Sex Education Glossary

BACTERIA

Bacteria are one kind of microscopic (too small to see) germ. Many types of bacteria can make people sick or cause infections. Bacteria live in water, dirt, plants, animals or humans. Humans naturally have some in their body already. Humans can also get some from other people when they have unprotected sex. These kinds of BACTERIA can make people sick. There are medicines called ANTIBIOTICS that kill BACTERIA. Bacteria cause some sexually transmitted diseases, for example, chlamyida, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomonas.

BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS (BV)

BV is a vaginal infection, but it is not an STD. BV is actually an overgrowth of normal bacteria in the vagina. Douching can actually increase a woman's chances of getting BV. There are antibiotics and creams that will cure BV.

BARRIER

Something that stops or blocks things from going past it. A wall or a gate is a BARRIER. Condoms act as a barrier of protection between one person's body fluids and another person's body skin. Sheets of latex or plastic wrap can also be used as BARRIERS for ORAL SEX.

BIOPSY

Removal of tissue from the body to determine the cause of a health problem.

BIRTH

When the muscles of the uterus push the baby out through the vagina. "Delivering a baby" is another way to say BIRTH.

BIRTH CONTROL

Phrase often used to mean a method of contraception or pregnancy prevention.

BIRTH CONTROL PILLS

Pills that a woman can take every day to keep from getting pregnant. The pills are made of hormones that work by stopping the ovaries from releasing eggs.

BISEXUAL

A person who is attracted to both males and females. Someone who is BISEXUAL might fall in love or choose to have sexual contact with a male or with a female.

BLOOD BORNE VIRUS

A kind of germ that lives in blood and can't live outside of the blood stream for very long. Air, heat and chemicals can easily kill this type of germ. There are many blood-borne viruses. HIV is a BLOOD BORNE VIRUS. Hepatitis B is another one.