Lesson 7 – The Sexual Self

Sexual self -concept refers to the totality of yourself as a sexual being, including positive and
negative concepts and feelings. Sexual self - concept in this unit will be described along three
dimensions according to theorists (1) sexual self-esteem, (2) sexual depression, and (3) sexual
preoccupation.
During sexual maturation (puberty growth spurt), there are two important physical changes that
occur in your body as you transition from being a child to that of being an adult: development of
the primary sexual characteristics and development of the secondary sexual characteristics.
Primary Sexual Characteristics
Primary sexual characteristics are the physical characteristics directly involved in
reproduction, such as the sex organs. Sex organs are a broad category that includes any gland,
organ, or part that is necessary for reproduction. (Study.com) The sex organs show a major
physical change during puberty – its growth and development make up the primary sexual
characteristics.
Primary sexual characteristics are there from birth (for example, penises vs. vaginas). In
mammals, sex is determined through hormonal events in utero that under normal circumstances
are controlled by the combination of X and Y chromosomes.
For the male: scrotum, testes, epididymis, vas deferens, prostate, seminal vesicles, urethra, and
penis all qualify as being part of the sex organs. (Study.com) The male gonads (testes), which are
located in the scrotum (sac), outside the body, are only approximately 10% of their mature size at
the age of fourteen years. Rapid growth occurs for a year or two, after which growth slows
down; the testes are fully developed by the age of twenty or twenty-one.
The penis accelerates in growth shortly after the rapid growth of the testes begins. At first, the
growth is seen in length, followed by a gradual increase in circumference. Nocturnal emissions
(wet dreams) are spontaneous orgasms during sleep that includes ejaculation for a male. They
begin to occur when the male reproductive organs have become developed in function. This can
be seen when boys have a sexually exciting dream, when they have a full bladder, are
constipated, when wearing tight undergarments, or when they are too warmly covered.
For the female: the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, vaginal canal, Bartholin’s and Skenes
glands, vagina, clitoris, and clitoral hood are all considered as sex organs. All parts of the female
reproductive system grow during puberty, but in different rates. The uterus weighs 5.3 grams
with the average eleven- or twelve-year-old girl; by the age of sixteen, the average weight is 43
grams.
During this time, the sex organs grow rapidly. The menarche, or first menstrual flow, is the first
real sign of sexual maturation in girls. This starts a series of regular discharges of blood, mucus,
and broken-down cell tissue from the uterus that occurs every 28 days until the menopause, in
the late forties or early fifties.

Secondary Sexual Characteristics

Secondary sexual characteristics emerge at puberty. These physical characteristics are not used
in sexual reproduction, but are important for attracting a mate or being able to provide care for
offspring - such as human breasts. These features distinguish males from females and make
members of one sex appealing to members of the opposite sex.
Hormones secreted through the hypothalamus initiate the development of classically male or
female secondary sexual traits (Reid, 2018). The appearance of secondary sexual characteristics
makes one ―sexually appealing‖. Changes caused by the gradual development of these
characteristics, like other developments at puberty, follows a predictable pattern. The following
table shows the secondary sexual characteristics of boys and girls:
Important Secondary Sex Characteristics:
BOYS
Hair
Pubic hair appears about one year after the
testes and penis have started to increase in
size. Axillary and facial hair appears when
the pubic hair has almost completed its
growth, as does body hair. At first, all hair is
scanty, lightly pigmented, and fine in texture.
Later it becomes darker, coarser, more
luxuriant, and slightly kinky.
Skin
The skin becomes coarser, less transparent,
and sallow in color, and the pores enlarge.
Glands
The sebaceous, or oil-producing, glands in
the skin enlarge and become more active,
which may cause acne. The apocrine glands
in the armpits start to function, and
perspiration increases as puberty progresses.
Muscles
The muscles increase markedly in size and
strength, thus giving shape to the arms, legs,
and shoulders.
Voice
Voice changes begin after some pubic hair
has appeared. The voice becomes husky and
later drops in pitch, increases in volume, and
acquires a pleasant tone. Voice breaks are
common when maturing is rapid.
GIRLS
Hips
The hips become wider and rounder as a
result of the enlargement of the pelvic bone
and the development of subcutaneous fat.
Breasts
Shortly after the hips start to enlarge, the
breasts begin to develop. The nipples enlarge
and protrude and, as the mammary gland
develops, the breast become larger and
rounder.
Hair
Pubic hair appears after hip and breast
development is well underway. Axillary hair
begins to appear after the menarche, as does
facial hair. Body hair appears on the limbs
late in puberty. All hair except facial hair is
straight and slightly pigmented at first and
then becomes more luxuriant, coarser, darker,
and slightly kinky.
Skin
The skin becomes coarser, thicker, and
slightly sallow, and the pores enlarge.
Glands
The sebaceous and apocrine glands become
more active as puberty progresses. Clogging
of the sebaceous glands can cause acne, while
the apocrine glands in the armpits produce
perspiration, which is especially heavy and

Breast Knots
Slight knobs around the male mammary
glands appear between the ages of twelve
and fourteen. These last for several weeks
and then decreases in number and size.
pungent just before and during menstrual
period.
Muscles
The muscles increase in size and strength,
especially in the middle of puberty and
toward the end, thus giving shape to the
shoulders, arms, and legs.

Voice
The voice becomes fuller and more
melodious. Huskiness and breaks in the voice
are rare among girls.

EROGENOUS ZONES OF THE HUMAN BODY

Sexual awakening takes place through the different parts of your body where they lead to sexual
stimulation due to their sensitivity to touch. These body parts are known as erogenous zones –
sensitive areas on the body that cause sexual arousal when they are touched (Merriam-Webster).
Your awareness of these body parts will lead you to being responsible – as to know your limits
and capabilities, and will give you control over your desires and sexual urges.
Female Erogenous Zone
1. Clitoris – this is the female body part contributing most to sexual arousal. It is extremely
sensitive due to nerve endings. Research shows that stimulating the clitoris is the fastest and
easiest way for many women to achieve orgasm through pressure and vibration.
2. Vagina – it is where the ―G-spot‖ is located. The interior of the vagina contains nerve endings,
and women report that deep stimulation leads to more intense orgasms. The outer edge of the
vagina, on the other hand, tends to respond to light touch.
3. Cervix – located at the lower end of the uterus, has its own feel-good nerve pathways. In fact,
some research suggests that the vagina, clitoris, and cervix all respond separately and distinctly
to sexual stimuli. Nerves in the cervix respond most to pressure stimulation, but light touch has
been shown to elicit a response as well.
4. Mouth and Lips – surveys found kissing to be more important in relationship-building than in
sexual arousal. Studies suggest that many women rank the lips and mouth highly as erogenous
areas.
5. Neck - according to a large international survey of women, both the nape and back of the neck
are among the top 10 erogenous zones. One study found that the neck is very sensitive to light
touch, especially among people with low body fat. Another study found that women with spinal
cord injury can get pretty turned on by neck stimulation alone.
6. Breasts and Nipples – both men and women have breasts for evolutionary purposes especially
women; and they play a role in sexual arousal as well. Nipple stimulation sets fireworks off in
the same region of the brain that processes sensations from the clitoris and vagina. Just as with
the clitoris, pressure and vibration stimulate them.
7. Ears – are super sensitive to touch, probably due to a large number of nerve endings.
Male Erogenous Zone:
1. Penis - both survey and lab-based scientific experiments demonstrate that penile
stimulation significantly contributes to sexual satisfaction. And while this can be a
sensitive subject, circumcision doesn’t appear to decrease sensation or sexual satisfaction.
2. Mouth and Lips – they are highly sensitive; male lips respond to light touch, temperature,
or pressure. Kissing also triggers a release of hormones involved in intimacy – especially
oxytocin, the so-called ―love hormone.‖
3. Scrotum - it is one of men’s most notable erogenous zones. Lots of nerves mean that this
area is super-sensitive to touch.
4. Neck – while touching the neck doesn’t appear to be quite as much of a turn-on for men
as for women, it’s still ranked pretty highly on the erogenous zones list. The neck has
great sensitivity to low-frequency vibration, making it a prime spot for light erotic touch.
5. Nipples – as with women, men rank nipples as a definite hot spot. While male nipples
don’t appear to serve any real purpose (they’re basically by-products of evolution), that
doesn’t mean they’re totally useless – they still have plenty of nerve endings.
6. Perineum – is the area between the anus and scrotum and is hooked up to perineal nerves,
which help convey sensations of sexual pleasure from the genitals to the brain.
7. Ears – highly sensitive to touch because of a high number of sensory receptors on the
skin, the ears are ranked just behind the scrotum for body parts that help men orgasm
when touched or otherwise stimulated.

UNDERSTANDING THE HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE

The body reacts when something is perceived to be sexually pleasurable. All human beings
have desires. Desiring for somebody is normal, and it leads to sexual intimacy that may lead
to sexual reproduction. As sexual beings, humans have desires for sexual pleasure and
satisfaction.
 Desire and sexuality cannot be separated. Libido is a person's overall sexual drive or desire
for sexual activity. Libido is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors
(Wikipedia). Understanding your sexual self will lead you to a better view of your sexuality –
making you responsible and educated with your actions and decisions.

The Brain – Its Role and Function in the Human Sexual Response
The brain is responsible in translating nerve impulses from the skin into pleasurable sensations.
It controls nerves and muscles used during sexual activity. It regulates the release of hormones,
which are believed to be the physiological origin of sexual desire.
The human brain is the most complex organ in the body. It is divided into four hierarchically
organized, interacting levels:
1. The brain stem
The evolutionarily oldest structure; controls primitive responses associated with sexual behavior
and facial expressions; contains circuits for many emotions, including love/attachment, joy, and
sexual excitement (Lewis, 2005).

2. The hypothalamus
It controls most body systems by regulating the production of hormones in response to both
internal and environmental events; it controls the pituitary gland, which is the master gland that
controls all the other endocrine glands in the body; the hypothalamus plays a key role in
connecting the endocrine system with the nervous system
3. The limbic system
It mediates learning, memory, and emotion; it contains the:
a. Amygdala – helps generate associations between experiences and emotions – Was this an
experience that felt good, that resulted in a good meal, or a loving touch? Or was this an
experience that produced fear or pain?
b. Hippocampus – located near the amygdala, it plays an important role in organizing and
storing memories for events.
 The amygdala and hippocampus seem to work together, so that emotions associated with
past experiences influence the storage and retrieval of specific memories.

4. The cerebral cortex

It is the outermost layer of the brain; its function is responsible for thinking and
processing information from the five senses. It is also responsible for higher thought
processes including speech and decision making.

The cortex is divided into four different lobes:

a. frontal lobe – for cognitive functions and control of voluntary movement/activity
b. parietal lobe – processes information about temperature, taste, touch and movement
c. temporal lobe – processes memories, integrating them with sensations of taste, sound,
sight and touch
d. occipital lobe – primarily responsible for vision
The Sexual Response Cycle
According to William Masters and Virginia Johnson, the sexual response cycle is a model
that describes the physiological responses that take place during sexual activity.
According to the cycle, it consists of four phases:
1. Excitement – the intrinsic (inner) motivation to pursue sex arises; it includes increased
heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension;
2. Plateau – sets the stage for orgasm; heart rate quickens, blood pressure rises, muscle
tension increases, and breathing becomes faster;
3. Orgasm – the release of tension; also known as the ―climax or peak‖ of the sexual
excitement; heart rate increases dramatically, blood pressure rise, breathing becomes
rapid and shallow, muscles throughout the body contract, and perspiration is evident;
there is an intense, pleasant, or pleasurable psychological feeling associated with the
release of sexual tension; and
4. Resolution – the return to the unaroused state before the cycle begins again; heart rate,
blood pressure, and breathing return to normal state, and muscle tension decreases.

Now that you are aware of your body’s sexual responses and behaviors, your knowledge
of these intimate reactions should lead you to your appreciation of your body, mind, and
sexuality. As teenagers, curious of your body changes and sensations, you should be
aware of your responsibilities to control and to not go beyond your limits when it comes
to the practice of engaging sexually. Sex is beautifully expressed and experienced in
the state of love, commitment, and marriage.

Ways of Dealing with Sexual Energies

Sexual energy is a life-energy. Your sexual impulses have the power to influence so
much of what you do, how you act, and the choices that you make. It takes part in your
everyday dealings in the field of human interaction. Sex, as one of the greatest
motivational forces in life, if not properly controlled, can lead to great destruction.
The following are ways on how to deal with your sexual energies:

1. Repression – involves keeping certain thoughts, feelings, or urges out of conscious

awareness. The goal of this is to keep unacceptable desires or thoughts out of the
conscious mind in order to prevent or minimize feelings of anxiety

***Repression is subconscious.
2. Suppression – the person consciously and deliberately pushes down any thoughts
that leads to feelings of anxiety.

ex. An older man has sexual feelings towards a teenager and quickly suppresses the
thought. ***Suppression is conscious.

3. Sublimation - allows us to act out unacceptable impulses by converting these

behaviors into a more acceptable form.

ex. A person experiencing sexual urges/thoughts might take up sports as a means of

expressing these forces.

4. Genital satisfaction – giving in to one’s sexual desires through sexual gratification; it

includes sexual intercourse – the likes of premarital sex, marital sex, and extramarital
sex.

5. Integration – integrate one’s sexual energies into friendships, marriage, vocation,

and all levels of relationships.

How do we prevent premarital sex?

Sex comes with responsibility. Premarital sex in young adults is an act out of curiosity,
making them unaware of the consequences of this behavior – committing a mortal sin
with your God, early/unwanted pregnancy, the gossips and condemnations from the
community/society, and the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections or
HIV/AIDS.

Adolescence should be a time to form oneself as a mature and responsible individual

being, and not at all a time to rush into procreation. So, how do we prevent premarital
sex? Learn how to say NO! One of the ways to prevent premarital sex is to start from
educating and empowering yourself – learning the truths about sex and evaluating the
consequences of premarital sex. And it is through your parents and the school that you
should find and seek guidance and knowledge in this very sensitive and personal issue of
how you can prevent yourself from engaging in premarital sex. In the pleasure of a
moment, you can be blinded by your sexual desire. In the moment of lust and passion,
your future can be destroyed. In the moment of foolishness and self-gratification, your
bright future can turn into darkness. Sex should be saved as a gift for marriage. ―Why
save sex for marriage‖ is really a question of understanding God’s purpose and design for
sex. We can choose to do things God’s way, and experience the beauty of His plan, or we
can choose to do things our way, and experience harm and destruction (Proverbs 16:25).

Sex is from God. He gave it to us as a gift. It's a wedding gift.— Bill Shannon

According to anthropology professor Helen Fisher, there are three stages of falling in
love. In each stage, different brain chemicals influence your brain chemistry - the
neurotransmitters that get you all excited and the hormones that carry the feeling all
throughout your body.
1. Lust - driven by the desire for sexual gratification; evolutionary basis for this is our
need to reproduce; through reproduction, organisms pass on their genes, and thus
contribute to the perpetuation of their species.

The hypothalamus of the brain plays a big role by stimulating the production of the sex
hormones:
a. Testosterone – from the testes; being ―male‖; increases libido
b. Estrogen – from the ovaries; being ―female‖; increases sexual motivation in women
during ovulation (peak of estrogen production)
2. Attraction (Falling in love)– involves romantic or passionate love, characterized by
euphoria; physical symptoms of falling in love include loss of appetite, inability to sleep,
lack of concentration, wet palms, and butterflies in the stomach.

These symptoms are caused by surging brain chemicals called monoamines:

a. Dopamine - produced by the hypothalamus, released when we do things that feel
good to us like spending time with loved ones and having sex.

b. Norepinephrine – high dosage are released during attraction; these chemicals make us
giddy, energetic, and euphoric, even leading to decreased appetite and insomnia; also
known as noradrenalin, it plays a large role in the ―fight or flight‖ response, which
kicks into high gear when we’re stressed and keeps us alert.

c. Phenylethylamine– a natural amphetamine; gives the feeling of being on-top-of-the-

world that attraction can bring; and gives the energy to stay up day and night when in
love.
d. Serotonin – a hormone that’s known to be involved in appetite and mood; this gives
the overpowering infatuation that characterizes the beginning stages of love.

3. Attachment (Staying together)- the predominant factor in long-term relationships.

While lust and attraction are pretty much exclusive to romantic entanglements,
attachment mediates friendships, parent-infant bonding, social cordiality, and many other
intimacies as well.
The two primary hormones here appear to be
a. Oxytocin - often nicknamed as ―cuddle hormone‖; it is produced by the hypothalamus
and released in large quantities during sex (peaks during orgasm), breastfeeding, and
childbirth, all of these events are precursors to bonding.

b. Vasopressin – also called the ―monogamy chemical‖; researchers have found out that
suppression of vasopressin can cause male prairie voles to neglect their partners and not
fight off other male voles who try to mate with their partners.

c. Endorphins - are chemicals produced naturally by the nervous system to cope with pain
or stress; are often called "feel-good" chemicals because they can act as a pain reliever
and happiness booster.

DIVERSITY OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

Gender and sexual diversity (GSD), or simply sexual diversity, refers to all the diversities
of sex characteristics, sexual orientations and gender identities, without the need to
specify each of the identities, behaviors, or characteristics that form this plurality.

Sexual Orientation

a. Heterosexuals - sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex; commonly referred to

as straight;
b. Homosexuals - sexually attracted to people of their own sex; gay or lesbian;
c. Bisexuals - sexually attracted not exclusively to people of one particular gender;
attracted to both men and women;

Gender identity
a. Transgender - denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and
gender does not correspond with their birth sex;

b. Cisgender - denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and

gender corresponds with their birth sex;

Related minorities – intersex, gathered under the acronyms:

a. LGBT or LGBTI – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual people, and

sometimes intersex people
UNDERSTANDING SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are passed from person to
person through sexual contact. HIV is an STI.
1. CLAMYDIA - its in vaginal secretions and semen (―cum‖); can be spread by vaginal,
oral, or anal sex without a condom or latex/polyurethane barrier; pregnant women can
pass it on to their babies during delivery. Symptoms: may include vaginal discharge and
burning during urination, but most women do not have any symptoms
Treatment: with antibiotics; if left untreated, it can spread to a woman's upper, internal
reproductive organs (ovaries and fallopian tubes) and cause pelvic inflammatory disease
(PID); PID can lead to infertility and make it difficult or impossible to become
pregnant.

2. GENITAL WARTS
- are caused by viruses; HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is the name of a large group of
viruses; certain types of HPV cause warts on the hands or feet; other types cause
infections in the genital area that can lead to genital warts, cervical cancer, or cancer of
the vulva, vagina, anus, and penis;; people living with HIV are more likely to be infected
with HPV than HIV-negative people; people living with HIV and HPV are also more
likely to develop genital warts, as well as cervical or anal cancer;

Treatment: regular cervical screening tests are a good way to check for HPV; there are
also three effective HPV vaccines

3. GONORRHEA
- often called ―the clap‖, this bacterial sexually transmitted infection exists in vaginal
secretions and semen; it can be spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a
condom or latex/polyurethane barrier
Symptoms: may include a yellowish or greenish vaginal discharge and a burning feeling
when urinating; can also affect the anus and the throat.

Treatment: with antibiotics If left untreated, it can cause PID and infertility.

4. HERPES
- caused by a virus that lives in the nerves. There are two common types:
a) Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) - usually causes cold sores around the mouth
b) Herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) - usually causes sores in the genital area.

Symptoms: include itchy or painful blisters; spread through skin-to-skin contact with
sores, but it may also spread even before sores can be seen on the infected person.
5. HIV (HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS)
- The virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome); present in blood,
vaginal secretions, semen, and breast milk; can be spread through vaginal, oral, or anal
sex without a condom or latex/polyurethane barrier; getting tested for HIV is part of
routine medical care;

6. SYPHILIS
- caused by a bacterium; it can be spread by vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom
or latex/polyurethane barrier.
- The disease has several phases
a) primary syphilis (early disease) may have pain-free open sores, called chancres, in the
genital or anal area or around the mouth; the sores usually heal on their own in three to
six weeks.
b) secondary syphilis (a later stage of the disease) often have a rash and/or hair loss.
c) latent stage during which it may have no visible symptoms but can cause damage to
the heart, brain, and other organs.

Treatment: can be successfully treated with antibiotics; without treatment, it can hurt
your body's organs, leading to severe illness and even death.

6. OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

a. Chancroid
- caused by a bacterium; it can be spread by vaginal or anal sex or skin-to-skin
contact with sores.

Symptoms: may include genital sores, vaginal discharge, a burning feeling when
urinating, and swollen lymph nodes in the groin. Treatment: can be treated with
antibiotics

b. Hepatitis
- an inflammation (irritation) of the liver; some types of hepatitis are caused by viruses
that exist in blood, vaginal secretions, semen, and breast milk; these include hepatitis
A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV), all of which can be sexually
transmitted.
c. Pubic Lice
- they live in the pubic hair and can be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact; they can also
be spread through infected clothes and bedding.
Symptoms: may include intense itching and seeing lice or eggs in the hair.
Treatment: can be treated with over-the-counter medications; contaminated clothes,
sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and towels should be washed in hot water and laundry soap
to kill lice and eggs and to prevent being infected again.

d. Trichomoniasis
- caused by a single-celled germ called a protozoa; can be spread during vaginal, oral, or
anal sex without a condom or latex/polyurethane barrier; common cause of vaginal
infections. Symptoms: may include a foamy, foul-smelling vaginal discharge and itching

Treatment: with antibiotics

Activity 1:
Read: 50 Purity Quotes for Smart Teenagers by Dora Weithers
from https://pairedlife.com/advice/Purity-Quotes-To-Grab-Your-Teenagers-Attention

Reflect by choosing one purity quote from the reading that you like/can relate the most.
Make ―A Commitment Statement on Chastity‖ by making a promise card using your
purity quote of choice.

Activity 2
Celebrate diversity of gender/sexuality by doing your most creative picture showing your
sex/gender identity.