L7 Sexual Self

• SEXUAL SELF

  ·       It infiltrates every part of society
• EMBRYO

  ·       The baby’s starting point after a fertilized egg

  ·       Forms organs & critical body structure
• Embryo -> placenta -> fetus
• FEMALES

  ·       The “fundamental” sex

  ·       w/o chemical prompting, all fertilized eggs -> females

  ·       No Y chromosome
• MALES

  ·       To become a it, one must be exposed to the factors initiated by a single gene on the male Y CHROMOSOME
• Male & Female Embryos

  ·       The same group of cells has the potential to develop into the fe/male gonads
• Bipotential Tissues

  ·       Present in both male & female embryos

  ·       Like a versatile building material, potentially turning into different sexual organs
• FEMALES

  ·       Without SRY = female

  ·       Oogonia forms

  ·       Primordial follicles develop in the primitive ovary
• MALES

  ·       SRY recruits other genes to develop testes & suppresses important genes in female dev

  ·       Germ cells in the bipotential gonads differentiate into spermatogonia
• Testosterone

  ·       After formation of testis, Leydig cells begin to produce testosterone

  ·       Influences bipotential tissues to become male reproductive structures

  ·       Cells exposed to T= becomes glans penis/glans clitoris forms glans penis
• Without Testosterone

  ·       The same cells differentiate into the clitoris
• Baby’s Gender

  ·       Determined at conception

  ·       The different genitalia of male & females fetuses develop from the same tissues in the embryo
• GESTATIONAL TIME

  The time when a baby is growing inside the mother’s womb
• MALE

  ·       The testes is up in the abdominal area

  ·       Later in pregnancy, they move down to scrotum, their usual place
• FEMALE

  ·       Female sexual organs (ovaries, uterus) develop in their typical positions

  ·       The ovaries responsible for producing eggs remain in the abdominal cavity on each side of the pelvis

  ·       Uterus is in the pelvis
• PUBERTY

  ·       Stage of development in which individuals become sexually mature

  ·       Happens between ages 8-14

  ·       Females start puberty before males
• HORMONES

  ·       Chemical substances that act like messenger molecules in the body
• Types of Hormones

  ·       Testosterone - males

  ·       Estrogen - females

  ·       Progesterone - female
• Luteinizing Hormone

  • produced, mainly at night during sleep, begins before physical changes
• Pre-pubertal children

  • have high sensitivity to hormone feedback, keeping (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone) GnRH, LH, & Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) low.
• SEXUAL MOTIVATION

  ·       Vital for the continuation of any species

  ·       Also known as sex drive, used to refer to the natural & instinctive urge/desire to engage in sexual activities
• EROGENOUS ZONES

  • Brest & Nipples
  • Mouth & Lips
  • Neck
  • Ears
• Sexual Response Cycle:

  • Stage 1: Initial Excitement
  • Stage 2: Plateau Phase
  • Stage 3: Orgasm
  • Stage 4: Resolution Phase
• Sexual Response Cycle:

  Study done by William Master & Virginia Johnson
• SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE: STAGE I: Initial Excitement

  ·       Genital areas become engorged with blood
• SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE: STAGE II: Plateau Phase

  ·       Respiration & heart rate continue at an elevated level

  ·       Genitals secrete fluids in prep for coitus
• SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE: STAGE III: Orgasm

  ·       Rhythmic genital contraction that may help conception, respiration, & heart rate increase further
• SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE: STAGE IV: Resolution Phase

  ·       Respiration & heart rate return to normal resting states

  ·       Men experience a refractory period

  ·       A time period that must relapse before another orgasm

  ·       Women don’t have a similar refractory period & can repeat the cycle immediately
• ALFRED KINSEY

  ·       Author of Kinsey Reports

  ·       A documentation of the various human sexual behaviors

  ·       Was able to dispel some common myths about what it means to be homosexual
• SEXUAL ORIENTATION: 3 Elements

  • Sexual Attraction
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Sexual Identity
• SEXUAL ORIENTATION

  ·       A person’s physical, romantic, &/ emotional attraction to other people
• GENDER IDENTITY

  ·       A person’s internal feelings of being a woman, man, both, neither
• GENDER EXPRESSION

  ·       The way in which an individual outwardly presents their gender
• SEXUAL HEALTH

  ·       A state of physical, emotional, mental & social well-being in relation to sexuality

  ·       It is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction/infirmity
• SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

  ·       Used to describe the way in which an individual sexually engages with others
• SEXUALITY

  ·       A central aspect of being human throughout life

  ·       Encompasses sex, gender identities & roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy, & reproduction
• SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

  ·       Also called Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

  ·       Generally acquired by sexual contact

  ·       Organisms (parasite virus, bacteria) might get passed through bodily fluids
• Birth Control Methods

  ·       Reduces pregnancy rate

  ·       Reduces STD/STI risk
• Birth Control Methods:

  • REVERSIBLE BIRTH CONTROL METHODS
  • HORMONAL METHODS
  • BARRIER METHODS
  • FERTILITY AWARENESS-BASED METHODS
  • LACTATIONAL AMENORRHEA METHOD
  • EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
  • PERMANENT METHODS