GEC1 Understanding the Self (UTS)
Chapter 2 Unpacking the Self
Lesson 1 The Physical and Sexual Self
According to Marieb, E. N. (2001)
✓ gonads are the reproductive glands that produce gametes
like the testes or ovary
✓ begin to form until about 8 weeks of embryonic
development
✓ during the early stages of human development, the
embryonic reproductive structures of males and females are
alike and said to be in the indifferent stage
✓ when the primary reproductive structures are formed,
development of the accessory structures and external
genitalia begins
✓ formation of male or female structures depends on the
presence of testosterone
✓ the embryonic testes release testosterone and the formation
of the duct system and external genitalia follows
✓ in the case of female embryos that from ovaries, it will
cause development of the female ducts and external
genitalia since testosterone is not produced
✓ any intervention with the normal pattern of sex hormone
production in the embryo results in strange abnormalities
Pseudohermaphrodites
 individuals having accessory reproductive structures that
don’t “match” their gonads
 undergo sex change operations to have their outer selves
(external genitalia) fit with their inner selves (gonads)
Hermaphrodites
 individuals who possess both ovarian and testicular tissues
 this condition is rare in nature
✓ critical event for the development of reproductive organs
takes place about one month before birth wherein the male
testes formed in the abdominal cavity at approximately the
same location as the female ovaries, descend to enter the
scrotum
✓ it may lead to cryptorchidism if this normal event fails
✓ this condition occurs in young males and causes sterility
✓ it also a risk factor for cancer of the testes
✓ surgery is usually performed during childhood to solve this
problem
 abnormal separation of chromosomes during meiosis can
lead to congenital defects of the reproductive system
 males who possess extra female sex chromosome have the
normal male accessory structures, but atrophy (to shrink) of
their testes causes them to be sterile
Other Abnormalities Result
 a child has only one sex chromosome
 an XO female appears normal but lacks ovaries
 a YO males die during development
Other Much Less Serious Conditions (affect males primarily)
 Phimosis – due to a narrowing of the foreskin of the male
reproductive structure and misplaced urethral openings
Puberty
 period of live; between the ages of 10 to 15 years
 when the reproductive organs grow to their adult size and
become functional under the influence of rising levels of
gonadal hormones
 reproductive capability continues until old age in males and
menopause in females
The changes that occur during puberty is similar in sequence in
all individuals but the age which they occur differs among
individuals.
Males
✓ as they reach the age of 13, 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
Females
✓ budding of their breasts usually occurring at the age of 11
signals their puberty stage
✓ menarche – 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
Diseases Associated with The Reproductive System
▪ infections are the most common problems associated with
the reproductive system in adults
▪ vaginal infections are more common in young and elderly
women and in those whose resistance to diseases is low
▪ vaginal infections that are left untreated may spread
throughout the female reproductive tract and may cause
pelvic inflammatory disease and sterility
▪ usual infections include those caused by Escherichia coli
(spread through the digestive tract)
▪ sexually transmitted microorganisms such as syphilis,
gonorrhea, and herpes virus; and yeast (a type of fungus)
▪ problems that involve painful or abnormal menses may also
be due to infection or hormone imbalance
▪ most common inflammatory conditions in males are
prostatitis, urethritis, and epididymitis
▪ orchiditis, or inflammation of the testes, is rather uncommon
but is serious because it can cause sterility; and it is
commonly followed by mumps in an adult male
▪ neoplasms are major threat to reproductive organs
▪ tumors of the breast and cervix are the most common
reproductive cancers in adult females, and prostate cancer
(a common sequel to prostatic hypertrophy) is a widespread
problem in adult males
Menopause
 natural decrease in ovarian function characterized by
reduced estrogen production that causes irregular ovulation
and shorter menstrual periods
 ovulation and menses stop entirely, ending childbearing
ability of a woman
 Erogenous Zones
Erogenous Zones refer to parts of the body that are primarily
receptive and increase sexual arousal when touched in a sexual
manner; and it may vary from one person to another
✓ some people may enjoy being touched in a certain area
more than the other areas
✓ some of the commonly known erogenous zones are the
mouth, breasts, genitals, and anus
✓ other common areas of the body that can be aroused easily
may include the neck, thighs, abdomen, and feet
Human Sexual Behavior
Human Sexual Behavior is defined as any activity-solitary,
between two persons, or in a group-that induces sexual arousal
Two Major Factors That Determine Human Sexual
Behavior
✓ Inherited Sexual Response Patterns that have evolved as
a means of ensuring reproduction and that become part of
everyone’s genetic inheritance
✓ Degree of Restraint or Other Types of Influence exerted
on the individual by society in the expression of his sexuality
Types of Behavior
➢ various types of human sexual behavior are usually
classified according to the gender and number of
participants
1. Solitary Behavior – involving only one individual, and
there is sociosexual behavior involving more than one
person
- self-gratification means self-stimulation that leads to
sexual arousal and sexual climax
- common among young males; more males who
perform acts of self-gratification than females
- majority of males and females have fantasies of some
sociosexual activity while they gratify themselves
- humans are frequently being exposed to sexual
stimuli especially from advertising and social media
2. Sociosexual Behavior – divided into heterosexual
behavior (male with female) and homosexual behavior
(male with male or female with female)
- if three or more individuals are involved, possible to
have heterosexual and homosexual activity
simultaneously (Gebhard, P.H. 2017)
- heterosexual behavior is the greatest amount of
sociosexual behavior that occurs between only one
male and one female; and it usually begins in
childhood and may be motivated by curiosity, such
as showing or examining genitalia
Petting
✓ differs from hugging and kissing
✓ generalized caresses of the clothed body to practice
involving stimulation of the genitals
✓ may be done as an expression of affection and a
source of pleasure, preliminary to coitus
✓ has been regarded by others as a near-universal
human experience
✓ important not only in selecting the partner
✓ a way of learning how to interact with another person
sexually
Coitus
✓ the insertion of the male reproductive structure into
the female reproductive organ
✓ viewed by society quite differently depending upon
the marital status of the individuals
✓ majority of human societies allow premarital coitus,
at least under certain circumstances
✓ Pre-Marital Coitus – more likely tolerated but not
encouraged if the individuals intend marriage in
modern Western society
✓ Marital Coitus – considered as an obligation in most
societies
✓ Extramarital Coitus – involving wives are generally
condemned and is allowed only under exceptional
conditions or with specified persons if permitted
- societies are becoming more considerate toward
males than females who engage in extramarital
coitus
- this double standard of morality is also evident in
premarital life
✓ Post-Marital Coitus – it is coitus by separated,
divorced, or widowed persons; and it was almost
always ignored
- there is a difficulty in enforcing abstinence among
sexually experienced
- usually, older people for societies that try to
confine coitus in married couples
Physiology of Human Sexual Response
Sexual Response follows a pattern of sequential stages or
phases when sexual activity is continued
1. Excitement Phase – 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 reproductive structure and female
breasts), more rapid breathing, the secretion of genital
fluids, vaginal expansion, and a general increase in
muscle tension
- these symptoms of arousal eventually increase to a near
maximal physiological level that leads to next stage
2. Plateau Phase – generally of brief duration; orgasm
usually occurs if stimulation is continued
3. Sexual Climax – a feeling of abrupt, intense pleasure, a
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
- characterized by involuntary vocalizations
- sexual climax may last for a few seconds (normally not
over ten), after the individual enters the resolution phase
4. Resolution Phase – last stage that refers to the return to
a normal or subnormal physiologic state
- males and females are similar in their response sequence
- males return to normal even if stimulation continues
- continued stimulation can produce additional orgasms in
females
- females are physically capable of repeated orgasms
without intervening "rest period" required by males
Nervous System Factors
✓ entire nervous system plays a significant role during
sexual response
✓ autonomic system is involved in controlling the involuntary
responses
✓ efferent cerebrospinal nerves transmit the sensory
messages to brain in the presence of a stimulus capable
enough of initiating a sexual response
- brain will interpret the sensory message and dictate what
will be the immediate and appropriate response of the
body
- efferent cerebrospinal nerves receive commands from
the brain and send them to the muscles after
interpretation and integration of sensory input
✓ spinal cord serves as a great transmission cable
✓ muscles contract in response to the signal coming from the
motor nerve fibers while secrete their respective products
✓ sexual response is dependent on the activity of the nervous
system
✓ hypothalamus and the limbic system are the parts of the
believed to be responsible for regulating the sexual
response
✓ but there is no specialized "sex center" that has been in the
human brain
✓ sex hormones can intensify the mounting behavior of
individuals
✓ normally, one response pattern is dominant and the other
latent can still be initiated when suitable circumstances occur
✓ degree to such innate patterning exists in humans is still
unknown
✓ there is some reflex (i.e., not brain-controlled) sexual
response apart from brain-controlled sexual responses
✓ this reflex is mediated by the lower spinal cord and leads
to erection and ejaculation for male, vaginal discharges,
and lubrication for female when the genital and perineal
areas are stimulated
✓ but still, the brain can overrule and suppress such reflex
activity
Sexual Problems
Sexual Problems may be classified as physiological,
psychological, and social in origin; any given problem may
involve all three categories
➢ Physiological Problems are the least among the three
categories
- small number of people suffer from diseases that are due
to abnormal development of the genitalia or that part of
the neurophysiology controlling sexual response
- some common physiologic conditions that can disturb
sexual response include vaginal infections, retroverted
uteri, prostatitis, adrenal tumors, diabetes, senile changes
of the vagina, and cardiovascular problems
- most physiological sexual problems can be resolved
through medication or surgery while problems of the
nervous system that can affect sexual response are more
difficult to treat
➢ Psychological Problems comprise by far the largest
category
- caused by socially induced inhibitions, maladaptive
attitudes, ignorance, and sexual myths held by society
1. Premature Emission of Semen is a common problem,
especially for young males
- this is not consequence of any psychological problem
but the natural result of excessive tension in a male
who has been sexually deprived
2. Erectile Impotence is almost always of psychological
origin in males under 40; in older males
- fear of being impotent frequently causes impotence
- in many cases, afflicted male is simply caught up in a
self-perpetuating problem that can be solved only by
achieving a successful act of coitus
- in other cases, the impotence may be the result of
disinterest in the sexual partner, fatigue, and
distraction because of nonsexual worries, intoxication,
or other causes – such occasional impotency is
common and requires no therapy
3. Ejaculatory Impotence results from the inability to
ejaculate in coitus
- uncommon and is usually of psychogenic origin
- appears to be associated with ideas of contamination
or with memories of traumatic experiences
- occasional ejaculatory inability can be possibly
expected in older men or in any male who has
exceeded his sexual capacity
4. Vaginismus is a strong spasm of the pelvic musculature
constricting the female reproductive organ so that
penetration is painful or impossible
- due to anti-sexual conditioning or psychological
trauma that serves as an unconscious defense against
coitus
- can be treated by psychotherapy and by gradually
dilating the female reproductive organ with
increasingly large cylinders
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) – infections transmitted
from an infected person to an uninfected person through sexual
contact
➢ can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites
➢ significant global health priority because of their
overwhelming impact on women and infants and their inter-
relationships with HIV and AIDS
1. Chlamydia – an STD caused by a specific strain of
bacteria known as Chlamydia trachomatis
- transmitted through vaginal discharge or semen, and
can be transmitted through genital contact or oral,
vaginal, or anal sex without barrier method (condom)
- has the highest rate among adolescent and young
adult females while men are generally lower
2. Gonorrhea – an STD that can cause infection in the
genitals, rectum, and throat
- very common, especially among young people ages
15-24 years
- magnitude of the increase among men suggests either
increased transmission or increased case
ascertainment (e.g., through increased extra-genital
screening) among MSM (men who have sex with men)
or both
- concurrent increases among cases reported among
women suggest parallel increases in heterosexual
 transmission, increased screening among women, or
both
- in the treatment of gonorrhea, antimicrobial
resistance remains an important consideration
3. Syphilis – a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused
by the bacterium Treponema pallidum
- can cause serious health effects without adequate
treatment
- refers as “The Great Pretender”, as its symptoms can
look like many other diseases
- follows a progression of stages (primary, secondary,
latent, and tertiary) that can last for weeks, months,
or even years
Four Stages of Syphilis
a) Primary Stage of Syphilis occurs about 3 to 4
weeks after a person contracts the bacteria
- begins with a small, round sore called a chancre
and it is painless, but it’s highly infectious
- people may not even notice when they have one
b) During the Secondary Stage of Syphilis, skin rashes
and a sore throat may develop
- rash won’t itch and is usually found on the palms
and soles, but it may occur anywhere on the body
- some people don’t notice the rash before it goes
away
c) Latent (Hidden) Stage of Syphilis is a period when
there are no visible signs or symptoms of syphilis
- syphilis will remain in the body even though there
are no signs or symptoms without a treatment
- early latent syphilis is latent syphilis where
infection occurs within the past 12 months
- late latent syphilis is latent syphilis where infection
occurs more than 12 months ago
- latent syphilis of unknown duration is when there is
not enough evidence to confirm initial infection
was within the previous 12 months and it can last
for years
d) The last stage of infection is Tertiary Syphilis
- tertiary syphilis can occur years or decades after
the initial infection and it can be life-threatening
4. Chancroid – caused by infection with the bacterium
Haemophilus ducreyi and it attacks tissue in the genital
area and produces an open sore that’s referred to as a
chancroid or ulcer
- clinical manifestations include genital ulcers and
inguinal lymphadenopathy or buboes
5. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – most common
sexually transmitted infection (STI) among people in
their late teens and early 20s
- most infections are asymptomatic and appear to
resolve spontaneously within a few years
- persistent infection with some HPV types can cause
cancer and genital warts
6. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) – most prevalent of
sexually transmitted infections
- clinical manifestations are characterized by recurrent,
painful genital and/or anal lesions
- there are two main types of the herpes simplex virus:
HSV-1 – this type primarily causes oral herpes,
characterized by cold sores or fever blisters that
appear around the mouth or on the face
HSV-2 – primarily causes genital herpes, which
involves sores that appear on or around the genitals,
anus, buttocks, and inner thighs; and sores can also
develop inside the vagina
7. Trichomoniasis (or “Trich”) – a very common STD
caused by infection with Trichomonas vaginalis (a
protozoan parasite)
- it is associated with adverse health outcomes such as
preterm birth and symptomatic vaginitis
Natural and Artificial Methods of Contraception
Natural Method – natural family planning methods doesn’t
involve any chemical or foreign body introduction into the
human body; people who are very conscious of their religious
beliefs are more inclined to use the natural way of birth control
and others follow such natural methods because they are more
cost-effective
a) Abstinence – involves refraining from sexual intercourse
- most effective natural birth control method with 0% fail
rate; and most effective way to avoid STI
- however, most people find it difficult to comply with
abstinence, so only a few uses this method
b) Calendar Method – this method is also called as the
rhythm method; and this entails withholding from coitus
during the days that the woman is fertile
- according to the menstrual cycle, the woman is likely to
conceive three or four days before and three or four days
after ovulation
- she needs to record her menstrual cycle for six months to
calculate the woman's safe days to prevent conception
c) Basal Body Temperature (BBT) – indicates the woman's
temperature at rest
- before the day of ovulation and during ovulation, it falls
at 0.5°F; it increases to a full degree because of
progesterone and maintains its level throughout the
menstrual cycle
- woman must record her temperature every morning
before any activity; a slight decrease in the BBT followed
by a gradual increase in the BBT can be a sign that a
woman has ovulated
d) Cervical Mucus Method – change in the cervical mucus
during ovulation is the basis for this method
- cervical mucus is copious, thin, and watery during
ovulation
- it also exhibits the property of spinnbarkeit, wherein it
can be stretched up until at least 1 inch and is slippery
- woman is said to be fertile if the cervical mucus is copious
and watery
- therefore, she must avoid coitus during those days to
prevent conception
e) Symptothermal Method – a combination of BBT method
and cervical mucus method
- woman records her temperature every morning and takes
note of changes in her cervical mucus
- she should abstain from coitus 3 days after a rise in her
temperature or on the 4th day after the peak of a mucus
change
f) Ovulation Detection – this method uses an over-the-
counter kit that requires the urine sample of the woman
 - the kit can predict ovulation through the surge of
luteinizing hormone (LH) that happens 12 to 24 hours
before ovulation
g) Coitus Interruptus – one of the oldest methods that
prevents conception
- a couple still goes on with coitus, but the man withdraws
the moment he ejaculates to emit the spermatozoa outside
of the female reproductive organ
- disadvantage of this method is the pre-ejaculation fluid
that contains a few spermatozoa that may cause
fertilization
Artificial Methods
a) Oral Contraceptives – also known as the pill, it contains
synthetic estrogen and progesterone
- estrogen suppresses the Follicle Stimulating Hormone
(FSH) and LH to prevent ovulation
- progesterone decreases the permeability of the cervical
mucus to limit the sperm's access to the ova
- it is suggested that the woman takes the first pill on the
first Sunday after the beginning of a menstrual flow, or
as soon as it is prescribed by the doctor
b) Transdermal Patch – this patch contains both estrogen and
progesterone
- woman should apply one patch every week for 3 weeks
on the following areas: upper outer arm, upper torso,
abdomen, or buttocks
- no patch is applied because the menstrual flow would then
occur at the 4th week
c) Vaginal Ring – releases a combination of estrogen and
progesterone and it surrounds the cervix
- this silicon ring is inserted into the female reproductive
organ and remains there for 3 weeks and then removed
on the 4th week as menstrual flow would occur
d) Subdermal Implants – are two rod-like implants inserted
under the skin of the female during her menses or on the 7th
day of her menstruation to make sure that she will not get
pregnant
- implants are made with etonogestrel, desogestrel, and
progestin and can be helpful for 3-5 years
e) Hormonal Injections – are injections that contain a
progesterone called medroxyprogesterone and is usually
given once every 12 weeks intramuscularly
- the injection causes changes in the endometrium and
cervical mucus and can help prevent ovulation
f) Intrauterine Device (IUD) – is a small, T-shaped object
containing progesterone that is inserted into the uterus via
the female reproductive organ
- prevents fertilization by creating a local sterile
inflammatory condition to prevent implantation of
zygote
- IUD is fitted only by the physician and inserted after the
woman's menstrual flow
- device can be effective for 5-7 years
g) Chemical Barriers – such as spermicides, vaginal gels and
creams, glycerin films
- used to cause the death of sperms before they can enter
the cervix and to lower the pH level of the female
reproductive organ so it will not become conducive for
the sperm
- these are cannot prevent sexually transmitted infections
h) Diaphragm – it is a circular, rubber disk that fits the cervix
and should be placed before coitus
- it works by inhibiting the entrance of the sperm into the
female reproductive organ and it works better when used
together with a spermicide
- it should be fitted only by the physician, and should
remain in place for 6 hours after coitus
i) Cervical Cap – this cap is made of soft rubber and fitted
on the rim of the cervix
- it is shaped like a thimble with a thin rim, and could stay
in place for not more than 48 hours
j) Male Condoms – is a latex or synthetic rubber sheath that
is placed on the erect male reproductive organ before
penetration into the female reproductive organ to trap the
sperm during ejaculation
- it can prevent STIs and can be bought over-the-counter
- male condoms have an ideal fail rate of 2% and a
typical fail rate of 15% due to a break in the sheath's
integrity or spilling of semen
k) Female Condoms – made up of latex rubber sheaths that
are pre-lubricated with spermicide
- usually bound by two rings; and the outer ring is first
inserted against the opening of the female reproductive
organ and the inner ring covers the cervix
- used to prevent fertilization of the egg by the sperm cells
l) Surgical Method (male) – Vasectomy is a small incision is
made on each side of the scrotum; and the vas deferens is
tied, cauterized, cut, or plugged to block the passage of the
sperm; patient is advised to use a backup contraceptive
method until two negative sperm count results are recorded
because the sperm could remain viable in the vas deferens
for six months
m) Surgical Method (female) – Tubal Ligation is performed
after menstruation and before ovulation; and the procedure
is done through a small incision under the woman's umbilicus
that targets the fallopian tube for cutting, cauterizing, or
blocking to inhibit the passage of both the sperm and the
ova