Human Sexuality: Critical Topics

Human Sexuality

• Human sexuality is a component of the human experience and is influenced by many factors.
• Identifying sexuality influences one's expression of wellness.
• Increased knowledge helps manage and advocate for sexual health, which encompasses critical topics.
• Discussion about human sexuality can be uncomfortable for patients and nurses.

Sexuality Critical Topics

• Sexuality includes critical topics: Sexual health and development, gender identity, sexual response, contraceptive options, and sexually transmitted diseases (STD and STI).
• Factors affect sexuality and sexual function, and sexuality affects every aspect of one's life.
• Family dynamics are affected by decision-making and roles.
• Sexual health assessment may be needed to identify issues such as STDs, STIs, abuse, or assault.
• Gathering accurate information is important to create personalized plans which offer goals and interventions to address issues.
• Identify multidisciplinary approaches to treatment, including in-depth physical exams and sexual counseling.

Sexual Health Developmental Characteristics

• Sexual development follows psychological and physical steps of growth.
• The first 3 years of life are believed to be crucial in gender identification development.
• Establishing trust lays the groundwork for future relationships.
• Self-exploration of the body and genitals represents normal development.
• During infancy to 12 months: gender assignment, beginning gender identification, and body exploration occur.
• In toddlers, identification and ability to identify one's own gender continue.
• During the preschool years (3-5 year): increased awareness, questioning, body parts identification, and exploration of self and playmates' body parts develop.
• At School age (6-12 years): the same sex friendships, questioning, primary and secondary sexual characteristics develop.
• During Adolescence (13-18 years): value system and opposite sex relationships occur.
• During Young Adulthood (18-40 years): an active sex life, values and lifestyle development, and possible homosexuality identity establishment occur.
• During Middle Adulthood (40-65 years): hormones are reduced and peri-and-menopause occurs.
• The quality and quantity of sexual activity is affected.
• Older adults (65+ years): continue to have an interest in sex.
• The frequency of intercourse decreases, as well as atrophy of vaginal secretions, and male sperm production and ability to achieve erection and ejaculation.

Sex, Sexuality and Gender Identity

• Nursing goals include understanding associated terminology with sexuality and being able to differentiate the terms.
• Sexual health concepts impact one physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially.
• Sex is an expression of intercourse and a self-image of gender.
• Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout the lifespan and encompasses sex, gender identity and roles, orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy, and reproduction.
• Sexuality is influenced by the intersection of biologic, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, legal, historical, religious, and spiritual factors.
• Gender Identity: is each person's deeply felt internal and individual experience and may not align with the sex assigned at birth.
• Sexual Expression depends on social norms and personal expression.
• Sexual Response relies on knowledge of female and male sexual response cycles.

Nursing Implications

• Gender Identity Terminology includes: heterosexual, homosexual (gay, lesbian), bisexual, gender role, sexual orientation, and transgender.
• Nurses must have communication skills and be non-judgemental.
• Honest direct conversations should be approached as a matter of fact, well organized.
• Provide a safe environment for patients to share.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Provide freedom from discrimination and coercion.
• Understand the factors affecting sexual function: physical, functional, relationship, lifestyle, developmental, and self-concept.

Sexual Health Questions

• Nursing may ask the following:
• "How do you feel about the sexual aspect of your life ?"
• "What do you consider yourself to be ?"
• "How has your illness, surgery, medications affected your sex life ?"
• "Are you sexually active ?"
• "How many partners have you had in your lifetime ?"
• "What are or have been your sexual practices ?"