SEXUAL SELF

From childhood, we are controlled by our genetic makeup, i. e, sex chromosomes.

It also influences the way we treat ourselves and others. On the contrary, there are
individuals who DO NOT ACCEPTS their INNATE SEXUAL characteristics and they
actually tend to change their sexual organs through medications and surgery. In addition,
external environment helps shapes us. In this lesson, we are going to explore the
development of our sexual characteristics and behavior.

At the end of this unit, you will be able to:

1. Determine the condition of your physical self

2. Classify the physiological needs of the self in each stage of life
3. Identify the forces and institutions that impact the development of the various
aspects of identity and the self
4. Explain the importance of a good health

LESSON PROPER
Marieb, E.N. (2001) explains that the gonads begin to form until about the eight
week of embryonic development. The embryonic structures of males and females during
the early stages of human development are alike and are said to be in indifferent
stage. When the reproductive structures are formed development of the accessory
structures and external genitalia begins. [See the miracles of life - video clip]

Beginning of life

Life begins at fertilization. It refers to the meeting of the female sex cell and the
male sex cell. These sex cells are developed in the reproductive organs called GONADS.
The male sex cell called spermatozoa [sing. –zoon] are produced in the male gonads
called testes. On the other hand, the female sex cells called ova are produced in the
female gonads known ovaries. The fertilized egg cell known as zygote contains all the
hereditary potentials from the parents. This zygote goes to the uterus and continues to
grow during the gestation period of about 280 days or 36 weeks or 9 calendar months.

Both male and female chromosomes contain several thousands of genes – called
deoxyribonucleic acid which is the code of heredity. Maturation is the unfolding ofthe
inherent traits.

Human Development

The formation of male or female structures depends on the presence of

testosterone (A substance called hormone that occurs naturally in men and male
animals). The embryonic testes release testosterone once formed and the formation of
the duct system and external genitalia follows. The same with female embryos that form
ovaries, it will cause the development of the female ducts and external genitalia since
testosterone hormone is not produce.

Pseudo hermaphrodites are formed who is an individual having accessory

reproductive structures that do not “match” their gonads while true Hermaphrodites are
individuals who possess both ovarian and testicular tissues but this condition is rare in
nature. Nowadays, many pseudo hermaphrodites undergo sex change operation to have
their outer selves fit with their inner serves (gonads).

Human anatomy
 Puberty is the period of life when the reproductive organs grow to their adult size
and become functional under the influence of rising levels of gonadal hormones
[testosterone in male and estrogen in female] and generally between the age of 10-15
years old.

At the age of 13, male puberty is characterized by the increase in the size of the
reproductive organs followed by the appearance of hair in the pubic area, axillary and
face. The reproductive organs continue to grow for two years until sexual maturation
marked by the presence of mature semen in the testes.

For the female, the budding of their breasts usually occurring at the age of 11 as
a sign of their puberty stage. Menarche is the first menstrual period of females which
happens two years after the start of puberty. Hormones play an important role in the
regulation of ovulation and fertility of females.
Factors in development of the physical self

The development of the individual is caused by two interacting forces: heredity and
environment. Heredity [nature] is the transmission of traits from parents to offspringit
provides the raw materials of which the individual is made up. While the environment
[nurture] is the sum total of the forces or experiences that a person undergoes from
conception to old age. It includes family, friends, school, nutrition and other agencies
one is in contact with.

Diseases associated with the reproductive systems

 Infections are the most common problems associated with the reproductive
system in adults.

Vaginal infections are more common in young and elderly women and those whose
resistance to diseases is low, like, Escherichia coli which spread through the digestive
tract, the sexually transmitted microorganisms such as syphilis, gonorrhea andherpes
virus and yeast fungus.

Pelvic inflammatory disease and sterility are also the effect of vaginal infections.
For males, the most common inflammatory conditions are prostatitis, urethritis, and
epididymitis, STD, Orchiditis.

Major treat to reproductive organs are Neoplasms, tumor of the breast and cervix
cancers in adult females and prostates cancer in adult males.

Most women hit the highest point of their reproductive abilities in their late 20‟s,
i.e. irregular ovulation and shorter menstrual periods – menopausal period.

The production of estrogen may continue after menopause but the ovaries finally
stop functioning as endocrine organs. The reproductive organ and breast begin to atrophy
or shrink if estrogen is no longer released from the body. With this case, the vaginal
becomes dry that causes intercourse to become painful if frequent and the vaginal
infections become increasingly common.

Signs of estrogen deficiency: irritability and mood changes [depression in some];

intense vasodilation of the skin‟s blood vessels, gradual thinning of skin and loss of bone
mass, slowing rising high blood levels etc..

Note: there is no counterpart for menopause in males. Although aging men show
a steady decline in testosterone section, their reproductive capability seems unending.
Healthy men are still able to father offspring well into their 80‟ and beyond.

Erogenous zones

It refers to part of the body that are primarily receptive and increase sexual arousal
when touched in a sexual manner. Examples: mouth, breast, genitals, anus. However,
erogenous zones may vary from one person to another. Some people may
desire and enjoy being touched in certain area more than the other area, like, neck,
thighs, abdomen and feet.

Human Sexual Behavior

It defined as any activity – solitary, between two persons, or in a group – that

induces/ brings sexual arousal [Gebhard, P.H. 2017]. This behavior is classified
according to gender and number of participants.

Types of behavior: Solitary behavior [involving one individual]; and Socio-sexual

behavior [more than one individual]

Solitary behavior

Self – gratification [begins at or b4 puberty] means self –stimulation that leads to

sexual arousal and generally, sexual climax. This takes place in personal and private as
an end in itself, but can also be done in a socio-sexual relationship.

This is common for males but becomes less frequent or is abandoned when socio-
sexual activity is available.

Therefore, self-gratification is most frequent among the unmarried. However this

self-gratification usually decreases as soon as an individual develop socio-sexual
relationship.

Nowadays, human are frequently being exposed to sexual stimuli esp. from
advertising and social media. Some adolescents become so much aggressive when they
respond to such stimuli.

The rate of teenage pregnancy is recently increasing. The challenge is to develop

self-control so that to balance suppression and free expression. Why? To prevent
premarital sex and acquire STD.

Socio-sexual behavior

It is the greatest amount of socio-sexual behavior that occurs b/w only one male
and one female. This usually begins in childhood and may be motivated by curiosity, such
as showing or examining genitalia.
 Physical contact involving necking and petting is considered as an ingredient of
the learning process and eventually of courtship and selection of a marriage partner.

Petting differs from hugging, kissing and generalized caresses of the clothed
body to produce stimulation of the genitals. This is done due to affection as source of
pleasure, preliminary to coitus [this is an insertion of male reproductive organ into
female organ]. This is regarded as an important aspect in selecting partner but also a way
of learning how to interact with another person sexually.

A behavior may be interpreted by society or individual as erotic depending on the

context in which the behavior occurs. Example, kissing as a gesture of intimacy b/w
couples while other sees this as respect and reverence.

Physiology of human sexual response

Sexual response follows a pattern of sequential stages or phases when sexual

activity is continued.

1. Excitement phase = it is caused by increase in pulse and blood pressure; a sudden

rise in blood supply to the surface of the body resulting in increased skin temperature,
flushing, and swelling of all distensible body parts particularly noticeable in the male and
female reproductive system, rapid breathing, secretion of genital fluids, vaginal
expansion, and a general increase in muscle tension.

2. Plateau phase = it is generally of brief duration. If stimulation is continued, orgasm

usually occurs.

3. Sexual climax = a feeling of abrupt, intense pleasure, and rapid increase in pulse rate
and blood pressure, and spasms of the pelvic muscles causing contractions of the female
reproductive organ and ejaculation by the male that last only for few seconds normally
not over ten.

4. Resolution phase = it refers to the return to a normal or subnormal physiological state.

Whereas males return to normal even if stimulation continues, but continued stimulations
can produce additional orgasms in females. Females are physically capable of repeated
orgasms without the intervening “rest period” required by males.
Nervous system factors

The nervous system plays a significant role during sexual response. The
autonomic system is involved in controlling the involuntary responses.

The efferent cerebrospinal nerves transmit the sensory messages to the brain to
create stimulus and later initiating a sexual response. The brain will interpret the sensory
message and dictate what will be the immediate and appropriate response of the body.
The muscles contract in response to the signal coming from the motor nerve fibers while
glad secretes their respective product. So, sexual response is dependent the activity of
the nervous System.

Hypothalamus and limbic system are part of the brain believed to be responsible
for regulating the sexual response, but there is no specialized “sex center” that has
been located in the human brain.

Apart from brain-controlled sexual responses is the reflex. This reflex is mediated
by the lower spinal cord that leads to erection and ejaculation for male, vaginal discharges
and lubricant for female when the genital areas are stimulated. But still, the brain can
overrule and suppress such reflex activity, when sexual response is socially
inappropriate.
Sexual problems

These may be classified as physiological, psychological and social in origin.

Physiological problems are the least among the three categories. Small number of people
suffering from diseases due to abnormal development of the genitalia or thatpart of
the neurophysiology controlling sexual response. Example: vaginal infection, retroverted
uteri, prostatitis, adrenal tumors, diabetes, senile changes of the vagina and
cardiovascular problems.

Medication: Through surgery

Psychological problems: usually caused by socially induced inhibitions,

maladaptive attitudes, ignorance and sexual myths held by society. Example: mature sex
must involve rapid erection, prolonged coitus and simultaneous orgasm. Methods:
magazines, married books and general sexual folklore often strengthen these demanding
ideals which are not always achieved; therefore, can give rise to feeling of inadequacy
anxiety and guilt. Hence, resulting negative emotions can definitely affect the behavior of
an individual.

Premature emission of semen is a common problem for young males. Why?

Because of the natural result of excessive tension in a male who has been sexually
deprived. Erectile impotence is almost always a psychological problem in males under
40; in other cases, the impotence may be the result of disinterest in the sexual partner,
fatigue, and distraction because of nonsexual worries, intoxication and other causes such
as occasional impotency is common and requires no therapy.

Ejaculatory impotence [inability to ejaculate in coitus] is uncommon and usually of

psychogenic origin. Why? It is due to the past traumatic experiences. Warning!
Occasional ejaculatory inability can be possibly expected in older men or in any male who
has exceeding his sexual capacity.

Lastly, vaginismus is a strong spasm [contraction] of the pelvic musculature

constricting the female reproductive organ so that penetration is painful or impossible. It
can be due to anti-sexual conditioning or psychological trauma as an unconscious
defense against coitus.

Medication: through psychotherapy and by gradually dilating/widening the female

organ with increasing large cylinders.

Sexual Reproductive diseases are the following:

1. Chlamydia

2. Gonorrhea

3. Syphilis

4. Chancroid

5. Human Papillomavirus

6. Herpes simplex virus

7. Trichomonas vaginalis

Natural and artificial methods are the following:

1. Abstinence

2. Calendar method

3. Basal body temperature

4. Cervical mucus method

5. Symptothermal method

6. Ovulation detection

7. Coitus interruptus

Artificial methods are the following:

1. Oral contraceptive

2. Transdermal patch

3. Vaginal ring

4. Subdermal implants

5. Hormonal injections

6. Intrauterine device

7. Chemical barriers

8. Diaphragm

9. Cervical cap

10. Male condoms

11. Female condoms

12. Surgical methods (vasectomy and ligation)