Health Education 100

Understanding Your Sexuality

Sexuality includes: biological sex, gender, sexual anatomy and physiology, sexual functioning and practices, and social and sexual interactions with others.

“Acceptable” behaviors

Role of the media

Sexual Identity: Determined by an interaction of genetic, physiological and environmental factors.

Conception - combining of chromosomes.

–Egg carries an X sex chromosome.

–Sperm carries either a X or Y chromosome.

–XX provides the blueprint to produce a female.

–XY provides the blueprint to produce a male.

Reproductive Anatomy
External Female Genitals (Vulva)

Mons pubis—fat pad

Labia majora

Labia minora

Prepuce—protects clitoris

Clitoris--sexual arousal

Urethral opening--passage of urine

Vagina—birth canal, allows menstruation and penetration

Internal Female Genitals

Uterus—where the egg develops, smooth muscle

Endometrium—liningof uterus that allows placenta to implant (shed during menstruation)

Cervix—the end of the uterus, opening toward the vagina

Ovaries—produce hormones and ova

Fallopian tubes—transports the ova to uterus

External Male Genitals:

Penis—sexual stimulation, penetration and urination

Glans-head of penis

Scrotum: Function (Temperature 93.6 degrees F)

Internal Male Genitals:

Epididymis—storage and maturation of sperms

Testes—produces testosterone and sperm

Seminiferous tubules within the Testes—sperm production

Vas Deferens—transports sperm

Corpus spongiosum—fill with blood for erection

Prostate—produces semen

Cowper’s glands—produces pre-ejaculatory fluid (may contain sperm)

Seminal vesicle—produces semen

Hormones and the Reproductive Life Cycle

Hormones: Endocrine glands

  • Testes produce androgens - testosterone
  • Ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone
  • Cortex of the Adrenal gland—androgens (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone)
  • Pituitary gland—regulates androgen production.

Female Sexual Physical Maturation

  • Physical changes: breast development, rounding of hips and buttocks, pubic hair and underarm hair, rapid growth
  • Menstrual Cycle - four phases.

Menses: Days 1-5 (endometrial lining sheds)

Estrogenic phase: Days 6-13 (build up of endometrial lining)

Ovulation phase: Around Day 14 (Ovulation takes place)

Progestational phase: Days 15-27 (Nutrients released)

Menstrual Problems

  • Dysmenorrhea—Severe pain and pelvic cramping, backache, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)—physical discomfort, psychological distress and behavioral changes between ovulation and onset of menstruation.
  • Premenstrual Dysphoric disorder (PMDD)—severe form of PMS characterized by symptoms serious enough to interfere with activities.

Male Sexual Maturation

  • 2 years later than girls.
  • Physical changes: enlargement of testes, development of pubic hair, growth of the penis, onset of ejaculation, the appearance of facial hair, and a period of rapid growth.

Aging and Human Sexuality

  • Females:Menopause (cessation of menstruation), Decreasing estrogen, risk osteoporosis, thinning of vaginal walls, decreased lubrication
  • Males: Gradual decrease of testosterone, takes longer to get an erection, longer refractory period, orgasmic contractions less intense, decrease force of ejaculate
  • Not related to sexual satisfaction which may increase!!!

Responsible Sexual Behavior

  • Careful decision making
  • Open, honest communication about intentions
  • Sexual activities that both partners agree upon
  • The use of Contraception during sexual intercourse
  • The use of safer sex practices to guard against sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s)
  • Taking responsibility for the consequences of sexual behavior

Sexual Response Cycle

Vasocongestion(the accumulation of blood in tissues and organs)

myotonia (increased muscular tension) characterize most physiological reactions.

  • Excitement phase:the genitals grow engorged with blood and lubrication begins.
  • Plateau phase: the engorgement and lubrication increase
  • Orgasmic phase: rhythmic contractions occur, ejaculation of semen in men
  • Refractory phase: after ejaculation; men cannot have another orgasm during this time.
  • Resolution phase:reverses changes initiated during the excitement phase

Sexual Health Problems: Biological and Physical conditions

Women:

  • Vaginitis—vaginal inflammation caused by any number of organisms and manifested by increased vaginal discharge and irritation.
  • Endometriosis—a growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, manifested by lower abdominal and pelvic pain. It can cause infertility if untreated.
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)—uterine or ovarian infection caused by microorganisms introduced to the vagina. It can cause infertility if untreated.

Men:

  • Prostatitis—inflammation or infection of the prostate gland, with fever, chills, pain, frequent urination, and sometimes painful ejaculation. Treatment is with antibiotics.
  • Testicular cancer—usually occurs in men in their twenties and thirties; it is rare and has a high cure rate if detected early.

Sexual Dysfunctions

  • Psychological Causes—stress, relationship, performance anxiety
  • Physical causes: diabetes, stress, prescription drugs and/or alcohol, Heart disease
  • Male - premature ejaculation and retarded ejaculation
  • Women – Orgasmic Dysfunction
  • Treatment
  • Psychosocial - troubled relationships
  • Behavioral
  • Relaxation and massage techniques

Gender, Sexuality, and the Mass Media

  • Influences of Mass media and shaping ideas about sexuality and gender roles
  • Childhood sexual behavior—children enjoy self stimulation, touch is a primal sense
  • Adolescent sexuality: 55% of teenage girls and 80% teenage boys masturbate, average age onset of sexual intercourse is 17.2 years for girls and 16.6 for boys. Increased age of adolescence but decreased the age of puberty.
  • Adult sexuality—60% of seniors report they have had sex.

Gender Identity

  • Gender - masculinity or femininity.
  • Gender Roles - generalizations.
  • Androgyny - combination of traditional masculine and feminine traits.
  • Socialization - process which society transmits behavioral expectations.
  • Transgender – individuals who’s appearance, characteristics or behavior differs from social norms for males and females.

Sexual Orientation--person’s preference in sex partners

  • Heterosexual—attracted to members of the other sex
  • Homosexual–attracted to members of the same sex
  • Bisexuals—attracted to both sexes
  • In recent national surveys, about 1% to 3% of men and 1.5% of women identified themselves as homosexuals; the rest identified themselves as heterosexuals.

Development of Sexual Orientation

  1. Biological and genetic factors—twin studies
  2. Learning theory—social factors
  3. Complex series of biological and psychological interactions

Expression of Sexuality

  1. Celibacymay be adopted for religious, health, or moral reasons, or it may result from lack of a partner.
  2. The most common form of autoeroticism is erotic fantasy. Masturbation also involves stimulation of the genitals. Although these activities are commonly associated with adolescence, they may be practiced throughout life, either as a substitute for or part of the activity with a partner.
  3. Touching and foreplay enhance most sexual experiences and can provide a means of intimate communication for partners.
  4. Oral-genital stimulation—cunnilingus or fellatio—is a commonly practiced means of intimate communication for partners.
  5. Anal intercourse is practiced regularly by about 10% of heterosexuals and 50% of homosexual males. Those engaging in anal intercourse should take particular precautions with cleanliness and gentle entry.
  6. Sexual intercourse—the placing of the man’s erect penis into the woman’s dilated and lubricated vagina—is the preferred sexual experience for the majority of adults.

Psychological factors and the quality of the relationship are more important to satisfaction than any particular techniques.

Human Sexuality: Important part of an adult life and must be practiced responsibly.

  • Communication about interactions
  • Sexual activities—NEVER should be coerced
  • Privacy--trust
  • Contraception—100% of the time (unless trying to get pregnant)
  • Safer sex practices—Not Safe Sex
  • Sober Sex—decreases risk of STD’s, sexual assault, and pregnancy
  • Responsibility for consequences—physical and emotional

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REV 11/07