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See Assigned Gender.

Refers to the legally denoted gender assigned to newborn children based on external primary sex characteristics. In modern-day Western culture, a person’s assigned sex is typically conflated with their gender identity, which consequently defines a person’s gender role and its associated expectations. Assigned gender is based on the appearance of a person’s genitals and is not related to—or a reflection of—one’s gender identity or internal sense of gender.

An individual who does not experience sexual feelings or desires (not to be confused with celibacy, in which a person experiences sexual attraction but purposefully declines to act on these desires). People who are asexual may feel romantic attraction toward others but may not have any interest in, or desire for, sexual intimacy. Jason considered himself asexual. Although he occasionally had sex with his partners, he didn’t require sexual intimacy in order to feel fulfilled.

A medication that inhibits the effects of endogenous androgens (such as testosterone) on the body by either blocking androgen receptors and/or suppressing androgen production. Spironolactone is an example of a medication with anti-androgenic properties—it is occasionally prescribed to some transgender people who undergo hormone replacement therapy.

A person who generally does not experience intimate amorous or passionate feelings for others and may not be interested in pursuing romantic relationships. Note, however, that aromantic people are perfectly capable of experiencing platonic and familial love, as well as enjoying sexual intimacy. Interestingly, the term “aromantic” did not become associated with its present-day meaning until the 1980s or 1990s, when early Internet surfers began using it to describe a lack of desire for romantic relationships.

A term often used to reference a person’s outward gender expression, although it is occasionally used to describe someone whose gender identity falls outside of the gender binary. When applied to gender expression, androgyny may involve appearances that combine conventionally masculine and feminine traits, or gender presentations that fall outside of the binary.