commonly being associated with menstruation and the uterus, however, both menstruators and non-menstruators as well as the rare cis-male can be diagnosed with "Endo". Due to lack of awareness and stigma, Endo, although not an uncommon disease, is often misdiagnosed or dismissed as period cramps or IBS as health physicians assume femme people have a lower pain tolerance than masculine people (not to mention the degree of dismissal that happens to teens who also commonly have Endo, and people of color in health and medicine spaces). Normally the tissue develops monthly within the uterus and gets expelled from the body via the menstrual cycle. When it develops outside of the uterus, it can become trapped in the body causing pain and may even adhere to vital organs. Symptoms include pain experienced during menstruation, intercourse, and bowel movements/urination, among others, while treatments include medicine, physical therapy, and/or surgery. If you think you may be experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, speak to a doctor, and perhaps bring along a person who supports you so that they may help you advocate for yourself during these visits.

This term describes the painful state experienced by some chest-feeding individuals when the chest becomes overly full with milk. While nursing is perhaps the primary form of expressing milk and decreasing the pressure within the chest, pumping can allow an individual to do so whether or not a baby is present or hungry.

This is the inability to obtain or sustain an erection. It can be experienced by those with a penis for a host of reasons including (but not limited to) stress, substance abuse, and performance anxiety. Studies estimate that this phenomenon’s prevalence ranges from 9-40% among men ages 40 and younger, generally increasing by 10% with each decade afterward. Though aging appears to be a key factor, many younger individuals navigate, manage, and ultimately address erection challenges throughout their sex lives.

Caused by increased blood flow to the organ, this is the rigid state achieved by the penis when in a state of sexual arousal.

An erogenous zone is an area of the body that elicits feelings of arousal when that zone is touched on the individual. While some of the more common erogenous zones may be the nipples, sex organs, or neck, some of the lesser-heard of erogenous zones can be the backs of the knees, the toes, or earlobes. Each individual is unique, and it is through personal and/or partnered exploration that a person may discover which of their buttons they like pushed.

This is generally deemed to be literature and/or visual images of a sexual nature that maintain a discernible and compelling artistic texture. For some that view pornography’s explicit (and too often misogynistic) depictions to be less than a turn on, books, illustration, and even podcasts supply a more captivating way of sexually titillating the senses.

This is the primary sexual hormone in people with vaginas, largely responsible for regulating the development and operation of the body’s reproductive organs, menstrual cycle, and secondary characteristics (voice, weight distribution, etc.). During menopause, its decreased presence can trigger a range of biological and emotional phenomena including (but not limited to) durations of heightened body temperature (“hot flashes”), frequent urination, and vaginal dryness. It’s no wonder many can experience things like anxiety, insomnia, and irritability when managing these and other changes in their bodies. Increasingly, the medical community recommends eating a diet rich in whole foods (healthy fats, calcium, and whole grains) to help mitigate menopause’s effects. The medical community has also developed treatments that utilize this hormone within gender confirmation therapies for those transitioning. Administration of hormone therapy is utilized to alter hair patterns, musculature, voice tone, and stimulate chest tissue development, among a range of secondary sexual characteristics.

Also known as “feminist porn,” this phrase is used to describe porn that has been filmed with of-age, consenting actors who have been paid fairly for their work and treated with respect. There is mutual understanding in regard to what is happening on set, what is expected, and how it will all play out. In short, ethical porn is made with the consent and respect of all participating parties in mind. As a result, this genre of porn commonly focuses on non-cis-male pleasure as much as cis-male pleasure, making it appealing to a wider range of audiences.

This is the enjoyment of being viewed while partaking in sexual acts (as opposed to voyeurism, or the enjoyment of viewing those partaking in sexual acts). Some would say, “Get you a partner who can do both!” Of course, there are those whose exhibitionism is not sexual, such as a person who behaves wildly because they like an audience’s attention--one thing is for certain: sexual or not, the exhibitionist gets their thrill from performing for an audience.

With no shortage of stand-in slang terms (suck dick, suck cock, give head, give brain), this is the act of orally stimulating a partner’s penis. The act has a complexly nuanced power-dynamic; consider that while the one partner is semi-penetrative, the other places their teeth in close proximity to perhaps the most guarded appendage on conventionally male-gendered anatomy. One thing’s for sure: ejaculation shouldn’t occur upon a partner or in their mouth without their consent.

This term historically describes the aesthetic and day-to-day, lived world associated with the female experience. Within Eurocentric conventions, softness, submissiveness, nurturing, emotions, hour-glass figures, and pink factor centrally among its tenets. It can and does vary drastically by region, culture, and era, but consistently is posited as the binary opposite of masculinity.

A fetish is commonly a disproportionately strong focus on one “object”. From toes (anatomy), to lingerie (presentation), to height (relative difference), any number of otherwise overlooked facets of our human experience may well take on heightened allure for select individuals. Those with shared objects of fascination have in fact formed communities (in real life and digital) in celebration of their kinks. Like many kinky practices, mutual safety and respect are paramount before starting a relationship in which fetishes are explored.

Growing in the uterus of its carrying parent, this is the unborn, developing embryo. Debates regarding whether a fetus is as fully realized a lifeform as a child, and if the person carrying one should have the right to terminate pregnancy, have factored prominently in American politics since the early 1800s, when the first anti-abortion legislation was sanctioned.

Coined by psychologist Walter Cannon in the 1920s, this term (also known as “the acute stress response”) refers to the instinctive reactions that occur in humans (and animals) during moments of heightened stress or danger. The body's amplified release of hormones often results in an individual instantly either preparing to stay and combat an assailant or flee for safety. These responses are common among individuals subjected to attempted sexual assault/sexual assault, however, “freeze” is another common, yet lesser-known response, as well. Where “fight or flight” responses enlist the sympathetic nervous system, the “freeze” response enlists the parasympathetic nervous system. This means that when the sympathetic nervous system has been stimulated (the sympathetic nervous system which then sometimes triggers the “fight or flight” response) it has been stimulated to such a degree that the body cannot react, thereby awakening the parasympathetic nervous system which then seeks to protect the mind and body by “shutting down,” “freezing,” or, more directly, by doing nothing.

In this sexual act, one partner uses their hand to attempt what many view as extreme penetration of the other’s vagina or anus. The act demands copious quantities of lube, often a latex glove, extreme amounts of trust (on the part of both partners), and, hopefully, prior knowledge of the deed’s ins-and-outs (on the part of both partners). In general, when it comes to anal fisting, things begin with anal fingering (or the insertion of fingers into the anus) and gradually increase, digit by digit, until the entire hand has been accommodated. Vaginal fisting can begin in the same way. A “safe word” is definitely recommended.

The fleshlight is a sex toy, or “masturbator” intended for those with a penis. It mimics the shape of a flashlight with one clear distinction: the “light” portion is instead a replica of the vulva or “pussy”. Commonly depicted as hairless, the fleshlight pussy is usually made of an elastomer with the exterior “handle” being a hard plastic. Inside of the toy, however, a soft series of ridges, bumps, and nodules strokes the shaft of the penis until desired completion has been reached. The sleeve (or “flesh” of the fleshlight) can be removed and cleaned with a mild soap then placed back inside of the canister when dry (be sure to check your pocket pussy’s care guide before cleaning, as all toys are different).

For some, the right amount of consensual pain can stimulate a most satisfying pleasure. This practice finds one partner lashing the other with an implement (floggers, whips, riding crops, or cat-o-nine-tails are popular) paying special attention to approach the receptive partner’s pleasurable threshold without—thanks to a designated safe-word and prior negotiation—ever exceeding it.

This word is used to describe those whose sexual practice and/or orientation are mutable, as opposed to of a specific and unchanging nature. Individuals of this identity may embrace moments or eras of greater embeddedness in certain practices (homosexuality, polyamory, or abstinence for instance) but ultimately prefer not to claim any one space permanently.

This is the first half of the, usually monthly, menstrual cycle. During this time, the body selects one of the sacs that contain eggs within the ovaries (or follicles) to begin growing. The phase concludes with ovulation, or the sac’s release of the egg.

Once considered the appetizer, for some these acts (that traditionally preceded the “big bang”) now serve as a richly satisfying main course. From deep kissing and dry humping, to nipple licking and cunnilingus, options outside of intercourse—ultimately all still forms of sex—can provide endless pleasure while mitigating risks of unwanted pregnancy and STD transmission.

This is the sheath of skin that protects the penis, or is removed upon circumcision. If left intact (uncircumcised), it can cover the head of the penis, surround the head of the penis (giving reference to the nickname of a “turtleneck”), or sit just below the head of the penis. If the skin is too tight to be retracted, this is known as Phimosis. While common in children (something they will normally grow out of), it can occur in adults and teens, however, usually isn’t an issue unless symptoms such as inflammation, itchiness, and/or pain while urinating (among others) occur. During sex, phimosis may cause discomfort, lack of sensation, or even skin splitting, however, lubricant can make sex more comfortable. If uncircumcised, practicing good hygiene daily can prevent infection and inflammation. Warm water and an unscented soap should be enough to clean this sensitive area (make sure not to pull back your foreskin forcefully as this can cause bleeding!), but be sure to keep your skin in mind when purchasing products, and if in doubt, select soap intended for sensitive skin.

Whereas “adoption” implies a permanent residency and relationship with a family, “foster care” is more commonly known as the temporary placement of a minor/minors in a group home, emergency shelter, or supervised private living situation, all provided for by the State of residence. A relative of the minor may also be known as a foster parent. These situations of temporary placement are meant to provide care for the minor(s) until they find their “forever home”. However, these living situations may be toxic or harmful (one example might be a foster home that is interested more in the State allowance they receive than the overall wellbeing of the minor); statistics show that children with foster care experience are diagnosed with PTSD at twice the rate of American war veterans, and may wait 3-4 years or more to be adopted.

This agreement is fostered among partners who want the fulfilment of a physically intimate relationship without the obligations and conventional protocols of a romantic one. For some individuals, this dynamic is best achieved through generous communication, while for others a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach is employed. Either way, it is best to have all partners on the same page regarding boundaries and expectations.

This is the practice of thrusting pelvises simultaneously against one another with one’s partner. It can be done fully nude or fully clothed; with a partner of the opposite, same, or different gender or sex, although the term commonly refers to people with penises. The key is that there is no penetration involved, making it a very low-risk activity in terms of STD transmission and/or unwanted pregnancy.

This term operates somewhat differently within various communities based on sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, region, and/or socio-economic status. It generally connotes a male-identified or -presenting person who remains at the beck and call of those who find them attractive, easily accessing them (usually via text) at a moment’s notice for “no strings” sexual fulfilment. In keeping with this practice, they often develop a rigid emotional distance, not allowing sexual partners long-term romantic intimacy. For these reasons, Fuckboys in many ways subvert convention by presenting themselves in a very masculine way, yet bartering their sexuality in manners that have generally been ascribed to cis-women and femme-presenting persons. Meticulous personal grooming and an almost religious commitment to the gym have centered as this crew’s key social media hallmarks, with fear of aging and financial precarity following closely behind. They’ll never let their lewk slip though.

This “internal pleasure button” located on the outer vaginal canal wall (approximately 2 inches above the point of entry and anatomically known as the urethral sponge) is among the key stimulation triggers for those with a vagina. Often for some, through the stimulation of this point—not just the depth and rhythm of insertive strokes—penetrative orgasm is most directly achieved. This term is the shortened version of the “Grafenberg spot”, named after the German-American physician, Ernst Grafenberg, credited with its identification as well as the development of the Intrauterine Device (IUD).* *Recent research reveals that the “G Spot” is part of a much more complex orgasmic reaction now known as the Clitoral Urethral Vaginal Complex or “CUV complex” for short. This new word added to our lexicon of vaginal orgasms tells us that internal orgasms for people with vaginas doesn’t just affect the urethral sponge, but the clitoris and the urethra as well! The clitoris surrounds the urethra on three sides, with the urethral sponge sitting below the apex of the clitoral bulbs. When the urethral sponge is stimulated, the apex of the clitoral bulbs is stimulated as well, allowing the sensation to travel throughout the clitoris, around the urethral sponge (which is being directly stimulated), allowing the muscles of the vaginal canal to get swept up in this build of pleasure, perhaps resulting in that muscle-twitching orgasm.

A sexual act which involves multiple people (most often) penetrating a single person simultaneously or one-at-a-time. Commonly, double penetration (done by two--if not more--people) occurs along with other overwhelmingly stimulating acts. As with most activities that ask for the participation of another, a person must be aware of the number of people participating, and the acts which will occur, before consent can be given.

This term is used as a descriptor for those with same-sex attractions. Over the course of many eras it had also become a generalized derisive or insult, until contemporary queer and allied communities made efforts to raise awareness of the psychologically damaging effects of that phenomenon.

The psychology community deems this the cultural norms, behaviours, and expressions generally attributed to one’s biological sex. While the biological sex-binary (the notion that women have certain inherent anatomy and men do as well) remains widely embraced, many mainstream cultures have begun the complex work of questioning exactly what are “Female” and/or “Male” ways of being. Currently, one is generally assigned a gender (based upon medical assessment of genitalia) at birth. Later in life, its manifestations engage the notion that people with vaginas cross their legs at the knee, enjoy putting makeup on, and are more motivated by emotions, while their counterparts with penises sit with their knees far apart, don’t care for primping, and feel most at home on the sports field. These gender norms have always varied by race, region, and relative class-strata, but they are increasingly evolving and collapsing at a faster pace than any prior to the digital boom.

This is an individual’s language for their expression of self as it is placed relatively on the culture’s prevalent binary spectrum. Somebody deemed biologically male by the medical community might call themself “gender non-conforming” if they felt most comfortable wearing skirts, as this would not be in alignment with the culture’s binary gender expectations and norms which dictate that skirts are for women.

This refers to the phenomenon of elaborate events in which expectant parents reveal the gender of their yet-to-be-born child. Generally upon cutting a slice of layer cake, detonating a colored smoke bomb, or unleashing the contents of a pinata (among other quasi-clever productions), a reveal’s predominance of pink (girl) or blue (boy) informs all present (sometimes even the unborn child’s parents themselves) of an unborn child’s medically assessed sex as indicated by ultrasound images. In recent years, many have grown increasingly critical of the practice, most ironically among them, the woman often credited with “inventing” the affairs in 2008. As a result of her child’s progressive views on gender, Jenna Karvunudis began speaking in 2019 about the ways in which the parties she had popularized don’t embrace the spectrum of gender she has grown to acknowledge.

A person who does not identify with the gender binary, instead identifying as neither, both male and female, and/or a combination of masculinity and femininity.

These are the external sexual organs (generally, identified as the vagina and penis). They have historically been the chief mode of socially coding sex, sexuality, and gender but current dialogues (initiated by the LGBTQIA+ community) question whether having a vagina defines an individual as a woman and/or having a penis defines one as a man.

A passive-aggressive form of digital dating non-etiquette, this is the digital correspondence phenomenon of abruptly ceasing communication, a strategy employed often by those who are uncomfortable with direct communication and setting clear boundaries, and therefore seek to forgo the complications and/or obligations of further communication. Reasons range from fear of communicating directly to discomfort with the establishment of boundaries but one thing’s for sure: you probably shouldn’t hold your breath waiting for an answer. On the other side of the spectrum are those who “ghost” for safety reasons, or because the person they were in communication with disrespected them in some way, and so the person was “ghosted” out of self-respect and the decision to not waste one’s character count on teaching someone how to be polite.

This term refers to a crotch-height opening in wall or partition through which anonymous sexual acts (usually fellatio) occur. Associated with gay culture of the 70s but documented in accounts dating back to 1707, many believe the phenomenon originated within men's restrooms where those disinterested in being identified as homosexual developed a means of centering anonymity in the pursuit of sexual release.

This term is Germanic in origin and used within religious traditions to connote an all-powerful, highest deity. In contemporary trans-cultural dialogues the term is often assigned to divine beings and the manners in which they are believed to manifest in our lives.

This sex act engages the urination of one upon a partner or partners for sexual pleasure. For logistical reasons, it is often enjoyed in a shower or bathtub, but it technically could occur anywhere. Many associate this practice with urolagnia, or the fetishization of urine for sexual purposes.

Although commonly used as a slang term for “balls”, these organs produce cells that are essential for all parties involved in reproduction. In cis-male reproductive organs, the gonads are testes, where cells that form sperm are produced. In cis-female reproductive organs, the gonads are ovaries, where cells that comprise eggs are produced.

This term refers to the practice of gaining one’s, and/or their family’s, trust and building an emotional connection with them with the express purpose of later manipulating and exploiting them sexually. While there is no age limit to grooming, it is commonly seen (and as a term, used in reference to) cases of child sex abuse.

Formally known as the Motion Picture Production Code, this film industry regulation was implemented from 1930 until 1968 by Will H. Hays—then President of the Motion Pictures Producers and Distributors of America—in an effort to police moviemakers. The code established strict guidelines that forbade the depiction of a range of identities, situations, and perspectives (interracial couples, same-sex attraction, and benevolent communisim among them) that the nation’s conservative politicians felt worked to undermine the moral sanctity of American communities.

This term is utilized throughout the globe to describe Japanese erotic cartoons—or anime/manga porn. Intriguingly, within contemporary Japanese language and practice, the term (though it refers to unorthodox sexual desires) isn’t directly applied to this media genre. Beyond being merely suggestive, the genre is differentiated by its consistent nudity and thorough depictions of intimate acts. For many, it allows a non-threatening, fantasy exploration of situations and sex that they might not ever personally venture to experience; evidencing this is the high percentage of cis-gendered, heterosexually identified women who enjoy the genre’s gay cis-male-themed niche.

Herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are two main types of herpes; Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV-2). Herpes sores can occur orally or genitally (internally or externally), however, some people don’t have any symptoms at all but can still transmit the virus asymptomatically through a process called viral shedding. Some symptoms of oral herpes are cold sores or "fever blisters” around the mouth, and many who have oral herpes were exposed to the virus during childhood or young adulthood from non-sexual contact with another’s skin or saliva. It is for this reason that contemporary discourse surrounding herpes is working to change the narrative of this STI as something “shameful” to something relatively common. Genital herpes can be contracted if a person with oral herpes gives oral sex, which is why some with genital herpes have the HSV-1 type. Genital herpes is spread by having skin to skin genital contact with someone who has an active infection. If you have a partner with the HSV infection and wish to minimize risk of contracting the infection, condoms, gloves, and dental dams are good methods to incorporate, although they are not 100% reliable as HSV is spread through skin to skin contact, not just through body fluids. There is also medication the positive partner(s) can take, and abstaining from oral, anal, and/or vaginal sex during an outbreak are among some stratigies to minimize transmission risks.

This term describes norms, practices, and perspectives that originate in cis-gender, heterosexual culture, historically being centered and prioritized within the broader culture’s ideological programming. The absoluteness of the gender binary, the value of procreation, and a singular (male/female) definition of marriage are among its chief tenets, leaving a range of individuals—often within the LGBTQIA+ community for whom these beliefs offer no acknowledgement—alienated and marginalized.

This is a bruise that occurs as a result of a high intensity (imagine using the mouth as a vacuum) kiss to the body. Those with fair complexions are relatively more prone to developing them.

This is an abbreviation for Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus, a sexually transmitted disease, which, if unsuccessfully untreated, can develop into AIDS (Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome). It compromises the host's immune system, and defeats a range of harmful infections, diseases, and viruses. Transmission occurs primarily through the exchange of bodily fluids such as semen, blood, and chest milk. Identified by the medical community in 1983, the disease would ravage communities globally (taking a unique and political toll upon gay cis-male and trans communties) for decades to come. The advent of HAART pharmaceutical treatments in 1997 resulted in a 47% decline in deaths related to the virus, and further development of drug therapies have made once-a-day pills capable of reducing a host’s viral load to undetectable levels, effectively making them incapable of transmission to a partner. The medical community now widely asserts that the health of those with the virus can be successfully long-term managed through drug-therapies, allowing them to live healthy lives.

This thin tissue (part of the vulva) sits at the external vaginal opening. It’s unique to each person with some just surrounding the opening and others partially covering it. Accordingly, increased hormonal presence in puberty can cause some people’s hymens to grow in thickness and rigidity, while others’ hymens may stay the same, become thinner, or virtually go away altogether. For those assigned female at birth, the rupturing of the hymen via penetrative sex has conventionally defined the loss of virginity; this gave way to a culture of assessing a woman’s virginity (and often virtue) via her maintenance of what appeared to be an “unbroken” hymen. As a result of quantitative research, the medical community now believes that many who have had penetrative sex may still posess hymen that appear unruptered (have not sustained trauma or showing no signs of trauma due to healing). In addition, studies have begun to draw correlations between instances of the amplification of certain emotions during intercourse (fear, anxiety, confusion, etc.) and the potential for greater hymen trauma. At this point, assessments remain somewhat inconclusive, but one thing’s for sure: the eras-old equating the presence of an unbroken hymen with virginity no longer adequately addresses the range of experiences many consider to be their “first time”.

This term refers to the practice or pursuit of a committed relationship or marriage for the sake of gaining financial, material, or social status. Whether referred to as “Marrying up”, “Gold-Digging”, or “planning for the future”, the phenomenon carries negative stigma for some and aspirational luster for others; the Instagram model on the arm of the aging publishing tycoon may endure media scorn while the Hans Christian Anderson or Brothers Grimm peasant-cum-princess continues to melt hearts. Gender, race, cultural barriers, and sexual orientation (among other spaces of identity) only add complexity to how various individuals who’ve hit it big in the marriage lottery are viewed.

This is a self-imposed limitation often related to sexual or romantic practice. For some it may result from a previous negative experience, cultural stigma, or lack of information; for others, it may result from a realistic assessment of personal boundaries.

This term refers to contemporary culture’s acknowledgement of the individual’s ability to claim dual or multiple identities. Here, a person may assert (among endless potential core identities) their racial background, disability, and/or sobriety while also doing so in regard to their immigration, HIV, and domestic-abuse-survivor statuses; Queer People of Color (or QPOC for short) is perhaps one of the most media-visible exaples of hybrid spaces of identity. Ultimately, these efforts to create new language pursue carving restorative spaces of acknowledgement for many whose experiences have been previously overlooked, overshadowed, or ignored.

This is a medical term for those whose genitalia (and potentially DNA) indicate characteristics of both traditional femaleness and maleness. Throughout much of modern medical history, procedures were performed, often covertly, upon these individuals at birth to “correct” their anatomy or they were assigned a single sex (sweeping the complexity of their anatomy under the proverbial rug). The contemporary LGBTQIA+ community affords them an affirming space of belonging, as well as the ability to restore the ways the broader culture and medical community may atone for the longtime stigmatization and erasure of those who did not align with the bio-binary. Before colonization, in certain cultures such as indigenous American tribes and peoples native to Hawai’i, among others across the globe, the embodiment of both genders was seen as a sometimes holy, sometimes wise, but always respected position within the community.

Existing within a range of definitions per individual, this is a level of physical, emotional or spiritual interaction that is markedly different from the majority of commonplace human contact we experience. Studies have shown the remarkable neurological and physical effects non-sexual touching such as hand-holding or hugs have had on individuals. Human touch has shown to calm cardiovascular stress, help guard against threat and distress, improve the immune system, and release the hormone Oxytocin which is responsible for our feelings of happiness and euphoria. For those who may have touch as their love language, being shown physical affection in the form of hugs or high-fives exponentially produces the responses of happiness and joy. However, not all people are fond of physical contact so it is important to ask if a person, “is a hugger,” before assuming the desire for physical contact and intimacy is shared. While "intimacy" is commonly thought of as physical, being vulnerable with someone else in a conversation and/or "getting in your feelings" can be thought of as emotional intimacy, which brings us closer to those we are speaking to and fosters a deep connection of community, safety, and ultimately love.

This internet abbreviation stands for “In Real Life” (as opposed to a digital interface). It’s often used by individuals exploring meeting offline, having initially connected via a dating site or app. Beyond the risk of being “catfished” (a term for being misled by a digital romance partner’s true appearance because they posted inauthentic photos online), when one chooses to meet an individual previously only engaged with online, there are a host of safety concerns to consider. To mitigate some of these dangers, one should not invite an internet stranger over to one’s residence (nor meet at theirs), one shouldn’t keep plans to meet with them a complete secret, and one shouldn’t make plans to meet with them via a phone call (leaving no digital record of the conversation). Instead meet in a public, well lit, highly populated area (preferably where security cameras exist), inform at least one close friend of the details of your plans to meet, and chat with your romantic prospect via text or email, so that a digital “paper trail” is created.

This abbreviation refers to an Intrauterine Device, a quarter-sized implement placed within the uterus by a physician as a means of preventing unwanted pregnancy. Most often made of plastic, it may also contain hormone medication (boosting the presence of progestin within the uterus) and/or copper (a material that is toxic to sperm allowing for the implement’s added pregnancy-prevention effectiveness). An IUD can live in the uterus anywhere from 3 to 12 years, depending on the type of IUD used. While this method of birth control has been shown through tests to prevent pregnancy over 99% of the time, it is important to note that unlike condoms or dental dams, it is not an STD prevention tool—making it necessary for many to use these products in tandem with the IUD.

This abbreviation refers to the practice of In Vitro Fertilization, or the medically assisted fertilization of an egg—outside of the human body—in the pursuit of pregnancy. It is a procedure that finds eggs harvested from the fallopian tubes and places them in a laboratory home of liquid--before being introduced to sperm in the hopes of fertilization--followed by maturing into an embryo. 3-5 days later, the process then sees multiple embryos being placed into the uterus in the hopes that one will successfully realize implantation in the uterine wall. The process—reported to currently range in costs anywhere from approximately $10,000 to $20,000— allows for the potential of gender selection and even the deliberate pursuit of twins via curation of the embryos cultivated. Factors like age and prior pregnancy history play key roles in success rates of the procedure, but none of them seem to be as influential as the amount of times the procedure is performed; studies now indicate higher success rates in ascending rounds of the procedure, but bear in mind that this also means dramatically higher financial demands upon those pursuing pregnancy.

This manual penis stimulation technique involves vigorously sliding one’s encircled hand up and down the penile shaft. It is both a masturbation technique and means of stimulating a partner.

Initially lead by Heather Booth, this organization—more formally known as the Abortion Counseling Service of Women’s Liberation—operated throughout the greater Chicago, IL region from 1969 to 1973, helping people get access to safe and affordable abortions. These procedures were initially performed by licensed doctors but upon discovering that one of these physicians had forged his credentials, members of the collective began learning and performing dilation and curettage abortions themselves (11,000 over the course of the group’s operation). A 1972 raid on the organization’s headquarters resulted in the arrest of seven of its members, however, their attorneys delayed the trial until after 1973’s landmark Roe V. Wade Supreme Court decision, preventing convictions that could have incurred up to 110-year prison sentences.

This noted LGBTQIA+ organizer is among those (along with Sylvia Rivera) credited with leading the charge against law enforcement’s disproportionate targeting of the Queer community during New York City’s 1969 Stonewall Riots. She (a self-identified drag queen) has become an icon of trans-feminine leadership-of-color, inspiring increasing numbers of BIPOC trans organizers to rightfully hold the political and cultural space they are due.

These pelvic floor exercises are commonly associated with people who have vaginas, however, those with penises can also benefit from the flex and release of these muscles. The pelvic floor muscles can be detected by stopping yourself when you’re peeing. That deep core contraction is the pelvic floor muscles clenching. For those with penises, you’ll know when you’ve contracted the muscles when your penis bounces. Doing these exercises can help with bladder/bowel control, back and hip support, and for those with vaginas, learning to contract your pelvic floor muscles during sex can result in some body-shaking orgasms (and some nice compression if your partner has a penis). These exercises can be conducted throughout the day for a few seconds (held for 10 seconds, released for 20 seconds or a “flutter”) or tools like kegel or ben-wa balls can be used if you have a vagina. Simply place the (sterilized) toy into the vagina and hold for as long as is comfortable, but be sure not to exceed twenty minutes a day as this can cause strain, resulting in pelvic floor pain, painful sex, and even tension in the jaw! For these reasons it is also recommended one relax their pelvic floor muscles as often as they flex them.

This term refers to a socially unconventional sexual practice. Though not in keeping with mainstream sexual sensibilities, these interests have often spawned communities of enthusiasts like those who enjoy the eroticization of wearing corsets, having sex in public locations, having sex while blindfolded, or with anonymous partners… the possibilities are truly endless!

This American academic founded Indiana University's Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction in 1947. There he would pioneer ideas of sexual orientation for the individual occurring on a spectrum referred to as The Kinsey Scale. This range posits absolute heterosexuality at 0 and absolute homosexuality at 6, with most individuals’ sexuality occuring somewhere in between those poles.

These are the lips of the vagina located at the organ’s opening, with the larger (majora) pair, for many, creating a curtain of protection and the top of the inner (minora) pair, for many, creating the clitoral hood.

This practice utilizes psychoprophylaxis (theories based upon Pavlov’s studies of conditioned bodily responses) in tandem with patterns of controlled breathing in order to mitigate a portion of the pain experienced by those giving birth. It was grafted from practices that the French Obstetrician observed during a 1951 trip to the former Soviet Union and has become among the most popular birthing techniques taught globally.

As a result of its behavior as a fluid barrier, this rubbery material is utilized to make a range of products that can be used for contraception (diaphragm), disease prevention (condom), and general medical purposes (surgical gloves), among others.

This term is derived from the name of the Greek Island of Lesbos, home of the 6th century BCE female poet Sappho, who is often identified through contemporary lenses as a woman who purportedly loved other women. It is used to refer to an individual who identifies as a woman, a femme, or even a non-binary person and exhibits attraction to others who also identify as women, femmes, or femme-presenting people. This term was originally used to describe a homosexual cis-woman but as gender fluidity continues to gather voice, sexual preference or titles expands our understanding of gender-coded language.

These letters represent those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (the plus sign indicates commitment to the term’s range of identities indefinitely broadening).

This term refers to a legal strategy too often engaged by defense attorneys representing those accused of committing violent crimes against LGBTQIA+ individuals. It generally relies upon prevalent stigmas against non-cis-gender, non-heterosexual persons to assert that actions of a defendent were justifiable human responses in light of the victim’s sexual orientation, trans identity non-disclosure, and/or potential HIV+ status. While the trials of those accused of killing Brandon Teena (1993), Scott Amerdure (1995), and Matthew Shepard (1998) remain among the most media-recognized instances of “LGBTQIA+ Panic Defense”, LGBTQIA+ communities and allies have begun to raise awareness about the disproportionate numbers of Black and Brown Trans women who fall victim to both similar crimes and similar inequitable treatment by judicial precedents. The “LGBTQIA+ Panic Defense” is currently banned in 11 US states, as well as the District of Columbia, with legislation to ban it pending in 11 states.

This Latin word meant lust or desire in ancient times and has now come to be synonymous with the term “sex drive”. Various factors like stress and poor diet can contribute to its reduction, while those like regular exercise and adequate sleep can regulate and even reinvigorate an interest in sex.

A touch of romance is intoxicating, but love bombing can be identified by its excessive nature. This term describes the act of lavishing attention in the forms of gifts, grand gestures, persistence, flattery and constant contact early in a relationship with the narcissistic goal of gaining power and control over its recipient, to make their target feel dependent on them. As such, it can be an insidious form of emotional abuse, with potential for escalated future abuse. Love bombing is further complicated by the fact that it’s been celebrated in romantic books and films for centuries, leading many to reconsider their previous affection for ‘knights in shining armor’ and ‘Prince Charmings’ like Edward Cullen, Noah Calhoun and Christian Gray.

A landmark United States Supreme Court case that ruled that laws banning interratial marriages are unconstitutional. Mildred Loving (self-identified as “Rappahannock Indian” but historically viewed by the broader American public as Negro/Black/African American) and her husband Richard Loving (historically identified as White American) went to extreme lengths to have their marriage legally established before the birth of their first child; in order to tie the knot, they traveled from Virginia (where interacial marriage was illegal) to neighboring Washington, D.C., where their union could be legally established and recognized. These efforts did not deter local Virginia law enforcement officials, though, and on the morning of July 11 1958, the Loving family’s Central Point, VA home was raided and they were arrested under grounds of violating miscegenation laws. These laws strictly prohibited sex and/or marraige between White Americans and “coloreds” (those who were not deemed to be purely of European descent). As a result of their union, the Lovings were convicted of a felony charge and ostensibly banished from Virginia, forcing them to relocate to Washington, D.C. Some six years later, the Lovings would pursue appealing the ruling associated with their trials all the way to the Supreme Court, ultimately prevailing with a 9-0 unanimous vote in favor of overturning their convictions. Though the Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court decision could be seen as the first domino knocked in the dismantling of America’s miscegenation laws, many states remained resolute in their forbiddance of interracial coupling, with voting only taking the last anti-interacial coupling laws off of Alabama legislative books as recently as 2000.

This is a viscous (or “gooey”) liquid that can serve various sensual purposes. It can be used to mitigate friction during personal or partnered play by smoothing contact between anatomy, hands, and/or toys. Endless substances can serve this purpose but here is a cheat sheet to which are best suited for what: 1) You have the biggest selection if you are selecting a version for purely personal use without toys (just be aware of any allergies you may have). 2) If you are using silicone-based sex toys, it’s best to avoid silicone based versions and consider water-based or oil-based options. 3) If you are playing with a partner and using latex barriers (like condoms, gloves, or dental dams), stick to water-based or silicone-based versions as oil-based lubes (and this includes coconut oil!) will corrode latex.

Some sources say this word originated as a noun in the 1940s, while others attribute it to the 1961 film “The Adventures of Lucky Pierre” in which Lucky Pierre stumbles across naked cis-women as he goes about daily activities, such as going to the movies or birdwatching. Colloquially, the term is meant to refer to the “lucky” person in a threesome; i.e. the person who is getting the attention of both partners. This may be the person sandwiched between two others, or the only cis-male in a cis-female threesome. Either way, if done correctly, each person in a threesome should find themselves the “Lucky Pierre” so long as attention (and stimulation) are distributed evenly.

This phase occurs after ovulation (the release of an egg) and before the body’s menstrual preparation for possible pregnancy. Within this time, increased progesterone—a hormone which signals the body to initiate subsequent menstrual phases—is produced and can cause many bodily changes, from amplification of emotions to breakouts.. This phenomenon of heightened emotion, bloating, acne, cramps and headaches can also be known as “PMS.”

This term (native to Spanish language as well as Iberian-influenced and Iberian-colonized cultures) refers to traditions of male-gender performance rooted in—what many view through a contemporary lens as a problematic brand of—bravado. These conventions often create a competitive hierarchy of masculinity in which men in any space vie for “Alpha” status, as well as define limited ways of engaging with women in which the male is inherently dominant and the female is inherently submissive.

This is a location capable of producing heightened pleasure and intense orgasm within those with conventionally male-gendered anatomy. Essentially it is the prostate gland—responsible for producing semen—and it can be stimulated in multiple ways, both internally and externally. Through anal penetration by fingers, a penis, or a sex toy, its internal stimulation can be achieved—lube and latex gloves or a condom are good calls here—while rubbing the perineum (or “taint”) area between the scrotum and the anus, its stimulation can be accomplished externally as well.

This term historically describes the aesthetic and day-to-day lived world associated with the male experience. Within Eurocentric conventions, aggression, dominance, authority, stoicism, musculature, and the color blue factor centrally among its tenets. It can and does vary drastically by region, culture, and era, but consistently is posited as the binary opposite of the feminine.

This is the range of acts characteristic of deriving sexual pleasure from having others humiliate and/or inflict pain (physical or psychological) upon oneself. Here the “bottom” or “submissive,” (also known as a “sub”) relinquishes control to a “top” or “dominant” partner, complying with their torturous sensations, humiliations, or rationing of pleasure as deemed fit by previously discussed limitations.

From the 1950s through the 1990s, William H. Masters (1915 - 2001) and Virginia E. Johnson (1925 - 2013) embarked upon pioneering research related to sex and sexuality. The four stages of sexual response, comparisons of heterosexual and homosexual male intimate practice, and assessments of the frequency with which women experience penetrative orgasm were among areas of study they boldly explored despite the prevalent societal mores at that time; some contemporary critics now question whether their cultural biases may have overly colored this research’s findings. Initiated at Washington University in St. Louis, their groundbreaking work would eventually culminate in the founding of their eponymous institute in 1964.

This practice is the manual stimulation of sexual organs—most often, one’s own—and is perhaps both the most accessible and overlooked means of developing a healthy sense of sexual self-awareness. A partner’s voice on the phone, a sexy video, or even just one’s good ol’ imagination can be utilized to regularly unlock this chest of self-pleasure.

Founded in 1950 by Harry Hay in Los Angeles, this pioneering LGBT+ organization boldly advocated for the equitable treatment of gay men and other non-heterosexually identified individuals, decades before the mainstream culture’s contemporary evolution toward Queer acceptance. Named after a medieval secret society of masked political critics, the group’s original five founders chose to remain anonymous to the broader public throughout much of the organization's early years. By the early 1960s, chapters had been established in cities from New York to Washington, DC., establishing precedent for LGBTQIA+ organizing nationwide and internationally.

This term refers to the pursuit of using a number of techniques (breath, mindfulness, focusing the mind on a singular sound or object) to create a space of stillness and awareness of the present moment. This helps to achieve a clear, calm, and stable state that becomes passively stimulating and ultimately enriching for the mind. Traditions born out of Buddhist and Hindu faiths have informed the manner in which many globally engage this practice. Scientific studies have shown benefits in patients with depression, chronic pain disorders, and anxiety who maintain a regular meditation practice. Additionally, children who have been taught to meditate have been shown to have improvements in attention span and behavior, and reduced problems with sleep, stress, and more.

This term refers to the cessation of ovulation that generally occurs as those capable of producing eggs enter middle age. This is as a result of a decline in the body’s production of the hormones that stimulate the period's monthly cycle. As the body adjusts to these shifts in hormonal levels, many may experience spikes in body-temperature (“hot flashes”), intermittent vaginal dryness, and amplified emotions among other manifestations of this transitional duration. When a year has passed with no monthly period cycle, an individual is medically considered to be “post-menopausal” and often experiences decreased severity of these symptoms.

Those with a vagina and uterus experience this monthly shedding of the uterine lining, generally whenever pregnancy is not achieved. Averaging from 3 to 5 days, this starts when people with vaginas reach puberty, which is roughly around 12 to 15 years old. Varying amounts of blood—depending on the individual, their age, their health, and their diet, etc.—are associated with the experience and can be indicative of the beginning, middle, and end of this duration, also known as one’s “period”. There are several products people use to manage their flow, which can include pads, tampons, cups, discs, sponges and more. However, across the globe over 300 million menstruators lack access to sanitary products; in the United States alone, over 24 million people cannot afford period products, and despite the fact that the average menstruator will use over 16,000 sanitary products in their lifetime, these products remain taxed as a luxury item in 30 states.

Conceived in 2006 by survivor and advocate Tarana Burke, a little over a decade later this socio-political initiative aimed at breaking silence surrounding sex-related traumas would ramp up its visibility via Twitter and Instagram hashtags. Unprecedented numbers of high profile individuals speaking candidly about their experiences culminated in one of the culture’s most significant contemporary paradigm shifts; many assert that in 2017, the mainstream media’s attitude toward survivors of sexual abuse, assault, and harrassment pivoted from one of defacto skepticism and/or blame to one of belief and affirmation for truth-telling. The era’s riveting NY Times disclosure op-eds, and New York Magazine tableau covers worked to dismantle the entertainment industry’s culture of deafening silence around sexual predators; key Hollywood titans who had proliferated a predatory culture of casting couch-access for emerging talent and non-consensual intimacy were tried in legal courts, the court of public opinion, or both. Birthing the subsequent #TimesUp movement, #MeToo stands as one of the most dynamic examples of the ability for those who might otherwise remain disempowered to make high-impact change via their sheer numbers.

This trained healthcare professional is tasked with specifically caring for the birthing parent and the birthed child during and after the labor and delivery experience. In contrast with doulas, (like doctors and nurses), they are licensed members of the medical community. In the event of high risk or complicated births, they offer a depth of insight in regard to non-invasive procedural techniques; generally when and if surgical procedures become necessary, they direct patients to a physician. In many regions experiencing shortages of obstetricians, midwives play a vital role in offering the requisite pre- and postnatal care for birthers and their babies.

This is a “new millennium”-era acronym for Mom I’d Like to Fuck (a term viewed as a compliment by some while being seen as a disrespectfully objectifying reduction by others).

Immortalized in the 2008 biopic Milk, this historic public servant worked to introduce landmark equity legislation for the LGBTQIA+ community in the San Francisco Bay Area; to this day, he remains widely credited as the first openly gay person to hold public office in California. Though he was only able to serve 10 months as a City Supervisor, throughout that period he managed to gain a level of national visibility unprecedented for an “out,” gay public figure. Tragically, this same visibility may have contributed to him being one of two public servants murdered by Dan White, a disgruntled fellow seat-holder within the city’s Board of Supervisors. White’s legal defense engaged an argument that he was suffering from a form of depression stimulated by poor dietary choices, namely among them, Hostess Twinkies; the media coined the term “Twinkie defense” in description of this trial-development. Though cut short by his untimely passing, Milk’s legacy as a landmark Queer-elected offical would endure indefinitely, resulting in him posthumously receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008.

This term refers to the demise of a developing fetus prior to the 20th week of growth within the womb. Though a miscarriage can occur at any stage of pregnancy, it is more likely to happen earlier on in the pregnancy journey (with 80% of miscarriages occurring within the first 3 months) and—though generally devastating for those who experience this phenomenon—it occurs far more regularly than mainstream-acknowledged (fatally compromising 10-20% of all pregnancies).

This term refers to the use of language that ignores or inaccurately identifies another’s self-defined gender (intentionally or not). This can include pronouns, honorifics (Mrs., Mr., etc.), cultural idioms (“dude”, “girlfriend”, etc.), and a host of other ways in which many of us assume and assign gender as we communicate. Currently, many in the LGBTQIA+ community advise using gender-neutral pronouns in the event that we don’t want to assume another’s gender-identity, and asking which pronouns a person prefers when we first meet them, in order to allow them the opportunity to share their self-assessed gender with us.

This coital position places a couple face-to-face with the receptive partner most often on their back, legs astride their partner’s torso. Its name is derived from church-sanctioned sexual practice indoctrinated throughout European-colonized communities.

This is the practice of opting to exclusively have sexual relations with one partner.

This term refers to the practice of burying one’s face in another’s chest while crudely blowing air through a loose-lipped mouth, the vibrating agitation of the blower’s lips resulting in a vibrating agitation of the (willing) recipient’s chest. It originated as a primarily heterosexual cis-male fantasy, accrued a mysoginistic vibe along the way, and these days may, more often than not, find ironic or reclaimed purposing.

Coined by Mira Bellweather in her 2013 book “Fucking Trans Women”, this penetration technique involves the inguinal canals, or the canals through which the testes drop. By pushing the testes back up you are pushing them up into the inguinal canals. While the testes may be left to hang free, penetrating one’s partner this way can be done with fingers, the tongue, some toys, and some penises (depending on the size). Although this term came about in a guide book geared toward having sex with trans women, cis-men can enjoy this technique too! To find the canals’ entrance, place your fingers (toys, etc.) on either side of the testes and massage in an upward motion until you feel the soft entrance to the canals. From there you can continue to penetrate the area as is comfortable to your partner.

This term can either mean pleasuring oneself while in the presence of a partner who is simultaneously doing the same, or both partners engaging in manual pleasuring of each other with the use of their hands or toys as opposed to genital or sex-simulated contact. A great way to learn what turns your partner on!

This is what many in BDSM consider to be the first phase of starting a BDSM (or Dom/sub) dynamic. Negotiation is a conversation in which all people who wish to enter into the dynamic discuss their desires and interests (their “yes’s”,) things they may be curious about but would prefer to explore once a prerequisite (such as trust) has been met (also known as “maybe’s” or “soft no’s”), and finally the things they are not at all interested in and/or acts/actions that make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe (also known as “hard no’s”.) It is important to note that every person in the dynamic (regardless of dominant or submissive status) is encouraged to honestly and actively communicate their desires and boundaries. Most players would encourage you not to begin a dynamic with someone who does not negotiate, or begins a conversation with pet names (“baby”, “Sir”) prior to negotiating (as this signals to the person to fulfill a role that has not yet been actively decided on.) Discussing your desires and boundaries before sex is always a good idea, whether or not you are engaging in BDSM!

Historically viewed as a conduit for milk to be conveyed to a child, this feature of the chest has a complex, multifaceted, and (dare we say?) sexy set of contemporary functions. They are indeed central in the lactation process and should be cared for accordingly throughout that parent-child journey, but do not sleep on the roles they play within the bedroom. While the media portrays female nipples as being explicitly sexual, all nipples can be catered to with a range of accessories such as: nipple clamps, suckers, clothespins, ice cubes, etc. The nerves in a person’s nipples can be sensitive enough to promote orgasm or further tease a partner during foreplay, making nipple stimulation similar to edging. As a person’s nipples become increasingly sensitive they often become firmer to the touch and erect. It is important to note that anatomically, there is a difference between the nipple (the “point” if you will) and the areola (the surface area on which that “point” rests on), however, the word “nipple” is commonly used to refer to both the nipple and areola.

This term refers to those whose self-assessed gender (traditionally either female or male identity) does not comply with the conventions of selecting from two options. These individuals may either view gender as a spectrum upon which they fall somewhere in between the two poles or they may embrace the capacity for their gender to vary, not permanently residing at one point on the spectrum. To be noted: some of these individuals ascribe to the gender binary but simply feel that they don’t align with it, while others feel that the binary itself is an inaccurate and/or insufficient means of assessing gender.

“Send nudes,” “n00dz?” or any other queries involving this word typically are a sign that whoever is asking is requesting photos in which the receiver is naked. Please be warned, when sending nudes the person receiving them often isn’t the only person who will see them; be sure to let the person know the photo is for their eyes only (if that is your intention) and be sure to keep any identifying physical attributes out of the photos (such as your face or tattoos) as a means of protecting your anonymity should these photos be shared without your consent. If you’re a recipient of nudes - you are very lucky, so treat them with the respect you’d give a piece of fine art!

Like a rollercoaster reaching its peak, this event—characterized by a euphoric release of pleasure throughout the body—occurs at the height of arousal. Some signs of orgasm include muscle twitches or cramps, hypersensitivity, toes curling, a sudden sense of internal temperature change (such as the feet feeling cold or the body feeling hot), among others. Neurologically, oxytocin and dopamine are among the chemicals most generously released by the brain throughout orgasm, stimulating a positive mood. For many with vaginas, the shortest path from point A to the climax of point B can be via clitoral stimulation. Among individuals with penises, this event is most directly associated with the ejeculatory release of semen.

Within people with vaginas, this reproductive organ produces an egg (or ovum) that may be fertilized or expelled as part of the menstrual cycle. The organ is susceptible to cancer that can often go undetected due to its less-than-distinctive symptoms (often abdominal pain and loss of appetite).

Part of their monthly cycle, individuals with ovaries experience this hormone-triggered release of an egg roughly 2 weeks before their period. Cramping and an increased sex drive can be symptoms of ovulation; an egg is most likely to be fertilized 12 to 24 hours after ovulation. When someone ovulates, it is the time at which they are most likely to get pregnant.

This is the brain-produced hormone (also known as the “love hormone”) that is released during orgasm and other physical bonding activities such as snuggling and chestfeeding. It is also responsible for triggering the uterine contractions that births a baby from the body during delivery. A synthetic injection of the hormone is manufactured under the name Pitocin and utilized for a host of purposes, among them labor induction and contraction amplification during birthing, post-birth bleeding mitigation, and induced abortion.

This refers to the Papanicolaou test, administered by physicians in order to screen for precancerous and/or cancerous cells in the cervix or colon. The test involves a physician utilizing a speculum to separate the vaginal walls, then inserting a small brush and spatula in order to obtain a cell sample. Much of the medical community recommends that the screenings begin at age 21 and occur every three years thereafter. Generally—though the exam may feel a bit unusual or even uncomfortable for those experiencing it for the first time—it should not be painful if being properly performed on a healthy patient.

A pansexual person is someone who finds themselves attracted to every gender and sex regardless of cis-, trans, or intersex status. This word gains its name from the Latin word for all, "Pan".

This term refers to the societal prevalence of cis-male-dominant social norms. These manifest in cis-men occupying leadership roles in political, religious, professional, academic, and familial contexts (among others) and have historically led to the second-class citizenship of anyone perceived to be non-cis-male within many facets of culture and experience.

This once-a-day prescriptive, contraceptive medication (taken orally as a pill), was released in US markets in 1960. It would work to allow people with vaginas greater reproductive agency, becoming one of the key catalysts of the burgeoning sexual revolution. Contemporary prescription options may offer benefits (acne reduction, menstrual flow regulation, etc.) and side effects (nausea, chest tenderness, mood amplification, low libido) alike, so it is important to work with a physician to locate an option that interacts most harmoniously with one’s body chemistry.

This phrase is used to describe someone who has given fellatio and received the ejaculate around their throat or chest, where it beads and drips creating a pearl-like “necklace”.

This is the act of anal or vaginal penetration via the use of a strap-on (pelvically harnessed dildo). For those without penile anatomy, it allows for what many deem to be the adoption of the penetrative role between partners.

This collection of muscles located internally below the abdomen are a key part of what is often referred to as one’s “core”. Beyond the key roles they play in back support and bladder/bowel control, they operate centrally in the stimulation of sexual pleasure for both oneself and one’s partner through their being tensed and released. The training of these muscles for greater control and intensity of engagement is also known as “Kegel exercises” or “Kegels”. While “Kegel exercises” are commonly associated with people with vaginas, those with penises can also benefit from these pelvic floor exercises.

This is the sexual organ historically attributed to the male of the human species. It performs three main functions: 1) the realization of sexual pleasure via stimulation 2) the delivery of semen containing sperm in the procreative act 3) the elimination of urine.

This term refers to the region located between the vulva and the anus (for those with a vagina) or the scrotum and the anus (for those with a penis). Rubbing this region, the internal Skene’s glands (for those with a vagina) or prostate gland (for those with a penis) can be stimulated, engaging intense pleasure, even orgasm.

This internal organ—developed within the womb during pregnancy—has the primary function of nourishing the unborn baby via the umbilical cord. Using that conduit, it also eliminates the unborn baby’s waste, purifying its growing system. Some who have birthed a child choose to keep their placenta (converted to powdered or pill form) to use as a nutritional supplement in the pursuit of regulated energy and hormone levels in addition to healthier chest milk. Medical professionals differ in their assessments of the effectiveness of this practice and some warn that it may actually contribute to illness.

Founded by Margaret Sanger in 1916, this non-profit organization (Planned Parenthood Federation of America) offers a range of health resources—reproductive and otherwise—to communities, beginning in Brooklyn, NY and now operating throughout the entire United States. Services provided by Planned Parenthood include, but are not limited to: chest exams, access to birth control and emergency contraceptives, HIV and other STD testing and treatment, cancer screenings, hormone treatment for transgender patients, and more. Centered in the nation’s reproductive rights debate for decades, the organization has consistently advocated for people with vaginas to have access to and agency regarding the full range of medical choices related to pregnancy, including abortion (perhaps the most politcally polarizing among them). For this reason, the organization’s clinics have faced protests, been the target of threats, incurred vandalism, and even been the victims of a mass shooting from individuals or groups opposed to Planned Parenthood’s providing of economically accessible pregnancy terminations. They remain undeterred and as of 2014, report being the largest single reproductive health service provider in the United States.

This component of the menstrual cycle occurs after ovulation and is characterized by a thickening of the uterine wall and high bodily production levels of progesterone. This spike in hormonal production can sometimes trigger amplification of one’s emotions. Often known as “PMS”, or “Premenstrual Syndrome”, the heightened emotions of this phase of the menstrual cycle has often been unfairly framed as a deterrent to female authority throughout history.

The practice of being in a committed relationship (sexual, romantic, etc.) with more than one person. A polyamorous person may engage in what is colloquially known as a “throuple,” with three people making relationship decisions and having relationship experiences similar to a monogamous couple, just with an additional person. I.e. Person A, B, and C are all involved in the same, single relationship. Lesser-known is “single polyamory,” where a single individual has relationships with multiple people (all of whom know about each other) but the relationships do not intersect. Instead Person A sees Person B, and on a separate occasion, Person C, but the two relationships (A and B, A and C) remain separate. While a polyamorous person is considered non-monogamous, a non-monogamous person is not polyamorous by default. An example of non-polyamorous non-monogamy may be a couple who has threesomes. This single couple is in a single relationship, with a third person brought in occasionally, but only for “threesome” reasons (whatever the threesome experience might entail), and does not get the same relationship privileges the couple has (however, a third must always be treated with care and respect despite not being in the relationship).

This term refers to a classification of chemical recreational drugs (alkyl nitrites) that when inhaled through the nose often stimulate a relaxation of muscles in the sphincter and/or vagina. Some users go further to assert that they stimulate libido, heightening bodily sensation, and amplifying orgasm. Originally popularized by the gay community (and other cis-men who have sex with men) in the 70s, their use has remained part of many’s anal sex tool kit for decades since. Technically these chemicals cannot be sold as drugs, so they are often packaged as video-head cleaners (oddly, even long after VHS tapes have gone the way of dinosaurs) or some other form of cleaning product in order to legally be sold above-the-counter at sex shops, where they are often retailed. Like all drugs—especially those not regulated by the government for consistency in formulation and accurate assessment of concentration—responses can vary widely by the individual; poppers have been said to cause light headedness, shortness of breath and, in extreme cases, loss of consciousness, and/or cardiopulmonary failure. While the medical community has never approved of their use, physicians realize these drugs remain part of the sexual practices of many, and advise in the event that they are used that they not be mixed with alcohol or other narcotics.

This term refers to visual media (photos, videos, films, etc.) of a sexually explicit nature. Although what is and is not porn has been debated for centuries, United States Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once famously said during a 1964 obscenity trial, “I know it when I see it.” The industry responsible for its production has historically primarily serviced the tastes of cis-heterosexual men, but has diversified substantially as cis-women and the LGBTQIA+ communities have gained political and consumer power.

This phenomenon describes the sudden lucidity and/or sobriety that penis owners experience after they’ve ejaculated (although this feeling certainly isn’t limited to one gender or sexual orientation). A crashing back to reality, if you will – and while some may feel it in the context of realizing they’ve made a terrible choice in sexual partner post-orgasm, there are others who may experience it after masturbating and find themselves in a mindset better suited for problem solving. Oftentimes, post nut clarity is rooted in shame surrounding the choices the person experiencing it has made as a result of previous overwhelming horniness, which in this sense would make it the cousin of another marvel defined in this Sexpedia: the Strobe Light Honey.

Unfortunately, it is common for domestic abuse to continue even after a victim leaves their abuser. Post separation abuse is extremely prevalent as the immediate period post-separation is one of the most dangerous for a victim. Post separation abuse has 8 commonly recognized forms, which experts place in a ‘wheel’ as they can be cycled through several times over as part of overall patterns. These include: economic abuse; legal abuse; isolation; monitoring, stalking and harassment; threats; sexual abuse; child abuse and/or neglect (in situations where the abuse and victim share a child); and counter-parenting (in situations where the abuser and victim share a child).

This term refers to the emotionally deflated space many individuals enter upon giving birth. It is a more severe and sustained version of what is often referred to as “the baby blues” and can be triggered by a host of factors including (but not limited to) experiencing a dramatic dip in hormone production after the baby is born, managing dramatic environmental changes as a result of that event, and navigating the intensified personal responsibilities and identity crisis associated with being a new parent. Treatments for this phenomenon are predominantly psychotherapeutic, allowing those experiencing it to build processing tools and experience empathy from those around them.

In response to decades of community celebration of the “Top” (or the dominant/giving sexual role) this term of reclaimed empowerment was developed within the gay community by those who did not feel as though their sexual autonomy—or authority even—could be compromised by their enjoyment of being on the penetratively receptive end of sex.

This is the duration leading up to birth—generally 40 weeks—during which a fetus develops within the uterus. This period of time is both life changing physically and emotionally, as the pregnant person’s body adapts to grow and sustain life up through delivery. Pregnancy is broken over 3 periods of time called trimesters, each with their own set of developmental milestones. Those carrying babies benefit tremendously from receiving regular care from licensed physicians during this time as diligent monitoring of their’s and their baby’s progress helps to realize healthy, complication-free birthing.

An acronym for Pre Exposure Prophylaxis, this once-a-day prescription, HIV transmission prevention medication (taken orally as a pill), was released in US markets in 2012. It would work to help stem the toll that HIV/AIDS continued to take, reducing transmission-via-sex risks by 90% with proper medication adherence. In late 2020 the World Health Organization announced successful trials of an alternative once-every-2-months injection option targeted at cis-gendered women globally. It is important to note that while these medications prove highly effective in combating the transmission of HIV/AIDS, they do not mitigate the transmission of a host of other STDs nor are they a form of birth control.

These annual celebrations of the LGBTQIA+ community (primarily occurring in the month of June as a commemoration of 1969’s Stonewall Riots) take place globally, allowing people worldwide to gather in the spirit of affirming the queer community’s continued journey toward equity.

This is the unwanted release of semen—often accompanied by orgasm—experienced prior to the desired moment of climax. Sexual inexperience, extended durations of abstinence, and performance anxiety are among the various causes.

This hormone (produced primarily by the ovaries after the monthly release of an egg) is a key initiator of menstruation and internal regulator of pregnancy. Insufficient levels often lead to complications.

These parts-of-speech refer to people, places, or things (without using proper names) and are traditionally gendered (female: she, her, hers; male: he, him, his) based upon the observer’s assumptions. In contrast with this presumptive tradition, contemporary cultural dialogues have centered the practice of asking someone what pronouns they would prefer and using traditionally plural pronouns (they, them, their, theirs) when referencing an individual until they have offered their preferred pronouns.

This silver-dollar-sized gland (possessed by those with a penis) is located below the bladder. It creates semen—the nutrient rich fluid in which sperm travel—and can be a chief source of sexual pleasure when stimulated via internal or external touch. Roughly 1 in 9 people with prostates will develop cancer in this gland within their lifetime, so medical officials recommend getting regular screenings at 50 or earlier if they have a family history of the disease.

Throughout this biological transition—an exit from one’s childhood and entrance into the fully functioning sexual maturity of one’s adulthood—a dramatic increase occurs in the body’s generation of sex-related hormones. As a result, a range of sexual maturity markers (among them: sexual organ and pubic hair growth, chest development, voice deepening, menstruation, and facial hair) emerge. These can be accompanied by challenging elements of the transitional experience including acne, voice cracking, sore nipples, and the various insecurities they often trigger. For these reasons, perhaps it’s best to view this transition as a pathway (rocky and winding as it may be) as opposed to a final destination.

These are regions on the body near the genitals with a high concentration of hair follicles. Within these regions—around the labia minora and on the labia majora, the mons pubis, and directly above the penis—hair grows with greater density, biologically creating what would have served as warmth and/or protection for our sexual organs eons ago. Contemporary cultural, ethnic, and media-influenced norms have contributed to various grooming conventions regarding pubic hair (from “full bush” to “landing strip” to “barely there” to “bald eagle”) that may utilize techniques such as waxing, trimming, chemically straightening or laser removal to achieve desired grooming conventions. Many within the Feminist community—working to remove the aesthetic stigma from un-alterered vulva hair—assert that its denigration is largely a result of the hetero-cis-male sexual fascination with pre-pubescent cis-female reproductive organs and perceived virginity.

This sound—often described as a moist, gurgled wind-release—is made by the vaginal canal expelling trapped air during (or shortly thereafter) a penetrative act or even while in yoga class!

This term originated as an insult, hurled against those believed to be non-heterosexual but has since been reclaimed by that community as a means of radically embracing non-heteronormative identities and ideologies.

his is an act of forced non-consensual intimate activity. Historically viewed primarily through the lens of vaginal penetration by one with a penis, contemporary legal and cultural definitions now consider a broader spectrum of gender dynamics—as well as a wider range of activities and situations— that can compromise an individual’s sexual agency. Regardless of the perceived severity of the act, the key distinction to be measured is whether or not consent was freely given. “Freely given” here means that a person was not “talked into” the act, manipulated by any means, nor given “half of the truth,” meaning the context shifted outside of what had been previously discussed or implied, and, of course that a person said, “Yes,” when asked to move forward. Many psychologists locate control and violent intentions—in alignment with denying survivors their right to or not to consent—as chief motivation on the part of the perpetrator as opposed to or in addition to sexual desire. As a result of evolving cultural dialogues like the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, survivors are increasingly afforded greater levels of empowerment and affirmation as society better acknowledges their experiences and affords greater resources for care, advocacy, and counseling. RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) is among one of the greatest resources for suvivors, helping to bring them into contact with centers and hotlines near them. College campuses and some businesses have also invested in these practices, holding space for help, counseling, and advocacy. You can visit them at: RAINN.org.

The deliberate decision to forgo condom use during penetrative sex. This term is most often utlized within the hetero-cis community but traces similar roots to the gay community’s interchangeable uses of the terms “raw” and “bare-back”. Condoms—when used correctly during all sexual encounters—have proven to be 98% effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy while significantly impeding the transmission of many STDs.

This is the practice of making privately shared intimate photos or videos public for vindictive purposes - meaning, without the subject’s consent. It has emerged largely as a result of the smartphone revolution which granted unprecedented amounts of people the ability to instantly capture and share intimate media of themselves; often they create and/or share these pics and videos with little or no confirmation of confidentiality. Adding complexity to this phenomenon is the potential for child pornography charges to be pressed in the event that parties depicted in images or video are not of the legal age necessary to consent to appearing in adult media. As of 2020, 46 US states, as well as Australia, Israel, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada--to name a few--have laws prohibiting revenge porn.

This landmark 1973 United States Supreme Court case ensured that a pregnant individual ultimately could make their own decision regarding giving birth or terminating the pregnancy without excessive intervention on the part of legislation. On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned this decision, referring the legality of abortion back to the individual states, many of which have or have intentions to outlaw abortion entirely. This can, and will, lead to hundreds of thousands of illegally performed (and therefore, high risk) abortions in the US anually.

This form of consensual bondage utilizes ropes as a means of restraining a bottom partner, done by a top partner. The ritual may be experienced sexually or not, and can have the capacity to serve as a conduit for healing previous and present traumas. As with all acts that so heavily engage vulnerability, consent and negotiation are key.

TRIGGER WARNING: The following glossary entry addresses a historic figure’s legacy as it pertains to child abuse.
This French nobleman’s penchant for the enjoyment of dominant, but also abusive, sexual practice is at the etymological root of the word “sadistic”. A revolutionary, often-imprisoned political thinker and scribe—having authored a substantial catalog of philosophical tomes including Misfortunes of Virtue, The 120 Days of Sodom, and Philosophy in the Bedroom. He is most known for his belief in unbridled sexuality, and often engaging the non-consensual infliction of pain upon his partners—some of whom were children. Ultimately, though his writings may have worked to expose the key moral hypocrisies of the upper class, his penchant for sexual abuse has rendered him unsympathetic in the contemporary assessment of many.

Named after the Marquis de Sade—an 18th century French nobleman perhaps more famous for his abusive, sexually dominant predilections than his collection of published literary works—this is the range of acts characteristic of deriving sexual pleasure from inflicting pain (physical or psychological) upon, and/or humiliating, another. Here the “dom”, “top”, “master”, or “mistress” (among an array of terms) exerts control of a subordinate partner, allowing or denying mobility, cessation of torturous sensation, or pleasure as deemed fit.

This is a designated word or words within the BDSM practice that ensures no thresholds for pain, restriction, fatigue, or integrity will be crossed. It is agreed upon by all parties involved prior to engaging intimately and it’s strictly observed. There can be many safe words that vary from dynamic to dynamic, however, on average, there are two types: yellow and red. Much like traffic lights, a “yellow” safe word can mean “pause” or “take it down a notch”. A person who calls their yellow safe word doesn’t want the scene to stop, but for reasons such as overwhelm, they just need the scene/play to continue at a slower or less intense rate. When a “red” safe word is called it means “stop,” and the scene/play ends as swiftly and as safely as possible. From there all parties can move into conversation and/or aftercare. It is important to note that safe BDSM players--even professionals!--use safe words before entering into a scene, however, there may be other players out there who don’t believe in its practice or refuse to administer it outright. While a safe word may not ever get the chance to be called (as is the goal) a safe and seasoned player will never forgo the use of one--please keep this in mind when vetting future play partners.

This term describes someone who is sexually aroused by, and/or attracted to intelligence. Some who identify as sapiosexual only care about the other person’s intellect, while others may identify as heterosexual or within the LGBTQ+ spectrum, as well as sapiosexual. Debate is ongoing as to whether sapiosexuality is an orientation or a fetish. As long as their object of desire has a big… brain.

This term refers to a sexual subculture’s shared fascination with a unique facet of their sexual identity or practice. It may be related to a fetish (lingerie), an act (jerking off), or an identity (doms or subs) among the range of sexual niches within which individuals find community. In the BDSM community, “scene” is often synonymous with “play” and/or the act of people stepping into their Dominant/submissive/etc. roles with their partner(s) (sexual, platonic, etc). This is called a scene as the dominant or top has planned what is going to happen (leaving some room for things to play out organically) and each partner moves into their negotiated roles (Dom/sub/etc.), not unlike enacting a scene from a play.

While “tribbing” is technically the sexual act of two people with vaginas rubbing their vulvas together, “scissoring” is the position in which partners splay their legs—appearing much like two scissors attempting to cut each other—and grind their hips to achieve stimulation. . While scissoring is commonly associated with people with vaginas (with vulva-to-vulva partners achieving clitoral stimulation), this position can be done by people of any gender and doesn’t have to include gential-to-genital friction. In fact, it can include thigh, chest, or face rubbing, making it similar to “humping”.

This wrinkled sac sits below the base of the penis and contains the testicles. It often contracts— pulling the testicles closer to the body—when in cold temperatures or during moments of heightened sexual arousal.

This is the contemporary ideology around, and practice of, investing time, thought, and resources in affirming, nourishing, and prioritizing oneself. It is largely birthed out of societal, familial, and romantic demands that we put others’ needs before our own, often to the detriment of our own well-being. It also works to have us affirm ourselves in terms of value instead of assessing our value solely based upon the perceptions others have for us.

This is the semi-clear, grey-white liquid expressed upon orgasm from the gonads through the urethra during penile ejaculation. This liquid’s purpose is primarily to provide a nutrient-rich temporary home for sperm as they journey in pursuit of fertilizing an egg.

This is both known as the enjoyment or pursuit of physical pleasure and the embodiment of being appealing to the senses. Sensuality is the ability to inspire sexual thoughts or feelings by non-overtly sexual means. Some may find poetry or music to be sensual, perfume or certain clothing textures. Much like sexuality and what turns us on, the everyday situations we find ourselves in can have us feeling hot and bothered from something as simple as a bare shoulder or water lapping at rocks (or, dare we say, these words themselves).

This neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger that is released from the body to the brain) is present in the blood, and helps stabilize our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness, earning this neurotransmitter the nickname of “The Happy Chemical”. It also aids in proper sleep and digestion. A lack of serotonin may cause depression, anxiety, and sleep trouble. It is for this reason that many doctors and/or psychiatrists recommend the use of SSRIs (or “selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors'') to help with the side-effects of low serotonin levels. For instance, those experiencing a low sex drive may be suffering from a lack of serotonin, so it is best to chat with a doctor or psychologist if one notices a significant change in sexual appetite.

The acronyms for “Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act” and “Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act”, laws which were passed in 2018 under the Trump Administration. The intention behind these laws was to restrict and outright ban any and all websites and online content that facilitated sex trafficking. However, as a result of this policing, many sex workers and sex educators have been shadowbanned on platforms like Instagram, or outright kicked off of the internet, for using online spaces. Politically, “sex trafficking” and “prostitution” are synonymous terms, but in reality there is a large difference between sex trafficking (involuntary) and sex work (voluntary). For sex workers, these laws have put them into dangerous positions, as it also affects private networks. As a result, digital networks such as Backpage, used by sex workers to compare notes on prospective clients, share information on past (potentially violent) clients, and even use private messaging features on social networks to create--and keep--a safe community, have left them in a dangerous and vulnerable position. With all of the virtual means of sex work taken away, this also requires sex workers who conducted business all, mostly, or occasionally online, to go out into the world to advertise and gain new clientele. Without these resources available to them, meeting a prospective client in person, who one has little-to-no references on, can cost a sex worker their life. A 2017 study performed by Baylor and West Virginia Universities showed that when Craigslist offered an erotic services section, female homicide was down by 17.4%; whereas statistics regarding previous laws in sex trafficking are inconclusive, conflation has rendered the statistics unreliable, and the data sourced often does not delineate sex work and sex trafficking. On the other hand, in the early 2000s a few countries decriminalized sex work, leading to satistics like that from Germany which saw a drop in sex trafficking as a result.

This word refers to the range of ways by which we derive pleasure from intimate contact with others. Historically, it has been assigned the primary purpose of reproduction and viewed primarily through a hetero-normative, binary lens (aka, intercourse between a person with a penis and another with a vagina). In contemporary society, however, sex might encompass fingering, blow jobs, and/or more; while others may define it as being what happens when genitals penetrate other genitals. For some, the term is defined by acts of penetration (gentials, fingers, toys), for some the exchange of bodily fluids is required, and for others yet, the parameters are purely established by the mind’s response to sensual interaction with another.

This term is utilized to designate who you are and who you sleep with based upon your gender (socially perceived, and/or self-defined) and your intimate partner’s gender (socially perceived, and/or self-defined). The cultural dialogue regarding sexual orientation is evolving beyond the traditional limited set of options (heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual) within which we were all conventionally expected to fit, toward a more inclusive array of distinctions (pansexaul, asexual, sapiosexual and beyond) and agency in creating even more new language that allows each individual the ability to accurately describe how their sexual attraction is currently functioning.

This social movement, starting in the 1960s and continuing through the 1970s, upended previous generations’ societal norms regarding sex, marriage, and gender roles (among countless other facets of culture). The birth control pill’s entrance into US markets in 1960, the publication of Betty Freidan’s The Feminine Mystique in 1963, greater numbers of female-identifying people pursuing conventionally cis-male-centric professions, and the mid-sixties pop culture “youthquake” were among the simultaneously influential factors that dramatically pivoted a range of social attitudes; among them, those regarding casual sex, cohabitation before marriage, and people with vaginas finding purpose outside of motherhood could not be ignored. “Free Love”, Second Wave Feminism, and the Stonewall Riots of 1969 are all movements and events associated with the Sexual Revolution. However, it would be decades before the ostensibly hetero-normative lens through which these conversations were being viewed would be shattered, ushering in similar tides of tumultuous change in regard to the LGBTQIA+ community.

This term refers to the practice of creating experiences of a sexual nature as a source of income. These experiences can be realtime, in-person (performing sex acts, escorting, professional dominant services, intimate massage), documented acts or images (video, photo porn, OnlyFans), or virtual (streamed video web chats, phone sex). While sex work has the term “sex” in it, penetration or what may be traditionally considered to be “sex” is not always performed. Stripping is a form a sex work, for instance, that involves sexual provocation but as the bouncer will tell you, “Don’t touch the dancers”. In the US, the legality of these practices varies by state but one thing is certain: they should generally only be embarked upon by consenting, of-legal-age individuals.

Originally the shorthand for “simpleton”, this contemporary colloquial phrase refers to a person who continues to make themself readily available for, and gives enthusiastic attention to, someone who does not reciprocate their actions or feelings.

This is a sex position in which two people give each other oral sex simultaneously. The visual of this act reflects the number 69, with both people’s faces near the others’ genitalia. This position can be done with one partner lying on top of the other, or both partners lying on their sides.

This term—derived from the name of an ancient Jordan River-adjacent town, Biblically stigmatized as a result of its citizens’ immorality—encompasses a range of sexual acts (anal and oral sex among them) deemed immoral due to their lack of procreative purpose. The term has also often been used perjoratively, and in legal contexts applied to same-sex intercourse between cis-men.

This is a form of therapy intended to treat mental health and trauma, such as PTSD, by exploring the connections between mind and body. This differs from many traditional forms of therapy, which focus primarily on the mind, and may not necessarily take into account the ways in which the body holds on to past experiences, traumas and/or injuries that cannot be addressed with talk therapy alone.

This term refers to various forms of medical intervention that work as permanent birth control. While options like tubal ligation or “getting your tubes tied” (for those with ovaries) and vasectomy (for those with a penis) provide permanent prevention of pregnancy, they do not provide any STD prevention; barriers like condoms or dental dams may still be wise decisions as one navigates sex.

This acronym stands for Sexually Transmitted Infections, or infections which have been spread through sexual contact, typically vaginal, anal, and/or oral. These can include (but are not limited to) chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis, pubic lice, HIV, trichomonas, and HPV. Some symptoms of an STI include: sores or bumps on the genitals or in the oral or rectal area, painful or burning urination, discharge from the penis, unusual or odd-smelling vaginal discharge and/or vaginal bleeding, and pain during sex. It is important to note that many STIs have no symptoms at all, which is why it is essential to get tested regularly. To reduce likelihood of STI contraction or transmission, condoms, gloves, and dental dams are among the most effective methods. Please be sure to check the expiration dates of these products, and keep latex condoms/dental dams away from oil/oil-based lubricants as the oil will corrode the latex. If using oil based products, be sure to use nitrile or polyurethane barriers.

This event is generally credited as being among the chief catalysts for the American LGBTQ+ rights movement. From June 28th to July 3rd 1969, demonstrations spurred by a police raid of the Stonewall Inn (a West Village bar with primarily gay cis-male patronage) brought tensions between New York City’s queer community and law enforcement officials to a head. While their names would go under-acknowledged for decades after the 1969 demonstrations, two trans women-of-color, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, have more-recently been located within the narrative of the riots as key organizers and perhaps those who took the most vocal initial stand against police. In commemoration of their work and the landmark demonstrations, regional queer communities around the globe now hold Pride celebrations throughout the month of June.

Scientifically, stress is the body’s and brain’s response to any challenge--be it a change of environment, a task to finish for work or school, or even trauma.. If under stress for an extended period of time, it can negatively affect various health conditions (cardiopulmonary, respiratory, and neurological among a host of others). The potential ways that stress can negatively affect our health can be mitigated, however; proper diet, regular exercise, meditation, and therapeutic counseling are among some of the best preventative measures we can take for managing the way stress impacts our overall well-being.

This term is grafted from the 1991 Black Sheep single of the same name, which considers the tendency of certain people we find attractive under a nightclub’s strobe lights to appear remarkably less attractive in broad daylight. The term allegorically speaks to the notion that sometimes our attraction is more influenced by the environment in which it is occurring than even the object to which it is being pulled.

This term refers to a person who, within the BDSM community, relinquishes control in a power exchange dynamic. In intimate situations it is the role that complies with the dominant partner’s or partners’ directions (within the agreed upon parameters of negotiation). Submissives are encouraged to discuss their boundaries in the form of "hard" (absolutely not) and "soft" (maybe, if I feel more comfortable) no's during negotiation (as are dominants). In many Dominant/submissive (or D/s) relationships, the submissive may go by such names as "baby", "pet", "slave", etc., all depending on what was agreed upon during negotiations. Conventionally, the role has been equated with the ["bottom" but a submissive can take on many roles (and positions!) in accordance with their dominant's/dominants' direction(s) (and previously discussed negotiations).

This practice provides those who would like to have a child but are unable to carry one (or choose not to) with the option of having an alternate person do so in their stead. The person selected to carry the baby may provide the egg for the baby, or may utilize an egg supplied by one of the prospective parents initiating the process. Along with this medical process, comprehensive legal documents must be signed by all parties in order to establish terms of compensation and who has long-term parenthood. Surrogacy may be a legally-complicated endeavor depending on your location; for instance, in the United States only 11 states are considered “surrogacy-friendly”, and several European countries have banned the practice outright.

This is a slang term that generally refers to the vagina’s expulsion of fluid during moments of heightened arousal. Though often confused with vaginal ejaculation, many scientists draw a distinction between the two; vaginal ejaculate is fluid of a creamier consistency, believed currently to be released from the Skene’s glands, which can be called the “female prostate”. Squirting refers to a more water-like substance currently believed to originate in the bladder, and what we usually see in pornography is this liquid from the bladder being expelled in large quantities--although for those of you at home, you may find your experience to be more of a trickle and less of a splash (this is both due to some porn actors using water enemas and/or perhaps a lack of hydration--drink water!). Shockingly (or not so shockingly), the medical community hadn’t thoroughly explored these phenomena until relatively recently. Thank you to Kenneth Play & Dr. Zhana for contributing their research to this definition.

This is a term for a pelvically harnessed dildo, utilized by those without a penis (or without a penis capable of sustaining a satisfactory erection) for the purpose of sexually penetrating another. Most often associated with mainstream Lesbian sex, cis-straight couples have adopted its use more regularly with the growing acceptance of “pegging”.

This term refers to an orally receptive participant's consumption of semen upon their partner’s climax during fellatio. It is among the most symbolically weighted facets of “blow job” culture —conventionally, seen through cis-male-centric cultural lenses—evidencing the orally receptive participant’s commitment to pleasing their partner by swallowing. This may be true, but the capacity for some orally receptive participants to authentically desire and enjoy this component of the act is true as well. Diet can affect the taste of semen, so some penis-owners may take care to consider that perhaps they are literally not to their partner’s taste. Things become a bit more complicated when explicit consent isn’t rendered; is this “big gulp” implicitly agreed upon when one engages in giving head? Most professionals in the sexuality and wellness community assert “NO!”, and add that perhaps the best practice here would be deferring to orally receptive partners’ decisions regarding the age-old conundrum: to spit or to swallow?

This is an acronym for the term Sex-Worker-Exclusionary Radical Feminist. It describes those who ascribe to the tenets of mainstream feminism but do not hold space within that community for sex workers (often as a result of seeing the adult industry and sex work as inherently misogynistic and/or exploitative of cis-women). In contrast, a growing number of feminists are finding ways to embrace people in adult industries and sex work who identify as women and/or feminists as they carve greater spaces for professional and cultural equity.

Often associated with the 1970 Sexual Revolution’s erosion of age-old sexual taboos, this term refers to a community that swapped sexual partners at arranged encounters or events. From sex clubs, seedy motels, to suburban cocktail parties, swingers explored the dismantaling of rigid monogamy that would evolve into today’s ideologies of open relationships and polyamory.

This term ecompasses a range of mystical practices and principles rooted in South Asian Hindu and/or Buddhist faiths. In more contemporary contexts—via weaving a hybrid of sexual and spiritual ritual—it pursues heightened sensual receptivity, often achieved through prolonged intimate stimulation.

Originating in the 1950s and 1960s and commonly taking place on Fire Island, NY, tea dances were gatherings hosted for gay men on Sunday afternoons. Gay bars were constantly raided by police during this era (a phenomenon which would provoke the Stonewall Riots of 1969), where in New York state it was illegal to serve alcohol to people who were known to be homosexual. These events were held in the more remote enclaves outside of Manhattan where it was far less likely that law enforcement would interfere. Nowadays, as seen in the popular film Fire Island (2022), tea dances are still held on Sunday afternoons across the country, although they have evolved to include alcohol and thumping dance music as times, and the law, have changed.

Just as one dunks a tea bag into a cup to infuse hot water, this sex act describes someone ‘dunking’ their testicles repeatedly into another (consenting) person’s open mouth.

This is an acronym for the term Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist. It describes those who ascribe to the tenets of mainstream feminism but do not hold space within that community for trans women (often as a result of seeing cis-gendered womanhood as a unique and singular experience, deserving of its own political organizing and advocacy). In contrast, a growing number of feminists are finding ways to embrace the full range of individuals who identify as women as they carve greater spaces for societal and cultural equity.

Also known as “balls”, these cis-male sexual organs (as per medical community designations) located within the scrotum below the penis, produce not only sperm but testerone, the hormone most associated with development of cis-male sex traits. They can be incorporated into sexual activity, and the connotation around the phrase "grow a pair" implies a (false) lack of masculinity. Medical professionals recommend that routine testicular self-examinations (checking for lumps or irregularities in shape) begin at age fifteen and continue through age forty in order to avoid a late cancer diagnosis.

This is the primary cis-male sexual hormone, largely responsible for regulating the development and operation of the body’s cis-male reproductive organs and socially male-gendered secondary characteristics (voice, musculature, body hair etc.). The medical community has developed treatments that utilize this hormone within gender confirmation therapies for trans individuals (sometimes in this context it is known colloquially as “T”). Administration of hormone therapy is utilized to increase musculature, deepen voice tone, and stimulate facial hair growth among a range of other secondary sexual characteristics.

These are pronouns that those who choose to identify as non-binary or gender non-conforming increasingly embrace a means of having language more accurately express their self-assessed gender identity. Accordingly—and in contrast with the custom of simply assuming what someone’s preferred pronouns might be—contemporary cultural dialogues have centered the practice of asking someone what pronouns they would prefer and using traditionally plural pronouns (they, them, their, theirs) when referencing an individual until they have offered their preferred pronouns.

This mobile-boom-era acronym stands for That Hoe Out There. At times, it is applied to those (primarily female-identifing) who non-self consciously embrace the capacity sex has to secure them financial, material, and experiential benefits; at others it is hurled as a derisive new embodiment of the age-old “gold-digger” archetype.

Also known as a ménage à trois or “three-way”, this is a sexual encounter enjoyed by three people—three individuals or a couple along with a third individual—as opposed to the conventional two. Achieving an equitable distribution of desire, attraction, attention, and sexual fulfilment can prove challenging; explicit consent and thorough communication are integral tools in avoiding a “2 outta three ain’t bad” dynamic.

This law—among those passed as part of 1972’s federal Civil Rights Act—prohibits sex-based discrimination within educational institutions that are in any way federally subsidized. In 2002, it was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in honor of the Asian American congresswoman who had boldly penned the legislation’s first drafts.

This role’s name evolved as a result of the penetrative/receptive conventions of the anal intercourse that gay cis-men commonly engage in, but has now come to exemplify the adoption of the giving (as opposed to the receiving) sexual role.

This term refers to the surgical removal of the breasts and is clinically called a subcutaneous mastectomy. Many of those who are transitioning from female to male or (for our non-binary friends) are affirming their identity through surgery undergo this procedure to make their anatomy align with their self-assessed sex or personal perception. In instances where a patient has a relatively small chest prior to surgery, the nipple and areola can be preserved and repositioned.

This term refers to the conventions of social male-gendered performative behaviour responsible for creating a culture that is both misogynistic (often viewing women-identifying people simultaneously as purely sexual objects and the antagonistic “other”) and inequitable to those who embody unconventional manhood. It has historically thrived in spaces like fraternities, professional sports, and the military, where cis-men are regularly pushed to compete for “alpha” status, often manifesting in the form of crippling insecurities and self-loathing. In its identification, contemporary cultural dialogues have worked to dismantle the systems we teach cis-boys and men a non-empathetic, emotionally suppressive, “Boys-don’t-cry”, survival-of-the-fittest code of maleness, allowing a restorative and ever-widening spectrum of ways to be a man.

This is a medical condition caused by a severe bacterial infection (usually a staph infection). It often occurs as a result of feminine hygiene products (like tampons) becoming an unintentional incubation and breeding ground for bacteria; certain brands of super absorbent tampons were removed from retail shelves as a result of the condition occurring in a disproportionate amount of users. While the best defense against the onset of the condition is the regular changing of femine hygiene products like tampons, it can occur quickly and warrants immediate medical attention. If key symptoms—high temperature, fainting, diarrhea, a sunburn-like rash, and bright red tones occurring on one’s lips, tongue, and within one’s eyes—occur, immediately see a physician as the quickly escalating condition can prove fatal within a matter of days.

This term refers to those whose medically-assessed sex does not allign with their self-assessed gender identity and/or sex. These individuals may or may not opt to explore a range of medical options that affirm their self-assessed gender and/or sex (chiefly: hormone therapies and gender affirmation surgeries). Emerging conversations within the trans community consider trans-identity less through an event-based lens (“before transition” vs. “after transition”, “pre-op” vs. “post-op”) and more through a journey-based lens (“transitioning”), allowing endless personal locations on a trans continuum of identity, experience, and practice.

This term refers to unsubstantiated fears in relation to, and unwarranted stigmatization of, trans individuals and/or the trans community. Beyond merely creating social hindrances for trans persons, its prevalence has resulted in various forms of anti-trans legislation (for example, “Bathroom Bills”) that do not afford trans persons the same rights as their cis-gender counterparts.

This term refers to the residual effects endured after a negatively impactful experience or event, which can include sexual experiences, environmental or political disasters, violence or even car accidents. Sometimes these traumas are easily recognized, while in other instances—locked away by the psyche—they aren’t as easy to pinpoint and address. Though introspective self-analysis can be a very constructive means of addressing traumatic experiences, one shouldn’t feel obligated to embark upon this work alone; mental health professionals are among some of the most effective resources for those attempting to process disturbing experiences.

This term is utilized by the psychological community to identify facets of life—often, seemingly innocuous—that when encountered unearth previous trauma. Becoming aware of one’s triggers and communicating them to family, friends, and romantic/sexual partners is a key strategy for reducing the risk of re-engaging painful prior experiences unwittingly.

This term (originating in North American Indigenous communities) describes those that feel they embody both conventionally female and male essences.

This is an abbreviation for “Uniform Resource Locator”, another term for web address, but is now known as a way to designate activity that is happening online, as opposed to “IRL”, or “in real life”.

For people with vaginas, this hollow chamber is located between the bladder and the rectum. Its lining is generally shed monthly as part of menstruation after the luteal phase. In contrast, when pregnancy is achieved, its lining serves as a protective and nourishing home for a fertilized egg as it develops into a fetus.

This is an abbreviation of the term Urinary Tract Infection, an infectious bacterial, fungal, or (in rarer cases) viral presence in one or some of the organs that comprise the urinary tract (the bladder, kidney, ureters, or urethra). Sexual intercourse is one of the most frequent causes of tiny foreign presences getting caught in the urethra but then again, so is something as seemingly innocuous as post-urination wiping from back to front instead of from front to back. Vagina-owners should take care to urinate after sex, as it cleanses the urethra of the bacteria that commonly causes such an infection. For people with penises, some common causes of UTIs are: sex, STDs, prostate issues, prostate infection, among others. Enduring the condition can mean experiencing frequent stinging, odorous urination, sustained fatigue, and lower abdominal pain. Treating it is possible via prescription antibiotics, but can also be pursued through the consumption of cranberry juice and/or probiotics in tandem with a re-upping of personal and sexual hygienic practices.

This term often refers to the reproductive organs or genitals that have traditionally determined womanhood, though contemporary dialogues do not essentialize them to one gender. More specifically, it is the muscled path leading from the vulva to the cervix. Having been stigmatized by patriarchal societies as unsanitary and/or indicative of weakness over the course of many eras, culturally, its celebration serves a uniquely affirming purpose for many vested in gender equity.

This liquid—usually of a clear or milky nature and relatively odorless—is secreted from the glands inside the vagina and cervix in order to cleanse the organs of dead cells. For some this may occur daily, for others it may occur less regularly, for most the color and consistency of these secretions will change throughout their menstrual cycle. In the event that the color becomes yellow, grey, or tinted with blood, a cottage cheese-type texture develops, or a foul odor is detected, a physician should be contacted; these can be indications of various infections, ranging from a yeast infection to gonorrhea.

Painful spasms of the vaginal canal’s muscles are the hallmark of this condition, making penetrative sexual activity, gynecological examination, and tampon insertion uncomfortable and challenging. Some people may have the primary iteration, which means they may have never been able to have sex painlessly due to the condition, while someone who has the secondary iteration means that they may have previously enjoyed a quote-unquote "normal" sex life but developed vaginismus over time. It is important to note that vaginismus is both physical and psychological, and there are a range of identified and even some unidentified causes of the condition. Prior sexual trauma, painful intercourse, and unresolved emotional situations are among those currently located. Treatment often engages sexual therapies involving relaxation techniques, but alternatively non-penetrative sexual acts (like oral sex, massage, and frotting) can be explored by those who experience the condition.

Many people have their own opinions about what defines this term. Vanilla sex is generally considered to be the sex that the mainstream assumes is normal. A person or type of sex (i.e. “missionary”) may be considered “vanilla” (i.e.: “basic” or “normal”) because they do not incorporate kink-like practices into their sex lives. When it comes to practiced kinksters and BDSM players, however, “vanilla” can be easily summed up as sex which is not negotiated beforehand. In vanilla sex, traditionally, roles are assumed without the active communication of both partners, with the sex acts meant to be intuited in the moment as opposed to discussed beforehand. For example, there are those who may consider anal sex to be “kinky”, while some kinksters (and cis-gay men) might think of anal sex as relatively normal or “vanilla”.

This surgery operates as a form of birth control. The vas deferens tubes (that supply sperm to semen) are cut and sealed rendering the procedure’s recipient 99% incapable of fertilizing an egg. The procedure is generally performed on an outpatient basis and costs substantially less than the comparable surgery for those capable of carrying a baby (tubal ligation). Also, unlike tubal ligation, a vasectomy is reversible. As a result, it is often a birth control option well-suited for people who have already had children and want to prevent risks of future unwanted pregnancies.

Ranging from the size of a lipstick to that of a rolling pin, this is an electronic device whose pulsations can be used to stimulate oneself or one’s partner(s) sexually. Some are designed for insertion into the vaginal or anal cavities but others can most certainly be used non-penetratively for erogenous zone stimulation.

Simply put, the state of having never had sex. However, this construct has historically occupied a complex space of fascination within patriarchal cultures; people who were raised as cis-women have had their value and virtue too often incumbent on its preservation, while those who maintained it were indefinitely seen as childlike and inexperienced. It was, and is, often proven by a person evidencing that their hymen is unbroken (resulting in some cultures going as far as to surgically narrow vaginal openings against the person’s will, now considered by many human rights organizations to be grounds for refugee status). On the flipside, virginity often posited men-identifying people in spaces of ridicule and/or compromised masculinity, though the specific sex acts that result in its loss for men remained far from definitive (penetrative sex? To the point of orgasm or ejaculation? With female partners only?). In both instances, heteronormative lenses by-and-large framed the conversations, leaving those outside of heteronormativity often stranded in indefinitely murky grey areas. Contemporary dialogues around the necessity for defining queer virginity consider whether or not non-heterosexual individuals require the sexual landmark of “loss of virginity” as they pursue healthy sexual narratives.

This is the sexual enjoyment of consensually viewing others, often as they are undressed or engaged in some form of intimate acts.

The vulva is the visible, external part of cis-female anatomy. Often in society and casual conversation, this area of anatomy is referred to as the vagina which is anatomically untrue; the vagina being an internal canal where penetration can occur and babies may be birthed from. Specifically, the vulva is the landscape where the mons pubis, labia majora and minora, clitoris, and rectum, along with all other external structures, are contained. If the mons pubis and labia, along with the other anatomical features, are the countries, then the vulva is the continent.

This acronym for “Wet-Ass Pussy” is the title of a 2020 chart-topping single recorded by female hip hop artists Cardi B. and Megan Thee Stallion. The single serves as an anthem for many, eroticizing the MCs’ vaginal anatomy in (among a host of other innuendo and pun-laden phrases) a celebratory likening of its moisture to that of “macaroni in a pot”. Although the song became popular, its message of a "wet-ass pussy" has caused those with vaginas some shame for their personal lack of self-lubrication. It is important to note that people with vaginas are 80% more likely to orgasm when lubricant is involved, and vaginal wetness isn't directly related to how "turned on" your partner is. Wet or no, lube is always a good product to have in your nightstand arsenal for extra glide and comfort.

This genre of sex toy (named for the structure of its design and its ease of use via a single hand) utilizes electrical power to vibrate genitals, stimulating a unique pleasure within oneself or one’s partner. Most are similar in shape to a microphone with the handle being long and cylindrical (or short if you’re shopping for a mini) and the head being round. Some pro tips: 1) many with a clitoris say that its stimulation is the most direct path to orgasm 2) across the gender and anatomy spectrum, wand vibrators can be used for rectal stimulation 3) if made of silicone, it’s best to use a water- or oil-based lube with your wand in order to preserve its material longevity. 4) Some wands are “buzzy” or “rumbly” in sensation; experiment and discover which works best for you!

This celebrated Hollywood legend forged a career in entertainment that not only centered her in a host of Hollywood golden-era films, but more “broad-ly” pushed the envelope regarding the ways in which feminine desire was framed on the silver screen. After courting controversy with her active career in vaudeville and on Broadway, she moved to Hollywood in her forties and continued her success on the silver screen. An actress, playwright, composer, songwriter, screenwriter, and singer; her signature, bawdy double-entendres and generally cavalier attitude toward sexuality factored quite controversially throughout Hollywood’s sustained tangle with censorship. For decades, she remained iconic, forging an international career that would have her performing well into her twilight years.

This celebrated sex therapist, author, and Holocaust survivor, Karola Ruth Westheimer became a household name as a result of her landmark radio show, Sexually Speaking. The show—which began in 1980 and ran for a decade—created a space for candid chats about the realities of human sexuality that other programs were generally too timid to address.

The wet dream is most commonly associated with adolescent people with penises who, during puberty, experience arousal in their sleep and wake to find they have ejaculated. This occurrence can happen to anyone regardless of anatomy or age, however. Anyone can wake to find their sheets a little damp or their underwear soaked. The wet dream is a testament to how powerful (and arousing) our own imaginations can be!

The belief and ideology that upholds Euro-centric whiteness as being above, or superior, to all other racial and ethnic groups. Much of Western culture has been built upon these principles.

This is a class system meant to profile sex workers as a means of quantifying different genres of sex workers’ value. This stratification is largely drawn by police intervention and “low-contact” versus “high-contact” sex work. As an example, a stripper, who has little-to-no contact with their clients, and is not subject to police intervention may be seen as “higher” in the whorearchy than a prostitute who has intimate contact with their clients and is constantly at risk of police intervention and involvement. In other words, depending on how accessible and how illegal the sex work, the “lower” in the whorearchy one may be. However, this concept draws battle lines among fellow sex workers where bridges should be built.

Read as “Triple-X” (implying an X-rating at tripled intensity), this is a fictitious rating developed as a marketing strategy within adult industries. The X-rating which it references was assigned by the Motion Picture Association to films assessed to have language, sexual implication, and/or graphic violence inappropriate for viewing by children of any age; even if accompanied by adults, minors were not permitted admission to films of this rating. Greetings (starring Robert De Niro) was the first film to receive this designation in 1968 and by 1972 Deep Throat would disrupt the porn and mainstream film industry's box office strategies by actively courting its notoriety. In 1990—in an effort to distance from the adult industry's active embrace of (and development of quasi-amplified versions of) the X-rating—the MPA introduced the NC-17 rating which is still applied to mainstream films assessed as inappropriate for the viewership of minors today.

This concept of dualism and balance (“Yin” being the receptive and “Yang” being the active) originated in ancient Chinese philosophy. Its symbolization of mutually dependent binary forces can be applied to a range of contexts ranging from conventional assessments of sex (dominant, submissive), gender (male, female), and sexuality (penetrative, receptive), to more esoteric considerations of group psychology and even shadow/light. It centers the notions of balance, equity, and reciprocity in these contexts, fundamentally noting each person’s capacity to exhibit both sides of any coin and the importance of the interconnectedness that both sides play - for instance, the idea that not only do dark and light coexist, the dark needs the light, and vice versa, bringing us to the word’s translation of “dark and bright”.

This term refers to the fungus candida infection, specifically as it affects the vaginal canal and the vulva, although yeast infections can occur in many body parts in all types of people. Symptoms include tissue inflammation, extreme itchiness, and a viscous white liquid discharge. Yeast infections can be a result of many things, including but not limited to antibiotic use, pregnancy, and more. They are very common and are likely to happen to 3 of 4 vagina-owners in their lifetime, often more than once. The good news is the condition can be treated via a single dose of an over-the-counter oral antifungal medication.

This cheeky term of endearment is a play on the word “Daddy” as it is fetishized sexually and romantically. Some find endless allure in the the notion of the paternal role being posited in the game of attraction; others are triggered by the manner terms like this one seem to normalize (or even glamourize) allusions to incest or molestation at a first glance. If you and your partner/s find the wordplay fun andsexy, it can be a fitting means of expressing your brand of attraction, but it is best to thoroughly and thoughtfully assess how the word lands upon different ears.

This term refers to the sperm-fertilized egg. In order to develop into a fetus, the egg must first make its way down and out of a fallopian tube, before taking up residence in the uterine lining. Once fertilized, there it can receive the wealth of nutrients it requires in order to continue healthy growth.