HUMAN SEXUALITY
- 1. Class Presentation On :- :- Priyanshu Anand B.Sc Nursing 4th Year O.I.N.S.R, Damoh
- 2. CONTENTS :- • INTRODUCTION • HUMAN SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS • BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES • PRINCIPLES REGARDING INFORMATION ABOUT SEXUALITY • STAGES OF SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT • PHYSIOLOGY OF SEX/SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE • SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS
- 3. INTRODUCTION • Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually. • Regardless, whether we are young or old, man or woman, it is an integral part of what we do and who we are. • Human sexuality is a general term referring to various sexually related aspects of human life, including physical and psychological development and behaviors, attitudes and social customs associated with the individual’s sense of gender, relationships, sexual activity, mate selection and reproduction.
- 4. • Human sexual behavior is different from the sexual behavior of other animals, as it is governed by a variety of interplay of different factors. • Humans are not sexually active just for the sake of reproduction; rather, there are a variety of complex factors that lead people to have sex. • Because it is a broad term, which has varied with historical contexts over time, it lacks a precise definition.
- 5. HUMAN SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS :- Sexual characteristics are divided into two types 1. Primary Sexual Characteristics :- These are directly related to reproduction and include sex organs(genitalia). 2. Secondary Sexual Characteristics :- These are the attributes other than sex organs that generally distinguish one sex from other but are not essential for reproduction(e.g. – Breast, facial hairs, etc.).
- 6. BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES :- Like other mammals, humans are primarily grouped into either the male or female sex. The biological aspects of humans' sexuality deal with the reproductive system, the sexual response cycle, and the factors that affect these aspects. They also deal with the influence of biological factors on other aspects of sexuality, such as organic and neurological responses, heredity, hormonal issues, gender issues, and sexual dysfunction.
- 7. • Hormones are also viewed as one of the major “driving forces” of sexual behavior. • Hormones are produced by the gonads (i.e.- testes and ovaries), the adrenal cortex, the pituitary gland, and the hypothalamus. • Androgens are responsible for the sexual differentiation of male reproductive system before birth and the sexual maturation of boys at puberty. • Estrogens and Progestins, found in higher concentrations within females, regulate menstrual cycle and are responsible for reproduction.
- 8. PRINCIPLES REGARDING INFORMATION ABOUT SEXUALITY:- These are the principles related to the information provided to the children about sexual characteristics and sexual activities. 1. Each child’s process of maturation as a person is different :-Since parents know, understand and love each of their children in their uniqueness, they are in the best position to decide what the appropriate time is for providing a variety of information , according to their child’s physical and spiritual growth.
- 9. 2. Parents who are alone will have to act with great sensitivity when speaking with a child of the opposite sex :- The communication works out better when the parents who communicates the biological, emotional, moral and spiritual information is of the same sex as the child or young person as they are aware of roles, emotions and problems of their own sex. 3. Timely information regarding sexuality must be provided in the broadest context :- In talks with children, suitable advice should always be given regarding how to grow in the love and the meaning of sexuality. Parents should always present positive models and suitable ways of using their vital energies.
- 10. 4. Delay should not be done in providing information to children :- Parents should provide information regarding sexuality with great delicacy, but clearly and at the appropriate time.
- 11. STAGES OF SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT:- There are two periods of marked sexual differentiation in human life. The first occurs prenatally and second occurs at puberty. 1. Prenatal Sexual Development :- Although adult women and men may differ greatly in genital appearance and secondary sexual characteristics , they are almost identical during prenatal development. From fertilization through about the first six weeks of development, male and female embryos differ only in the pair of sex chromosomes they have in each cell – two X chromosomes (XX) in females and one X and one Y chromosome (XY) in males.
- 12. • About six weeks after conception, if a Y chromosome is present in the embryo’s cells, a gene on the chromosome directs the undifferentiated gonads to become testes. If the Y chromosome is not present, the gonads will become ovaries. • If the gonads become testes , they begin to produce androgens (primarily testosterone) by about 8 weeks after conception. These androgens later leads to development of male genital organs of the embryo.
- 13. 2. Development in puberty :- – Puberty typically begins in girls from 8-12 years of age and in boys from 10-14 years of age. – The secondary sexual characteristics develop at this stage, followed by menstrual period in females. – The hormones primarily responsible for these changes in young girls are the adrenal androgens, estrogen, progesterone and growth hormones. – Growth hormone and androgens, particularly testosterone are responsible for pubertal changes in boys.
- 14. Apart from these, there are some changes in adolescence. They include :- • Adolescence period is from the age of 12-17 years or older, and is marked by increased sexual behavior. • Both the males and females need more sexual orientation during this age. • The term “Sexual Orientation” refers to a person’s erotic, romantic, or affectional attraction to the other sex, the same sex or both sexes.
- 15. • A person who is attracted to the other sex is labeled ‘heterosexual’, or sometimes ‘straight’. • A person attracted to the same sex is labeled ‘homosexual’.
- 16. PHYSIOLOGY OF SEX:- It is also known as sexual response cycle. It is important to help people become more familiar with their bodies and their sexual responses and to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunctions. Human sexual response cycle is divided into four stages : Excitement, Plateau, Orgasm and Resolution.
- 19. 1. Excitement :- It is the stage of sexual arousal in which there is vasocongestion. • In men, the tissues in the penis become engorged with blood, causing the penis to become larger and erect. The skin of the scrotum thickens, tension increases in the scrotal sac, and the scrotum is pulled up closer to the body. • In women, fluid seeps through the vaginal walls to produce vaginal lubrication. The glans of clitoris becomes larger and harder than usual. Nipples also become erect. The labia majora flattens and spread apart somewhat and the labia minora swell and open. • Pulse rate and BP also increases.
- 20. 2. Plateau :- In this phase, vasocongestion peaks. Breathing rate, pulse rate and BP increase. • The man’s penis becomes completely erect and the glans swells. Fluid secretes from the Cowper’s gland may appear at the tip of the penis. This fluid which nourishes the sperm, may contain active sperm capable of impregnating a woman. • In women, the breast continue to swell, the lower third of the vagina swells, the clitoris retracts into the body, and the uterus enlarges. As the woman approaches orgasm, the labia majora darken.
- 21. 3. Orgasm :- It is called as climax. • It is an intense and usually pleasurable sensation that occurs at the peak of sexual arousal. But not all sexual arousal leads to orgasm. • During the orgasm stage the heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and breathing rates peak. • The pelvic muscle near the vagina, the anal sphincter, and the uterus contract. Muscle contractions in the vaginal area create a high level of pleasure, though all orgasms are centered in the clitoris.
- 22. 4. Resolution :- In this phase, the process of excitement and plateau stages reverse, and the bodies of both men and women return to the unaroused state and there is reduction in muscular tension.
- 23. SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS:- Some of the sexual dysfunctions are listed here : • Impotence (Erectile dysfunction) :- Refers to the inability of a man to have or maintain an erection. • Premature Ejaculation :- It occurs when the man is not able to postpone or control his ejaculation.
- 24. • Female orgasmic dysfunction :- (Anorgasmia, or inhibited female orgasm) refers to the inability of a woman to have an orgasm. • Inhibited male orgasm :- Occurs when a man cannot have an orgasm despite being highly aroused. • Dyspareunia :- Refers to painful intercourse in either women or men. • Low sexual desire :- is a lack of interest in sexual activity. • Discrepant sexual desire :- refers to a condition in which partners have considerably different levels of sexual interest.