Abstinence

the voluntary, conscious practice of refraining from specific, often enjoyable, activities or substances

Amniotic sac

a thin, tough, transparent pair of membranes (the amnion and chorion) that surround a developing fetus in the uterus

Blastocysts

an early-stage embryo, formed 5–6 days after fertilization, consisting of a fluid-filled ball of 100–200 cells

Chromosomes

thread-like structures located inside the nucleus of animal and plant cells, composed of DNA tightly coiled around proteins

Consent

Consent is a free, voluntary, knowing, and active agreement to participate in specific activities, such as sexual acts, and is communicated through clear words or actions. It is not coerced, forced, or implied by silence or past behavior. Consent must be ongoing and can be withdrawn at any time.

Contraceptive

any device, medication, method, or procedure used to prevent pregnancy.

Dating Violence

any type of verbal, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse that occurs between two people identified as being in a dating relationship

Estrogen

Estrogen is a group of primary female sex hormones responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics

Fertilization

the biological process involving the fusion of male and female gametes (sperm and egg) to form a zygote, initiating the development of a new individual organism

Fetus

the unborn offspring of a viviparous mammal, developing from an embryo into a more recognizable form

Harassment

Harassment is unwanted, unwelcome, and uninvited behavior—verbal, physical, or electronic

Healthy Relationships

mutual respect, trust, honesty, and open communication, where both partners feel safe, supported, and free to maintain their individuality

Menstruation

the normal, monthly shedding of the uterine lining (endometrium) in people with a uterus, typically lasting 3–7 days

Ovaries

a pair of small, oval-shaped endocrine glands in the female reproductive system located on either side of the uterus

Puberty

the biological process of physical and hormonal changes through which a child’s body matures into an adult body capable of sexual reproduction

Semen

a thick, whitish-gray bodily fluid released from the male reproductive tract during ejaculation.

Sexual abuse

It is often perpetrated using physical force

Sexually Transmitted Disease or Infection

an infection passed from person to person through vaginal, anal, or oral sexual contact

Sperm

the microscopic, tadpole-shaped male reproductive cells (gametes) produced in the testes, designed to fertilize a female egg (ovum) to create an embryo

Testosterone

the primary male sex hormone and an anabolic steroid,

Zygote

the initial, single cell formed by the union of a female gamete (egg) and a male gamete (sperm) during fertilization