Oh so much depends on what universe your writer is writing in (even down to to: are they using a "standard" world or have they gone and created something totally different).
For example in the universe of Born Wolf I describe the characters as 'werewolves' because there are no other supernatural creatures in their universe. They shift into full bodied wolves whenever they want to, retain sentience, and though humans and werewolves can mate, there is a 50/50 chance of the kids being human or wolf and you can't get bitten and turned (or turned by any other means).
In the Falling For A Bear/Summer Camp universe only males of a shifter species can change shape, and only into one certain animal. Again, no turning or losing of sentience.
I have (yet another) werewolf universe in which the wolf brain is a separate personality in the human's brain, and though the shifting is not tied to the moon, unless human and wolf learn to get along properly, then it is very much like your non-rational description.
Personally, I would say your existing definitions are fine, but just remember that us writers like to mess with the rules a little bit. As for the male lycan pregnancy thing? *shudder* not my remit, sorry.