A.S.F.R or Alt Sex Fetish Robot evolved from on-line discussions which spoke about sex or having a sexual attraction to robots and other mechanical or robot-like objects (not objectophilia).

ASFR has become synonymous with the fetish itself and has created a whole area of interest, activity and behaviour. For some people it is about a sexual attraction to a robot (usually one that looks and acts like a human), while for others, it’s an interest in the intersection of human and robot.

Artists and fetishists that work within this field create images which merge real people with mechanics and circuitry - usually in a sexually explicit manner.

ASFR also encompasses an interest in and attraction to statues, human mannequins, life-size dolls, hypnosis and mesmerism where a person is unable to move.

See: fembot central

A substance/medication or device that induces an abortion. Some consider emergency contraception, and IUDs to be abortifacients.

The termination of pregnancy before the foetus is viable (that is: being able to survive outside of the uterus). It is usually a medically induced procedure, but can be naturally occurring. A spontaneous abortion is also called a miscarriage.

See our legal section

Not engaging in any sexual behaviour with another person. Can be defined as refraining from penetrative or oral sex.

Some people will practice abstinence until they are in a long term committed relationship or married. Others choose to be abstinent for a period of time in their lives.

It has also been thought to include refraining from genital contact and solo sexual activities (ie. masturbation).

Sexual education programs that advocate sexual abstinence before marriage. The majority of these programs do not provide information about contraception, safer sex, or sexual orientation.

To be sexually aroused or fantasize about having sex with someone who has an amputated limb. Both women and men have been documented with having this fetish.

Acrotomophiles may also be interested in people living with other kinds of disabilities, not just people with amputees.

The period of physical and emotional change between puberty and adulthood.

Sexual intercourse between a married person and someone who is not his or her spouse. Some consider that only the married person has committed adultery, suggesting that the unmarried participant is free of the stigma.

A more sexist definition states that adultery is only committed when a married women has sex with a partner other than her spouse. This definition assumes that males are free to have multiple partners but females are not.

Refraining from adultery is one of the ten commandments and in some theocracies it is criminal. It is also referred to as Extramarital Sex, Infidelity and Betrayal.

The euphoric feeling experienced after sex.

An 80’s song by Genesis.

A fetish that involves sexual arousal or excitement for statues or mannequins. People who are interested in A.S.F.R sometimes include those who eroticize statues or mannequins.

The age at which one is legally considered old enough to have sexual intercourse or "consensual sex".

See our legal section

A fetish that involves sexual arousal or sexual excitement from being outdoors and/or enjoying sex in public places.

For someone who is agoraphilic the excitement doesn’t come primarily from showing ones genitals to strangers, or being caught having sex, it comes from the outdoor or public setting itself.

See: exhibitionism

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the retrovirus that infects human T cells and causes AIDS. AIDS is not actually a single disease but a syndrome, or group of diseases and conditions related to the common cause.

HIV infects the body and attacks the immune system, thereby exposing the infected person to a series of conditions known as Opportunistic Infections. An AIDS patient is treated by treating the particular opportunistic infection, while using a group of drugs known as “the cocktail” to reduce the viral load in the bloodstream, which will slow down the development of further opportunistic infections over time.

A person can be an HIV carrier for many years without becoming an AIDS sufferer if they keep healthy, take medications to lower their viral load because they only are considered to have AIDS once the first opportunistic infection is diagnosed.

AIDS has been recognized since 1981.

The name of a breath mint, said to provide extra pleasure when used by a person giving FELLATIO.

An uncommon synonym for bisexual.

See: bisexual

The absence of menstruation.

Anal beads, also know as ‘Thai beads’ are traditionally a series of balls connected by a cord or string, with a large ring at the external end (to prevent the beads from slipping completely into the anal cavity). The beads may start small and get progressively larger or they may all be the same size.

Anal beads play specifically on the sensations of the sphincter muscles. They are inserted slowly, (well lubricated) and when removed, they pass along the two sphincter muscles which some people find extremely pleasurable.

It’s commonly suggested that anal beads are meant to be inserted during sex play and then pulled out at the point of orgasm. While this is possible, and might be great, you can also play with anal beads any way you like, and getting the perfect orgasm/removal timing can end up being more distracting than anything.

Anal beads can also be used like plugs or dildos in that they can be inserted and removed at any time, and like plugs, they create a general sensation of fullness when worn and not moved around. Because beads are usually quite bulbous, so when they’re pulled out (or pushed in) the wearer can feel every bump.

I recommend avoiding anal beads that are connected by a cord, as there are now many safer and long lasting styles of anal beads that are made of silicone rubber or jelly rubber without any string or cord.

Anal beads are available in rubber, silicone, plastic, glass or metal (see our store). Vibrating anal beads are also available.

Some important safety concerns:

If you are using hard plastic anal beads, be sure to check them for seams before you first use them and use a nail file to file down any seams.

Make sure that the anal beads you are using have a large enough ring (or base) at the end to prevent them from slipping all the way in.

Remember to always use lubricant for any kind of anal penetration.

AKA: Thai beads

Different than butt plugs, anal dildos are usually used for in/out style penetration and do not have motors or vibrate. An anal dildo is any dildo that has no sharp edges or seams and a flared base designed to prevent it from going all the way in.

Dildos designed specifically for anal use tend to be either smaller or made for male anal play and the shape is designed to stimulation the prostate. One of the most popular products like this is the Aneros (available in store).

Anal dildos are available in every size imaginable (from a pinky finger to a large fist and more), and like other dildos, anal dildos are available in a range of materials including rubber, silicone, acrylic, plastic, glass and metal.

As with any other sex toy, and particularly anal sex toys, it's important to use a lubricant when playing with anal dildos. Considerations when choosing an anal dildo is the size of the toy and its material.

Sexual intercourse in which the penis penetrates the anus.

AKA: buggery, sodomy

Anal sex is the stimulation of the anus during sexual activity. It can be done manually, orally or by anal intercourse. Anal sex is sometimes chosen by heterosexuals because it avoids the risk of pregnancy, but it is more risky than vaginal or oral sex in terms of STIs, because of the fine anal tissue.

As the anus has no natural lubrication, we'd strongly recommend purchasing a high quality water-based lubricant before undertaking any activity that involves your anus!

Analingus or ‘rimming’ refers to oral anal contact (licking or sucking around the anus). It is a sexual activity engaged in by people of all genders and sexual orientations. If done without protection analingus can lead to the transmission of STDs, including hepatitis and herpes amongst others, as well as parasites. However, if a barrier is used when performing anilingus, it can be a safe and highly pleasurable activity.

The gender of a person, based on the shape and functioning of their sexual organs.

A hormones that promotes male characteristics. They stimulate male sexual development and secondary male sex characteristics. Most are produced in the testicles of men but are also produced in small amounts in a women's ovaries. Testosterone is the most common androgen.

A person who is neither typically male nor female in terms of their gender identity, but rather belong to a third, less defined gender group. They may be attracted to either males or females, or be bisexual. They were once referred to as Hermaphrodites but have recently taken on the name Intersex, which implies the fact that they see themselves as non-gendered, gender-neutral, or a-gendered.

A gender identity that allows expression of both gender roles.

Ejaculating into someone's mouth and then hitting them in the back of the head, forcing the fluid out of their nose.

Testing for HIV in which no personal identifying details are handed over. Usually a serial number is given, through which the anonymous answer can be located when the individual returns to pick up the results. Anonymous testing is usually more difficult to find and more expensive than Confidential HIV Testing because the latter is often subsidized by health departments which want to be able to identify HIV carriers in order to follow up with treatment and testing of their sexual partner or partners.

A general term that describes the difficulty or inability to reach orgasm or climax.

It may not have any relationship to ones ability to feel sexual excitement or arousal and may be a result of many things including physical and psychological stressors, changes, or permanent conditions. Anorgasmia may be temporary or persistent and is often referred to in the context of a side effect of medication.

Also Known As Orgasmic disorder, orgasmic dysfunction, and orgasmic inhibition, the term is mainly used in reference to women, although men have experienced anorgasmia.

Recently, some experts have chosen to replace this term with Pre-orgasmic, suggesting that orgasm is generally possible for all with the correct preparation.

Opposed to the belief that women have the right to choose to have an abortion.

A medicine that kills bacteria. Antibiotics can be used to cure Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia and various other bacterial STIs, but are not able to treat viral STIs such as HIV, Herpes or HPV.

The external part of the colon, or opening between the buttocks, from which solid waste (feces) leaves the body – also used by some people as a sexual organ. The high density of nerves endings makes touching, licking or penetration pleasurable to some people.

AKA: ass hole, butt hole, chocolate starfish

A food, drink or drug that increases or intensifies sexual desire, drive and or performance.

Food and drink, specifically fruit and vegetables with phallic or vulva-like shapes, have in the past been rumoured to act as aphrodisiacs. Other natural substances reputed to be aphrodisiacs include aragula, chocolate, ginseng, kelp, onion, oysters, pumpkin, Spanish fly and Yohimbine. Yet scientists have not been able to identify libido activating substances. Expectation of sexual arousal (the placebo effect) may be an effective aphrodisiac it itself.

Taken from the Greek goddess of sexuality and love, Aphrodite.

The dark area surrounding the nipples of women and men.

In science, the term asexual may refer to an organism that reproduces with another organism without sexual activity. More commonly, asexual has come to mean being devoid of sexuality, often including; not being sexually attracted to others, not being considered sexually attractive by others, not desiring sexual interactions with others, and not having sex with others.

To some, this is a unique sexual orientation where the person who identifies themselves as asexual may desires connections with others, but do not have any desire for those connections to be sexual.

A paraphilia in which sexual arousal becomes dependent on being deprived of oxygen by means of hanging or strangulation up to the point of passing out to intensify sexual arousal or stimulation.

AKA: erotic asphyxiation, autoerotic asphyxiation, breath control play

See: bottom

See: anus

Providing sexual stimulation for oneself.

Self-strangulation for the purpose of sexual arousal or stimulation. A form of sexual behaviour in which the individual masturbates while depriving him or herself of oxygen through hanging, strangulation, or other means to intensify the orgasm.

This is an extremely dangerous practice and causes many accidental deaths, of which nearly all reported cases involve men.

Suffocating oneself by strangulation for the purpose of sexual arousal or stimulation.

See: autoerotic asphyxiation

Any sexual activity done by a person in private.

Autofellatio refers to the act of performing oral sex on oneself. Almost all references to autofellatio are to men engaging in this practice and not women.

Autofellatio remains a relatively rare documented activity (3 out of every 1000) due to the fact that it requires an exceptionally limber body and a longer than average appendage.

It is commonly thought that if a man could perform this act on themselves, then they would.

A sexual variation in which a man thrusts his penis into something other than a bodily orifice of his partner, such as their armpit or fold of fat.

An avatar in the context of human computer interactions is a virtual representation of a real person created by that person.

Many computer games and virtual social spaces allow you to create an avatar which is how other users ‘see’ you on-line. Some avatars can be customized to the cellular level, while others can only change the gender, hair colour and the clothes they wear.

Avatars now play a large role in on-line sex as they can be ‘faked’ and used as part of a fantasy. They’re also said to help people become more immersed in a social exchange. Quiet often, they are created from an alter ego – a ‘perceived’ visual representation of oneself.