Did you know that before the 1990’s, sexually transmitted diseases were called venereal diseases or just VD? The word “venereal” comes from the Latin word venereus, meaning of or from Venus, the Roman goddess of love. At one point in time, it may have made sense to use the phrase “venereal disease” to refer to diseases that you can get from lovemaking or sex. But many people were clueless about what the word “venereal” meant, so they never understand that a VD is sexually transmitted!

In the 1990’s, there was a major focus on improving sexual health, especially preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. Public health officials started to use the phrase “sexually transmitted disease” instead of “venereal disease.” So now when we call diseases, like herpes or HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, it’s clear that they’re transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person.

Check out this old public service announcement from 1969 on VD. The message is that ANYONE can get a sexually transmitted disease—guys and girls of all ages and backgrounds. But if you don’t know what VD is, you’ll totally miss the message. And, you’d probably think VD was something you’d want to get, after looking at the happy people and listening to the song’s catchy tune.

Take a look at the cover of almost any popular women’s magazine. You’ll probably notice the bad sex tips, the list of ways to keep your man and even the awful dieting advice. Some of you also might notice a trend: using slang for sexual and reproductive body parts—like saying “va-jay-jay” instead of “vagina.”

For example, why can’t the March issue of Cosmo just have the word “vagina” printed on it? Instead, Cosmo refers to the “va-jay-jay.” Even the subtitle—“Fascinating New Facts about Your Lovely Lady Parts”—can’t spell out what the story is about. Using words like “va-jay-jay” and “lovely lady parts” makes the relationship between a woman and her body seem like it’s naughty—unspeakable.

Cosmo, why beat around the bush (no pun intended)? If you’re giving women information about their vaginas, just say “vaginas”!

Here’s a sex ed challenge: Say the word “vagina” instead of “va-jay-jay,” when you need to refer to the vagina. It feels good to say it and not be embarrassed. Now that’s a sign of a being a smart and confident woman.

CNN’s Anderson Cooper was covering the steroid-use scandal in professional baseball last night when he asked medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta a question about steroids’ effect on the size of men’s testes. But instead of actually saying “testes,” he called them “bits and pieces.” He was too embarrassed to use the proper word!

After Gupta answered, Anderson apologized and said his question was “ridiculous.”

Was he for real? What’s ridiculous is the fact that a 40-year-old man giggled like a little kid when it came time to say “testes.” See for yourself:

We learn the proper names for all our body parts in school, but when it comes time to talk about our sexual and reproductive organs, people start to blush. Why is it so taboo to use proper names for genitalia? Using words like “bits and pieces” instead of “testes” communicates a sense of shame about sexuality—that it’s embarrassing and shouldn’t be talked about.

Guess what: Sexuality isn’t shameful—we should celebrate it! Shout those words out loud! Vaginas and penises and scrotums, oh my! They’re the actual names for parts of your body, and it’s 100 percent OK to say them.

Need practice using the proper sex terms? We’ve got a glossary full of them!