Lesson 7: Sexual Self

• Females are considered the “fundamental” sex—that is, without much chemical prompting, all fertilized eggs would develop into females.
• To become a male, an individual must be exposed to the cascade of factors initiated by a single gene on the male Y chromosome. This is called the SRY (Sex-determining Region of the Y chromosome).
• females do not have a Y chromosome, they do not have the SRY gene. Without a functional SRY gene, an individual will be female.
• In both male and female embryos, the same group of cells has the potential to develop into either the male or female gonads; this tissue is considered bipotential.
• The SRY gene actively recruits other genes that begin to develop the testes and suppresses genes that are important in female development. As part of this SRY-prompted cascade, germ cells in the bipotential gonads differentiate into spermatogonia.
• Without SRY, different genes are expressed, oogonia form, and primordial follicles develop in the primitive ovary.
• Testosterone can influence tissues that are bipotential to become male reproductive structures.
• Puberty is the stage of development at which individuals become sexually mature.
• a concerted release of hormones from the hypothalamus (GnRH), the anterior pituitary (LH and FSH), and the gonads (either testosterone or estrogen) is responsible for the maturation of the reproductive systems and the development of secondary sex characteristics, which are physical changes that serve auxiliary roles in reproduction.
• The first changes begin around the age of eight or nine when the production of LH becomes detectable.
• In pre-pubertal children, the sensitivity of the negative feedback system in the hypothalamus and pituitary is very high. This means that very low concentrations of androgens or estrogens will negatively feed back onto the hypothalamus and pituitary, keeping the production of GnRH, LH, and FSH low.
• As an individual approaches’ puberty, two changes in sensitivity occur: a decrease of sensitivity in the hypothalamus and pituitary to negative feedback, and an increase in sensitivity of the gonads to the FSH and LH signals.
• SEXUAL MOTIVATIONS - are vital for the continuation of any species. One of the primary tasks for most living organisms is reproduction.
• Breast and Nipples - Female breasts can obviously play an important role in breastfeeding, but breast and nipple play on anyone can also set off the fireworks of sexual excitement.
• Mouth and Lips - Science says we kiss because it floods the body with natural feel-good chemicals like dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin. These chemicals can fuel desire for our partner by juicing our excitement.
• Neck - We sometimes refer to the hairs on the back of our neck standing up, and there’s a reason for that. It’s a highly sensitive region. A 2018 study found it to be a pleasure provoking part across genders, although a bit more arousing in women
• Four stages of sexual response cycle: initial excitement, plateau phase, orgasm and resolution phase
• Stage I (Initial excitement) - Genital areas become engorged with blood, penis becomes erect, clitoris swells, respiration, and heart rate increase.
• Stage II (Plateau phase) - Respiration and heart rate continue at an elevated level, genitals secrete fluids in preparation for coitus.
• Stage III (Orgasm) - Rhythmic genital contractions that may help conception, respiration, and heart rate increase further, males ejaculate, often accompanied by a pleasurable euphoria.
• Stage IV (Resolution phase) - Respiration and heart rate return to normal resting states, men experience a refractory period—a time period that must elapse before another orgasm, women do not have a similar refractory period and can repeat the cycle immediately.
• Sexual orientation refers to a person’s physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction towards other people.
• Sexual orientation is comprised of three elements: sexual attraction, sexual behaviour, and sexual identity.
• heterosexuality to identify those who are attracted to individuals of a different sex from themselves
• homosexuality to identify those who are attracted to individuals of the same sex from themselves.
• Gender identity is understood to refer to each person’s deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth
• Gender expression refers to the way in which an individual outwardly presents their gender. These expressions of gender are typically through the way one chooses to dress, speak, or generally conduct themselves socially.
• Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity.
• Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence.
• Sexual behavior is used to describe the way in which an individual sexually engages with others.
• Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life [that] encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction.
• Lesbian women and gay men are attracted to individuals of the same sex and/or gender identity as themselves.
• Bisexual people may be attracted to individuals of the same or different sex and/or gender identity.
• Cisgender means having a gender identity that matches one’s assigned sex,
• Queer is an umbrella term which is commonly used to define lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and other people and institutions on the margins of mainstream culture and used as an expression of pride and to reject narrow reductive labels.
• Intersex people are born with physical or biological sex characteristics (including sexual anatomy, reproductive organs, and/or chromosomal patterns) that do not fit the traditional definitions of male or female.
• SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STDS) — or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — are generally acquired by sexual contact. The organisms (bacteria, viruses or parasites) that cause sexually transmitted diseases may pass from person to person in blood, semen, or vaginal and other bodily fluids.
• Sometimes these infections can be transmitted non-sexually, such as from mother to infant during pregnancy or childbirth, or through blood transfusions or shared needles.
• Levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG IUD)—The LNG IUD is a small T-shaped device like the Copper T IUD. It is placed inside the uterus by a doctor. It releases a small amount of progestin each day to keep you from getting pregnant.
• Copper T intrauterine device (IUD)—This IUD is a small device that is shaped in the form of a “T.” Your doctor places it inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy. It can stay in your uterus for up to 10 years. Typical use failure rate: 0.8%.