This is when someone has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards more than one gender. This means that someone finds people attractive regardless of their biological sex, gender, or gender identity.

This stands for polycystic ovary syndrome. This is a condition that impacts those with a female reproductive system.

A disease in women, or those assigned female at birth. This can cause chronic pain in the pelvic area, which can lead to an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy and other long-term complications. It can be caused by STIs such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.

When a vagina, or anus is penetrated by someone with a penis, or some sort of object (such as a sex toy).

The sexual organ of someone who is born male. Also called dick or cock.

Once a girl, or someone assigned female at birth, reaches puberty they will have a menstrual bleed, or period, each month. The bleeding happens when an egg is not fertilised and comes out of the vagina along with the thick lining of the womb that builds up each month. The blood usually looks thick and gooey and may be bright red or brown in colour.

Short for premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual tension - a description of the mood changes caused by hormonal changes in the days leading up to someone's period.

When someone has multiple romantic or sexual relationships. This is done with the consent of everyone who is involved.

Films, books or pictures that are intended to make you feel sexually excited.

This is fluid that is released from the penis before someone ejaculates.

The period during which a baby grows in someone's womb. The typical length is 40 weeks.

A test which shows whether or not you are pregnant. You can buy a test from a chemist or supermarket and it will usually contain two sticks which you pee (urinate) on. The tests detect a hormone that is only present in those who are pregnant. Different tests have different indicators to show if you are pregnant, so make sure you read the instructions carefully. Find out more here.

When someone with a penis ejaculates (or cums too soon) or before they want to. There can be a few things that cause this to happen. This could be overexcitement, performance anxiety, inexperience, etc.

PrEP is a drug available on the NHS for people who are at higher risk of getting HIV. When taken correctly, evidence shows that taking PrEP reduces the chance of getting HIV to zero. However, taking PrEP does not prevent infections from other STIs.

The words we use to refer to people’s gender in conversation. For example, ‘he’ or ‘she’. Some people may prefer others to refer to them in gender-neutral language and use pronouns such as ‘they’/‘their’ and ‘ze’/‘zir’.

A walnut-sized gland just below the bladder on someone's body who has a penis. It supplies the fluid to make sperm.

The time when bodies start to change and become more sexually mature. Puberty usually starts between the ages of 9 and 13, although some people are a bit younger or older. Puberty can take some time. It affects you emotionally and physically. Puberty is triggered by certain hormones, or chemicals inside your body. 

The hair that starts to grow around the genitals at puberty. Also known as pubes.

Lice that live only in pubic hair, usually passed on by sexual contact. See our STI page for more information.