Sex Education – Letter C

Candidia -A fungal or yeast infection of the vagina, mouth, foreskin, or rectum. In women, this would appear as a thick, white, curdy discharge that causes irritation. Men are often asymptomatic.

Cervical cap -Thimble-shaped, rubber method of barrier contraception prescribed by a doctor. It is inserted into the vagina prior to sex and fits snugly over the cervix to prevent sperm from entering.

Cervix -The neck of the uterus, which is the passageway from the uterus to the vagina.

Cesarean section -Delivery of a fetus by surgical incision through the abdomen and uterine wall. Derived either from the Latin, caedere meaning to cut, or from Julius Caesar, who was supposedly taken from his dead mother’s womb
when he was born.

Chlamydia – An infectious disease that is transmitted sexually. May cause minor pain and discharge, or may be asymptomatic. If left untreated, it may cause infertility.

Circumcision – The surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.

Clitoris – A bundle of nerve endings located on the vulva that has the sole function of giving sexual pleasure and orgasm to the woman.

Cock ring -A rubber, leather, or metal band worn at the base of the penis to encourage blood flow to stay in the penis, or simply for adornment. Often used by people who practice S/M.

Coming out – A term used to refer to gays, lesbians, or bisexuals who are becoming open about, not concealing, their sexual identity. Also referred to as coming out of the closet.

Compatibility – The condition of being well matched with a partner for a sexual ornon-sexual relationship.

Condom – A disposable sheath of thin latex worn by a man to prevent sperm fromentering the vagina during sexual intercourse. Used as birth control or as protection against STDs and the transmission of HIV.

Cowper’s glands – Two pea-sized glands located below the prostate gland in men, which release an alkaline fluid that makes up part of the seminal fluid. Also known as the bulbourethral glands.

Crossdressers – People who wear clothes of the opposite gender to fulfill their emotional, cultural, or sexual needs, or even just for fun, such as on Halloween. Most crossdressers are heterosexual, and they can be men or women.

Crush- An intense feeling of affection for someone the person hardly knows. Characterized by lustful feelings, worries that feelings will not be reciprocated, and sometimes, feelings of jealousy. Also known as infatuation.

Cunnilingus – Oral stimulation of a woman’s vulva, clitoris, and/or vagina. From Latin, cunnus meaning vulva, and lingere meaning lick. Some people refer to it in slang as going down on a woman, or eating her out.