Lesson 4: The Sexual Self PDF

Ms. Rasmin Joy Ilagan  Sex is a part of what makes a person human. Being human, the prime function is to procreate. Sex is likewise about pleasure, enjoyment, excitement, and even ecstasy. Human sexuality serves both psychologically and spiritually. Sex is one way of lowering one...

Ms. Rasmin Joy Ilagan  Sex is a part of what makes a person human. Being human, the prime function is to procreate. Sex is likewise about pleasure, enjoyment, excitement, and even ecstasy. Human sexuality serves both psychologically and spiritually. Sex is one way of lowering one’s alienation, isolation, and aloneness by physical linking with penetrating and being penetrated with another person at the most primitive level of existence. When the secondary sex characteristics (changes in the physical body) appear, sexual maturation begins. The pituitary gland secrets growth hormones and signal the adrenal gland to release androgens, male sex hormones, to create the biochemical changes such as: ✓ Body hair (pubic hair and facial hair) ✓ Enlargement of the breasts (for girls) ✓ Widening of pelvis (for girls) ✓ Deepening of voice and widening of shoulder (for boys) ✓ Increased sex drive Human reproduction cells are called gonads which are composed of the testes (male) and ovary (female). The testes contains spermatozoa and the ovary of the female contains ova. The spermatozoa (sperms) and the ova (egg cell) is composed of 23 chromosomes each. The female has 23 pairs of X chromosomes. On the other hand, male has 22 pairs of X chromosomes called antosomes and the 23 chromosome is XY (sex chromosome). rd Hence, female chromosome is XX and the male chromosome is XY.  Life starts when the sperm penetrate a ripe egg cell or ovum in the fallopian tube during sexual act. Fallopian tube, on the other hand, is the passage of ripe egg cell from the ovary to the uterus during ovulation. Ovulation is the expulsion of one ripe egg cell from the ovary to the fallopian tube during menstrual cycle.  These are areas of the body that are particularly responsive to tactile pleasurable parts. These zones can be primary or secondary erogenous zone. 1. Primary erogenous zones- these are areas that contain thick concentration of nerve ending such as: Genitals Inner & Lips Buttocks surface of Tongue Anus thigh Navel Nipples Armpits Ears 2. Secondary erogenous zones- these are areas that can be transformed to an erogenous zone because they are touched in a context of sexual intimacies.  1 Sexual self-satisfaction More often engaged in only by those who do not have sexual outlet, an idea that has no relation to reality. It was reported that married men (20- 40 years old) usually masturbate 24 times a year; whereas married woman had it 10 times a year. 1 Despite of the common practice of masturbation, attitudes toward masturbation is still negative. However, most experts on sex look at it as a healthy, legitimate, and harmless sexual activity. 2 It is an attraction and behavior toward the other sex which is far more than male and female sexual act, kissing, petting, necking, massaging, and other forms of sex play are parts of heterosexual behavior.  3 Before, premarital sex (Sex before marriage), particularly for women, was a major taboo, generally in the Filipino values. Men were more or less allowed to engage in premarital sex but they were advised to marry “virgins.”  3 Double standard against women. To the younger generations, the double standard had been replaced by “permissiveness with affection.” Premarital sex is permissible to both males and females who have long- termed commitment or loving relationship.  4 Most standard and acceptable sexual behavior. Frequency of sexual act is the common standard to measure marital happiness. Some do it regularly, some have it 2-3 times a week.  4 However, with increasing age and length of marriage, the frequency of sexual act decreases. Majority of those in late adulthood engage in sexual act at least 1 or 2 times a month but this is of high quality.  5 It is a practice between married person and someone who is not his/her spouse. This was said to be widely practiced although not exactly the reality because there is a high percentage of married couples who are faithful to their spouses. Homosexuals are individuals who are sexually attracted to members of their own sex whereas bisexuals are those who are sexually attracted to same sex and other sex. Male homosexuals are called gays; female homosexuals are called lesbians.  Homosexuality or heterosexuality is proven difficulty to pinpoint. They are biological in nature. Much as society consider the homosexuals and bisexual of low esteem, yet it is evident that gays, lesbians, and bisexuals still enjoy the same quality of physical health and mental soundness as heterosexuals do.  Transsexuals are people who believe that they were born with a body of another gender. In some ways, transsexuals are less of a sexual difficulty than a gender issue concerning sexual identity. Typically, they undergo sex change. Transsexualism is a part of a wider category known as transgenderism. This term pertains not only transexual but also to people who see themselves as the third gender.  Transvestites are those who wear clothes of the other genders or some of them believe that traditional male- female classification who wrongly characterized themselves.  Asexuality is another type of sexual orientation where an asexual lacks attraction to both men and women. Unlike celibate (one who does not have sexual life), an asexual has little or no attraction to either men or women but can experience sexual desire.  Androgyny means man-woman which refers to having both masculine and feminine traits (biological).  Most widespread infection that usually women who have this do not show symptoms, but in men this causes burning sensation and discharge in their genitals. It can be treated with antibiotics.  Small blisters or sores around genitals that when it breaks open, it causes excoriating pain. These sores usually heal after a few weeks but would reoccur about 3-4 times in a year after infection. This CANNOT be remedied; thus, women who have the infection suffer psychological distress, and may transfer the disease to their sexual partner.  This infection has no external symptoms but can cause burning sensation when urinating and discharge in the female and male genitals. It may result to infertility in men and pelvic inflammation in women. Antibiotic can cure this infection but not completely.  This first shows itself in a small wound at the point of sexual contact. In the second stage, rashes appear. This infectious disease may affect the brain, heart, and even the growing fetus. If syphilis is diagnosed early, it can be cured by antibiotics.  Most severe impact on sexual behavior and the whole society. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Caused by a virus, the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) Can be spread through intravenous drug users (syringe) and sexual activities. Blood and semen are the vehicles of transmission. It causes great damage to people and the leading cause of death. NATURAL METHODS: Calendar method Cervical Mucus Method Basal Body Temperature Abstinence Douche Withdrawal NATURAL METHODS: Calendar method- a fertility tracing method by using calendar. The woman has to note her ovulation period and menstrual cycle. NATURAL METHODS: Cervical Mucus method- after a woman’s menstruation, there is vaginal discharge which indicates woman is fertile. When it happens, this is the time of ovulation and high risk of pregnancy. NATURAL METHODS: Basal body temperature- this method requires a special type of thermometer to record changes of temperature. An increase in body temperature suggests that there is an ovulation; thus, there is a high risk of pregnancy. NATURAL METHODS: Abstinence- preventing pregnancy by not having sexual contact or any other sexual activity in which semen may come in contact with the vulva, the outer female vagina. NATURAL METHODS: Douche- it is done by washing the sperm and semen deposited in the vagina with medical solution just after the sexual contact. NATURAL METHODS: Withdrawal- it is the withdrawal of the penis from the vagina prior to ejaculation. However, it is difficult to time the ejaculation, some sperms might be released in the vagina before the complete ejaculation, resulting to pregnancy. Thus, it is not very reliable. ARTIFICIAL METHODS: Pill or Oral Contraceptives- a tablet of man-made hormones called estrogen and progesterone. These hormones control the maturing of the egg cell (estrogen) and changes the lining of the uterus and consistency of the cervical mucus (progesterone). ARTIFICIAL METHODS: Implants- these are match-stick size rubber silicon, rods, capsules, or tubes surgically implanted by a physician that releases low dose of hormone to stop ovulation and thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperms from penetration. ARTIFICIAL METHODS: Surgical method or sterilization- stops the sperms and egg cell from meeting in the fallopian tube by cutting or tying fallopian tube through hospital or clinic operation. ARTIFICIAL METHODS: Vasectomy- male sterilization that is done by cutting or searing the two deferens, the tube carrying the sperms from the testes to the penis, to stop the sperms from mixing the seminal fluid. ARTIFICIAL METHODS: Male condom- a synthetic or artificial sheath worn over the penis before sexual act to prevent the sperms from entering the uterus. ARTIFICIAL METHODS: Cervical cap- is a thin rubber bowl- shaped disk with flexible rim that fits on top of the vagina to cover the cervix and prevent the sperms from its entrance to the vagina and reaching the egg inside.  Proximity- geographical nearness of one person to another, which is the most important variable in interpersonal attraction. This term is mere exposure effect in which repeated exposure to novel stimuli tends to increase an individual’s liking for such stimuli.  Similarity- people often like those who they have the same liking, beliefs, attitudes, interests, and intellectual abilities. Another point is similarity of goals, values, and personality characteristics that correlate to satisfaction and stable relationship.  Reciprocity- an idea that a particular person has a perception that an individual is interested with him/her. People generally react to flattery or compliment and other compliment of liking and affection.  Physical Attractiveness- liking a person based on his/her physical appearance. Although there is a saying that beauty is just skin deep, but experiments prove otherwise.