Physical and Sexual Self

Physical and Sexual Self

• Approaching the topic of the sexual self should be a preparation to entering into and sustaining intimate, happy, and long-term relationships in the future.

Physical Development

• The start of adolescence involves rapid physical changes, including the maturation of the reproductive system and the development of sex characteristics.

Sex Characteristics

• Primary sex characteristics are physical attributes present at birth.
• Secondary sex characteristics develop during puberty.
• Women experience enlargement of breasts, menstrual cycles, widening of hips, enlargement of buttocks, and growth of pubic hair.
• Men experience testicular growth, sperm production, facial hair and other body hair growth, and deepening of their voice.

Hormones

• Hormones are natural substances produced in the body and influence growth and development.
• Types of hormones include testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.

Reproductive Organ Abnormalities

• Any interference with normal sex hormone production in the embryo can result in abnormalities.
• Pseudohermaphrodites have accessory reproductive structures that don't match their gonads or have reproductive organs opposite to their body structure development.
• Hermaphrodites possess both ovarian and testicular tissues.
• Cryptorchidism is where male testes formed in the abdominal cavity fail to descend into the scrotum.
• Phimosis is the narrowing of the foreskin of the male reproductive structure with misplaced urethral openings.

Diseases Associated with the Reproductive System

• In women, untreated vaginal infections can lead to sterility.
• In men, common inflammatory conditions include prostatitis, urethritis, epididymitis, and orchiditis.
• Neoplasm is the abnormal growth of tissue characteristic of cancer, such as breast, cervical, and prostate cancer.

Menopause

• Females no longer experience menstruation and become incapable of childbearing.
• Males' reproductive capability is unending and they can still produce offspring.

Erogenous Zones

• Erogenous zones are parts of the body that are primarily receptive and increase sexual arousal when touched in a sexual manner.
• Common erogenous zones include the mouth, breasts, genitals, and anus.
• Erogenous zones vary from person to person.

Human Sexual Behavior

• Any activity, solitary or sociosexual, that induces sexual arousal.
• Solitary behavior is self-gratification, leading to sexual arousal and climax, usually done privately.
• Sociosexual behavior is sexual activity between one male and one female (heterosexual) or between the same sex (homosexual).

Other Terms

• Petting involves kissing and touching in a sexual manner prior to coitus.
• Coitus is the insertion of the male reproductive organ into the female reproductive organ.

Physiology of Human Sexual Response

• The excitement phase includes abrupt and intense pleasure, increased pulse rate, contractions of the female organ, and ejaculation in the male organ, lasting only a few seconds.
• The plateau phase is generally brief, continues, and orgasm usually occurs.
• Sexual climax includes an increase in pulse and blood pressure, increased skin temperature, flushing, swelling of distensible parts, secretion of genital fluids, vaginal expansion, and increased muscle tension.
• The resolution phase refers to the return to normal or subnormal physiological state. Males return to normal, while females are capable of repeated orgasms without a rest period.

Sexual Problems

• Premature emission of semen is when ejaculation occurs sooner than desired.
• Erectile impotence is the inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse.
• Ejaculatory impotence is the inability to ejaculate during coitus.
• Vaginismus is a strong spasm of pelvic musculature constricting the female reproductive organ, making penetration painful or impossible.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

• Infections transmitted from an infected person to an uninfected person through sexual contact.
• STDs include Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Trichomonas Vaginalis, Syphilis, and Chancroid.

Contraceptions

• Natural methods prevent pregnancy without medications or physical devices.
• Artificial methods use artificial or unnatural means to prevent pregnancy.

Natural Methods of Contraception

• Abstinence is refraining from sexual intercourse and is the most effective natural birth control.
• The Calendar Method known as "Rhythm method" involves withholding coitus during the fertile days.
• Basal Body Temperature involves the tracking of the woman's temperature at rest and ovulation.
• The Cervical Mucus Method relies on observing changes in cervical mucus during ovulation.
• The Symptothermal Method combines the BBT and cervical mucus methods. Abstaining coitus 3 days after rise in temperature or 4th day after the peak of mucus change.
• Ovulation Detection is the use of an over-the-counter kit requiring a urine sample.
• Coitus Interruptus (Withdrawal) is the oldest method, where the man withdraws the moment he ejaculates to emit spermatozoa outside of the female organ.

Artificial Methods of Contraception

• Oral Contraceptives are pills taken from the 1st Sunday after the beginning of menstrual flow.
• The Transdermal Patch contains estrogen and progesterone, applied weekly for 3 weeks.
• A Vaginal Ring, made of silicon, is inserted into the female reproductive organ for 3 weeks and removed on the 4th week.
• Subdermal Implants are two rod-like implants inserted under the skin of the female during menses / 7th day of menstruation.
• Hormonal Injections are given intramuscularly every 12 weeks to prevent ovulation.
• An Intrauterine Device: small T-shaped object inserted through the female reproductive organ after a woman's menstrual flow.
• Chemical Barriers aim to cause the death of sperms before they enter the cervix, such as spermicides.
• A Diaphragm is a circular rubber disk placed before coitus to inhibit sperm entrance into the female reproductive organ, fitted only by a physician.
• A Cervical Cap is made of soft rubber, fitted on the rim of the cervix, and shaped like a thimble, held in place for not more than 48 hours.
• Male condoms are latex or synthetic rubber sheaths placed on the erect male reproductive organ before coitus to trap the sperm during ejaculation.
• Female condoms are latex rubber sheaths pre-lubricated with spermicide bound by two rings to prevent fertilization by sperm cells.
• Surgical Methods is the process of making a small incision on each side of the scrotum to block the passage of sperm.