Sexual Self

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Sexual characteristics are physical or behavioral traits of an organism which are
indicative of its biological sex.
Primary Sex Characteristics are present at birth. It includes body structures
directly involved in reproduction such as testes and ovaries.
Secondary Sex Characteristics are not directly required for reproduction. It refers
to other visible changes that occur during puberty such as changes in height and
body shape

Primary Sex Secondary Sex Similarities

Characteristics Characteristics
Males  Growth of scrotum  Body and facial hair  Pubic hair
and testes  More muscle mass  Oily skin
 Secretion of  Greater height than  Voice deepens
hormones related females  Acne
to sperm  Broadening shoulders  Increase in height
production  Increase in body
 Growth of penis odor
Female  Increase in size of  Hips widen
s vagina and uterus  Development of
 Ovaries produce breasts
hormones to start  Distribution of fat to
the menstrual hips
cycle  Body gets curvier

Erogenous Zone
Erogenous from the greek words “eros” (love) and “genous” (producing).
Erogenous zones are extra-sensitive areas of the body which when stimulated,
may create a sexual response such as relaxation, thoughts of sexual fantasies,
sexual arousal and orgasm.
Reasons why erogenous zones are pleasurable to touch:
• They are highly sensitive
• People do not often touch them
 • They have more nerve endings
Genital Erogenous Zones
The specific area of the genitals a person enjoys stimulating or having stimulated
varies from person to person.
Female Male
• The clitoris • The penis
• The vagina • The scrotum
• The perineum • The pereneum

Typical Erogenous Zones

In a 2016 study, it is reported that almost all participants (150 married women)
having erogenous zones other than the genitals.
The most common zones, in order from the most to least common include:
• the breast
• the lips
• the neck
• the ears
• the buttocks

A 2013 paper that asked 793 people about their preferred erogenous zones
found that the following areas ranked highly among all sexes:
 the mouth and lips
 the nape of the neck
 the pubic hairline
 the back of the neck

Stimulating Erogenous Zones
The sort of stimulation a person prefers varies as much as their preferred
erogenous zones. Some people prefer gentle subtle stimulation, such as blowing
or light touches. Others want intense, continuous stimulation, such as massaging
or stroking. It may vary with how aroused a person is.
For example, a 2016 study found that people preferred oral stimulation of the lips
and that both manual and oral stimulation worked well for the nipples.
Some options for stimulating erogenous zones include:
• using the mouth to lick, kiss, suck, or bite the area
• using the fingers to gently touch, stroke, massage, or tickle the area
• blowing on the area
• using sex toys or other tools to stimulate the area, such as tickling it with a
feather or stimulating it with a dildo or vibrator

Sexual Response Cycle

It is pattern of physiologic events occurring during sexual arousal and intercourse
which is divided in four phases:
Phase 1: Excitement/Desire
The excitement phase is marked by erection of the penis or clitoris and
lubrication and expansion of the vaginal canal.
Phase 2: Arousal/Plateau
During plateau, women experience further swelling of the vagina and increased
blood flow to the labia minora, and men experience full erection and often exhibit
pre-ejaculatory fluid. Both men and women experience increases in muscle tone
during this time.
Phase 3: Orgasm/ Climax
Orgasm is marked in women by rhythmic contractions of the pelvis and uterus
along with increased muscle tension. In men, pelvic contractions are
accompanied by a buildup of seminal fluid near the urethra that is ultimately
forced out by contractions of genital muscles, (i.e., ejaculation).
Phase 4: Resolution
Resolution is the relatively rapid return to an unaroused state accompanied by a
decrease in blood pressure and muscular relaxation.
Refractory period- state wherein men cannot reach orgasm again.

Physiological Mechanisms of Sexual Behavior and Motivation

Hypothalamus plays an important role in motivated behaviors and sex is no
exception.
Lesions to an area of the hypothalamus called the medial preoptic area
completely disrupt a male rat’s ability to engage in sexual behavior but it doesn’t
change how hard a male rat is willing to work to gain access to a sexually
receptive female rat.
Animal research suggests that limbic system structures such as the amygdala
and nucleus accumbens are especially important for sexual motivation. Damage
to these areas results in a decreased motivation to engage in sexual behavior,
while leaving the ability to do so intact.
The medial preoptic area, an area of the hypothalamus, is involved in the ability
to engage in sexual behavior, but it does not affect sexual motivation.
In contrast, the amygdala and nucleus accumbens are involved in motivation for
sexual behavior, but they do not affect the ability to engage in it
The Chemistry of Love
According to a team of scientists led by Dr. Helen Fisher, romantic love can be
broken down into three stages: lust, attraction, and attachment which is
characterized by its own set of hormones.
1. Lust
Lust is driven primarily by the hormones testosterone in men and estrogen in
women. Lust occurs across species and may be part of the basic drive to find a
partner to spread our genes with. But lust is different than love. Injecting men
with testosterone makes them desire a potential lover more, but not necessarily
fall in love in any lasting way.
2. Attraction
In the second stage, you begin to obsess about your lover and crave his
presence. Your heart races and you don’t feel like sleeping or eating. You may
even get sweaty palms. You feel a surge of extra energy and excitement as you
fantasize about the things you’ll do together. These feelings are created by three
chemicals: dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.
• Dopamine: Increased dopamine is associated with motivation, reward, and
goal-directed behavior—hence the drive to pursue your loved one or
create them in fantasy if you can’t be with them.
• Norepinephrine: Norepinephrine is responsible for the extra surge of
energy and "racing heart" that you feel, as well as the loss of, in some
cases, both your appetite and your desire for sleep. It puts your body into
a more alert state in which you are ready for action.
 • Serotonin: Scientists think serotonin probably decreases at this stage, but
more studies need to be done. Low levels of serotonin are found in
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and are thought to cause obsessive
thinking.
3. Attachment
Attachment involves wanting to make a more lasting commitment to your loved
one. After about four years in a relationship, dopamine decreases and attraction
goes down. If things are going well, it gets replaced by the hormones oxytocin
and vasopressin, which create the desire to bond, affiliate with, and nurture your
partner. You want to cuddle and be close and share your deepest secrets with
him or her. You plan and dream together.
• Oxytocin is often nicknamed “cuddle hormone”. It is a hormone released
during orgasm (as well as during childbirth and breast-feeding). This may
be the reason why sex is thought to bring couples closer together and be
the “glue” that binds the relationship. There is a dark side to oxytocin as
well. It seems to play a role in needy, clinging behaviors and jealousy.
• Vasopressin: Scientists learned about the role of vasopressin in
attachment by studying the prairie vole, a small creature that forms
monogamous bonds like humans do. When male prairie voles were given
a drug that suppresses vasopressin, they began neglecting their partners
and not fighting off other male voles who wanted to mate with her.