Glossary for the men's and women's sexual health articles

Anatomical terms

• Penis: the male external genital organ, consisting of two corpora cavernosa and one corpus spongiosum surrounding the urethra.
• Corpus cavernosum (corpora cavernosa): two spongy chambers running along the penis that fill with blood to create an erection when stimulated.
• Urethra: the channel that carries urine and semen out of the body in men; in women it carries urine only.
• Testis (testes): the male gonads located in the scrotum, producing sperm and testosterone.
• Scrotum: the skin pouch containing the testes, maintaining a temperature slightly lower than the body core to support sperm development.
• Prostate gland: a gland below the bladder in men, surrounding the urethra, that secretes fluid making up part of the semen.
• Clitoris: a sensitive organ in women, mostly internal, with an erectile structure similar to the corpus cavernosum.
• Vaginal mucosa: the mucous membrane lining the inside of the vagina, secreting lubricating fluid during arousal; depends on estrogen to maintain moisture.
• Uterus: a smooth-muscle organ in women located in the pelvis, where a fetus develops during pregnancy.
• Ovary (ovaries): the female gonads, producing eggs and secreting estrogen and progesterone.
• Pelvic floor: a layer of muscles stretched like a hammock from the pubic bone to the tailbone, supporting the bladder, uterus, and rectum, and participating in erection and bladder control.

Terms for common conditions

• Erectile dysfunction: the repeated inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sex, persisting over time rather than occurring on only a few occasions.
• Premature ejaculation: ejaculation that occurs sooner than the person or their partner desires, with difficulty controlling it and causing distress.
• Difficulty reaching orgasm (anorgasmia): the inability or great difficulty in reaching orgasm despite adequate stimulation, affecting both men and women.
• Prolonged painful erection (priapism): an erection lasting more than 4 hours unrelated to sexual stimulation; this is a urological emergency.
• Painful sex in women (dyspareunia): pain or discomfort in the genital area before, during, or after sex, with many possible causes.
• Vaginismus: involuntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles when anything approaches the vaginal opening, causing pain or making sex impossible.
• Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM): a group of symptoms caused by declining estrogen after menopause, including vaginal dryness, painful sex, and urinary symptoms.
• Vaginal dryness: reduced vaginal secretion, commonly due to low estrogen, stress, or certain drug classes.
• Hypoactive sexual desire disorder: persistent reduction or absence of desire causing distress or affecting daily life, with many psychological and physical causes.

Hormonal terms

• Testosterone: the main sex hormone in men, also present in women in smaller amounts; influences desire, energy, and many other functions.
• Estrogen: the principal group of female sex hormones; maintains the vaginal mucosa, the menstrual cycle, and many other physiological functions.
• Progesterone: a female hormone that fluctuates with the menstrual cycle; influences mood and certain physiological reflexes.
• Oxytocin: a hormone released during close physical contact and orgasm, associated with feelings of bonding and trust.
• Prolactin: a hormone that rises during breastfeeding; can reduce sexual desire and affect estrogen levels.
• Androgen: a group of hormones including testosterone and related compounds, present in both men and women; influences desire in both sexes.
• Nitric oxide: a vascular signaling molecule that stimulates smooth muscle relaxation in the corpus cavernosum and in female erectile tissue, leading to increased blood flow during arousal.

Chinese medicine terms

The concepts below belong to the traditional Chinese medicine system and do not correspond directly to anatomical or modern physiological terms. They have not been validated by clinical trial standards.

• The Kidney stores essence (jing): a Chinese medicine concept describing the Kidney organ system's role in storing innate and acquired essence, related to reproduction and development.
• Tian gui: a Chinese medicine concept referring to the innate substance that drives puberty and reproduction, present from puberty and declining with age; conceptually related to sex hormones but not equivalent.
• The Liver governs the free flow of qi: a Chinese medicine concept describing the Liver organ system as regulating the smooth, relaxed circulation of qi and blood throughout the body; when the Liver is stagnant the flow of qi and blood is obstructed.
• Heart and Kidney communicate: a Chinese medicine concept referring to the balance between the Heart and Kidney organ systems; when this balance is lost, anxiety, insomnia, and effects on physiology may result.
• The Spleen generates blood: a Chinese medicine concept describing the Spleen organ system absorbing nourishment from food to form blood that sustains the whole body.
• Qi: a Chinese medicine concept referring to the vital energy that moves through the body; there is no direct equivalent in modern physiology.
• Blood (xue): a Chinese medicine concept close to blood in Western medicine but encompassing nutritive and emotional dimensions.
• Yin deficiency: a state of insufficient yin (the cool, nourishing, quiet aspect) in Chinese medicine, manifesting as internal heat, dryness, and insomnia.
• Yang deficiency: a state of insufficient yang (the warm, active aspect) in Chinese medicine, manifesting as cold intolerance, fatigue, and reduced desire.
• Qi deficiency: a state of insufficient qi in Chinese medicine, manifesting as fatigue, weakness, and easy sweating.

Exercise and specialty terms

• Kegel exercises: rhythmic squeeze-and-release movements of the pelvic floor muscles, requiring no equipment, suitable for both men and women to strengthen the pelvic floor.
• Pelvic floor physical therapy: a specialty practiced by physical therapists trained in pelvic floor function; they assess the muscles directly and develop individualized programs including both relaxation exercises for tight muscles and strengthening exercises for weak ones.
• Andrology: the medical specialty for male reproductive health and physiology.
• Urology: the specialty covering the urinary tract and male genital system, including the bladder, kidneys, urethra, prostate, and penis.
• Gynecology: the specialty for female reproductive health, including the uterus, ovaries, vagina, and vulva.
• Endocrinology: the specialty covering endocrine glands and hormones, relevant to treating imbalances in testosterone, estrogen, and other hormones.
• Sex therapy: a counseling specialty focused on difficulties in sexual physiology and relationships, often combining education, specific techniques, and couples counseling.

Questions and answers

Sources

1. Basson R. Human sexual response. Handbook of Clinical Neurology. 2015;130:11-18. PubMed 26003236
2. Wang F, Colonnello E, Zhang H, et al. Comparing Western and traditional Chinese medicine for male sexual dysfunction: can Klotho represent a silk road? Andrology. 2024;12(6):1215-1223. PubMed 38155398
3. World Health Organization. ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics. Source page

This page is general health information compiled from international medical sources. It has not been reviewed by a physician and is not a diagnosis or a treatment instruction. The content is for readers aged 18 and over. If symptoms persist, please see a doctor.

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