SEXUALITY AND REPRODUCTIVE CHOICES

By: Julianne Legada

SEXUALITY the behaviors, instincts, and attitudes associated with being sexual.
HUMAN SEXUALITY the quality of being sexual—is as rich, varied, and complex as
life itself. Along with our sex, or biological maleness or femaleness, it is an integral part of
who we are, how we see ourselves, and how we relate to others.

Our sexuality both affects and is affected by the various dimensions of health.
Physical when our bodies are healthy and well, we feel better about how we look
and move—which enhances both self-esteem and healthy sexuality.
Emotional when our emotional health is high, we can better understand and cope
with the complex feelings related to being sexual.
Social having strong friendships, intimate relationships, and caring partnerships
enables us to explore our sexuality in safe and healthy ways.
Intellectual high-level intellectual health enables us to acquire and understand
sexual information, analyze it critically, and make healthy sexual decisions.
Spiritual individuals who have developed their spirituality bring to their most
intimate relationships an awareness and appreciation that lifts them beyond the
physical.
Environmental protecting yourself from sexual threats and creating a supportive
environment in which to study and work are crucial to high-level health and to
healthy sexuality.

BECOMING MALE OR FEMALE

Sex - Maleness or femaleness, resulting from genetic, structural, and functional factors.
Gender -Maleness or femaleness, as determined by a combination of anatomical and
physiological factors, psychological factors, and learned behaviors.

Female Sexual Anatomy

Mons pubis, the rounded, fleshy area over the junction of the female pubic bones.
Labia majora, the fleshy outer folds that border the female genital area.
Labia minora, the fleshy inner folds that border the female genital area.
Clitoris, a small erectile structure on the female, corresponding to the penis on the
male.
Urethral opening the outer opening of the thin tube that carries urine from the
bladder.
Vagina, the canal leading from the exterior opening in the female genital area to the
uterus.
Perineum, the area between the anus and vagina in the female and between the anus
and scrotum in the male.
Cervix, the narrow, lower end of the uterus that opens into the vagina.
Uterus, the female organ that houses the developing fetus until birth.
Endometrium, the mucous membrane lining the uterus.
Ovary, the female sex organ that produces egg cells, estrogen, and progesterone.
Ovum (plural, ova) the female gamete (egg cell).
Fallopian tubes the pair of channels that transport ova from the ovaries to the uterus;
the usual site of fertilization.
Male Sexual Anatomy
Penis the male organ of sex and urination.
Scrotum the external sac or pouch that holds the testes.
Testes (singular, testis) the male sex organs that produce sperm and testosterone.
Sperm the male gamete produced by the testes and transported outside the body
through ejaculation.
Epididymis that portion of the male duct system in which sperm mature.
Urethra the canal through which urine from the bladder leaves the body; in the male,
also serves as the channel for seminal fluid.
Semen the viscous whitish fluid that is the complete male ejaculate; a combination
of sperm and secretions from the prostate gland, seminal vesicles, and other glands.
Vas deferens two tubes that carry sperm from the epididymis into the urethra.
Seminal vesicles glands in the male reproductive system that produce the major
portion of the fluid of semen.
Ejaculatory duct the canal connecting the seminal vesicles and vas deferens.
Prostate gland a structure surrounding the male urethra that produces a secretion
that helps liquefy the semen from the testes.
Cowper’s gland two small glands that discharge into the male urethra; also called
bulbourethral glands.

MAKING RESPONSIBLE SEXUAL DECISIONS

Sexual decision making always takes place within the context of an individual’s values and
perceptions of right and wrong behavior. Making sexually responsible decisions means
considering all the possible consequences of sexual behavior for both yourself and your
partner.

Talking About Sex

If you know someone well enough to consider having sex with that person, you should be
able to talk about such sensitive subjects. If a potential partner is unwilling to talk or hedges
on crucial questions, you shouldn’t be engaging in sex.

Saying No to Sex
First of all, recognize your own values and feelings. Sex is something to be shared only by
people who’ve already become close in other ways.
Be direct, speak clearly and firmly that you don’t want to engage in any sexual activity.
Just say no, tell him that you’re rejecting his or her offer and that you enjoyed the company
but still no.
If you’re still at a loss for words, try these responses: “I like you a lot, but I’m not ready to
have sex.”
If you’re feeling pressured, let your date know that you’re uncomfortable. Be simple and
direct.
If you’re a woman, monitor your sexual signals. Men impute more sexual meaning to
gestures (such as casual touching) that women perceive as friendly and innocent.
Communicate your feelings to your date sooner rather than later. It’s far easier to say, “I
don’t want to go to your apartment” than to fight off unwelcome advances once you’re
there.
SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
From birth to death, we are sexual beings. Our sexual identities, needs, likes, and dislikes
emerge in adolescence and become clearer as we enter adulthood, but we continue to
change and evolve throughout our lives.

Teen Sexual Behaviors

According to a national survey of 1,800 teenagers and young adults sponsored by the Kaiser
Family Foundation, young people are more concerned about sex and sexual health than any
other health issue in their lives. Most—but especially males—report peer pressure to have
sex.

Sex on Campus
College students tend to overestimate how much sex their peers are having.
College students who binge drink or participate in drinking games, which often involve
physical skills (such as bouncing a coin into a glass) or word play, increase their odds of
sexually risky behavior.

Why People Have Sex?

• pure attraction to the other person in general.
• experiencing physical pleasure.
• expressing love.
• feeling desired by the other.
• escalating the depth of a relationship.
• curiosity or seeking new adventures.
• marking a special occasion for celebration.
• mere opportunity.
• sex “just happening” due to seemingly uncontrollable circumstances.

SEXUAL DIVERSITY
Human beings are diverse in all ways—including sexual preferences and practices.
Physiological, psychological, and social factors determine whether we are attracted to
members of the same sex or the other sex. This attraction is our sexual orientation.

Sigmund Freud argued that we all start off as bisexual, or attracted to both sexes. But by
the time we reach adulthood, most males prefer female sexual partners and most female
prefer male sexual partner.
Heterosexual primary sexual orientation toward members of the other sex.
Homosexual primary sexual orientation toward members of the same sex.
Bisexual sexually oriented toward both sexes.
Transgender having a gender identity opposite one’s biological sex.
SEXUAL ACTIVITY
Celibacy abstention from sexual activity; can be partial or complete, permanent or
temporary.
Abstinence voluntary refrainment from sexual intercourse.
Fantasy a way to anticipate and rehearse new sexual experiences, as well as to
bolster a person’s self-image and feelings of desirability.
Masturbation manual (or non-manual) self-stimulation of the genitals, often
resulting in orgasm.
Outercourse sexual activity that usually does not include sexual penetration.
Intercourse sexual stimulation by means of entry of the penis into the vagina;
coitus.
Oral Sex our mouths and genitals give us some of our most intense pleasures.
Though it might seem logical to combine the two, some people are very
uncomfortable with it.
Anal Stimulation the anus has many nerve endings, it can produce intense erotic
responses. Stimulation of the anus by the fingers or mouth can be a source of sexual
arousal; anal intercourse involves penile penetration of the anus.

SEXUAL RESPONSE
Sexual response is a well-ordered sequence of events, so predictable it could be divided
into four phases: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution
Excitement stimulation is the first step: a touch, a look, a fantasy. In men, sexual
stimuli set off a rush of blood to the genitals, filling the blood vessels in the penis.
Plateau the changes begun in the excitement stage continue and intensify. The penis
further increases in both length and diameter. The outer one-third of the vagina
swells.
Orgasm a series of contractions of the pelvic muscles occurring at the peak of
sexual arousal.
Resolution the sexual organs of men and women return to their normal, non-
excited state during this final phase of sexual response.

REPRODUCTIVE CHOICES
The rights of individuals to decide whether to reproduce and have reproductive health. This
may include an individual’s right to plan a family, terminate a pregnancy, use
contraceptives, learn about sex education in public schools, and gain access to reproductive
health services.

Conception the equation for making a baby is quite simple: One sperm plus one egg
equals one fertilized egg, which can develop into an infant.

Conception can be prevented by contraception. Some contraceptive methods prevent

ovulation or implantation, and others block the sperm from reaching the egg.
Barrier Contraceptives are birth control devices that block the meeting of egg and
sperm, either by physical barriers, such as condoms, diaphragms, or cervical caps, or by
chemical barriers, such as spermicide, or both.

Non-prescription Barrier
Male and Female Condoms A latex sheath worn over the penis during sexual
acts to prevent conception and/or the transmission of disease; the female condom
lines the walls of the vagina.
Advantages
 effective when used correctly.
 no side effects, unless you’re allergic to latex.
 the female condom gives women more control in reducing their risk of
pregnancy and STIs and does not require a prescription or medical appointment.

Disadvantages
 not 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy or STIs.
 requires consistent and diligent use.

Contraceptive Sponge The contraceptive sponge prevents sperm from entering the uterus
and is available without a prescription.
Advantages
 easy to use.
 can be inserted up to 24 hours before intercourse.

Disadvantages
 may be difficult to remove.
 side effects include vaginal irritation and allergic reactions.

Vaginal Spermicides A substance that kills or neutralizes sperm, inserted into the vagina
in the form of a foam, cream, jelly, suppository, or film.
Vaginal contraceptive film (VCF) small dissolvable sheet saturated with spermicide that
can be inserted into the vagina and placed over the cervix.
Advantages
 effective if used with another form of contraception, such as condoms.
 reduces the risk of some vaginal infections, PID, and STIs.

Disadvantages
 may cause irritation.
 some people cannot use foams or jellies because of an allergic reaction.

Prescription Barrier
Diaphragm a bowl-like rubber cup with a flexible rim that is inserted into the vagina to
cover the cervix and prevent the passage of sperm into the uterus during sexual intercourse;
used with a spermicidal foam or jelly, it serves as both a chemical and a physical barrier to
sperm.

Cervical cap a thimble-sized rubber or plastic cap that is inserted into the vagina to fi t over
the cervix and prevent the passage of sperm into the uterus during sexual intercourse; used
with a spermicidal foam or jelly, it serves as both a chemical and a physical barrier to
sperm.
FemCap a prescription is required to purchase FemCap, and the woman selects the
appropriate size. Apply spermicide to the bowl of the FemCap (which goes over the cervix),
to the outer brim, and to the groove that will face into the vagina.

Advantages
 usually not felt by either partner.
 don’t interrupt sexual activity; can be inserted hours ahead of time.
Disadvantages
 may slip out of place during intercourse.
 less effective than hormonal contraceptives.

Hormonal Contraceptives refers to birth control methods that act on the endocrine
system. It contains estrogen and progesterone, or progesterone only. They prevent
pregnancy by blocking the release of eggs from the ovaries, thinning the lining of
the uterus, or thickening the mucus in the cervix to help keep sperm from reaching
the egg.
Oral contraceptives preparations of synthetic hormones that inhibit ovulation; also
referred to as birth control pills or simply the pill.
Extended Use Pill to lessen the number of menstrual cycles for women with asthma,
migraines, rashes, or other conditions that flare up during their periods. Eliminating
periods eliminates symptoms, and having fewer cycles also may lower a woman’s
long-term risk of ovarian cancer.
The Ortho Evra birth control patch, the first transdermal (through the skin)
contraceptive, works like a combination pill but looks like a Band-Aid.
The silver-dollar-sized NuvaRing, a 2-inch ring made of flexible, transparent plastic,
slowly emits the same hormones as oral contraceptives through the vaginal tissues.
Contraceptive Injections a hormonal contraceptive is available in the form of
“shots” or injections. Depo-Provera, which contains only progestin, must be given
every 12 weeks. Contraceptive injections provide no protection against HIV and
other STIs.

Intrauterine Contraceptives
Intrauterine device (IUD) a device inserted into the uterus through the cervix to prevent
pregnancy by interfering with implantation.
 A new option is the Mirena intrauterine system, which consists of a T-shaped device
inserted in the uterus by a physician that releases a continuous low dose of progestin
and provides five years of protection from pregnancy.

Sterilization
Sterilization refers to any process that eliminates, removes, kills, or deactivates all forms
of life. It is a surgical procedure to end a person’s reproductive capability.

Male Sterilization
The cutting of the vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm from one of the testes into the
urethra for ejaculation,

Female Sterilization
Female sterilization procedures modify the fallopian tubes, which each month normally
carry an egg from the ovaries to the uterus.

Abortion
It’s the ending of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus before it can
survive outside the uterus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a
miscarriage or spontaneous abortion.

References
Hales, D., & Zartman, C. (2000). An Invitation to Fitness and Wellness. California, Belmont, United States
of America: Wadsworth Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.teentalk.ca/learn-about/sexuality/
Hales, Dianne. (2009-2010). An Invitation to Health: Building your future. California, Belmont, United
States of America: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.