THE PHYSICAL AND

SEXUAL SELF
DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECT OF THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Human development started about eight

weeks of embryonic development wherein
gonads begins to form
GONADS are reproductive glands that
produce testis or ovary (reproductive
structure) leading to the development of
accessory structure and external genitalia
DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECT OF THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

The formation of male or female structure

depends on the presence of testosterone.

TESTOSTERONE is a hormone produced from

the embryonic testes followed by the
formation of the duct system and external
genitalia.
Any intervention with the normal pattern
of sex chromosome production in the
embryo will result to strange
abnormalities
PSEUDOHERMAPHRODITES are individuals
having accessory reproductive structures
that do not match their gonads
HERMAPHRODITES are individuals who
possess both ovarian and testicular tissues
PUBERTY is the period of life, generally
between the ages of 10 and 15 years old,
when the reproductive organs grow to
their adult size and become functional
under the influence of rising levels of
gonadal hormones i.e. testosterone in
males and estrogen in females
CHARACTERIZATION OF PUBERTY ON MALES & FEMALES
 The changes that occurs during puberty is similar in sequence
but differs on age:

 MALE – changes occur at the age of 13 wherein the size of

reproductive organs increases followed by the appearance of hair
in the pubic area, axillary, and face. The reproductive organ
continue to grow for 2 years until the presence of mature semen
in the testes.

 FEMALE – at the age of 11, budding of their breasts occur. After 2

years, menstrual period will happen.
DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 Infections and neoplasms are the most common
problems associated with the reproductive
system/organs
For females, vaginal infection are more common in
young and elderly women and that if left untreated
may spread throughout the female reproductive
tract and may cause pelvic inflammatory disease
and sterility. Causes of the infection are Escherichia
coli which spread through the digestive tract, STD
microorganisms like syphilis, gonorrhea and herpes
virus, and yeast (a type of fungus)
THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 Infections and neoplasms are the most common problems associated
with the reproductive system/organs
Painful or abnormal menses may also be due to an
infection or hormone imbalance
Most common reproductive cancers for women are
tumors of the breast and cervix
Menopause can also cause infection and
painful intercourse due to the dryness of
vagina.
 Formales, the most common inflammatory conditions are
prostatitis, urethritis and epididymis caused by STD
microorganism.
 Other condition is orchiditis or the inflammation of the
testes that causes sterility
 Theworst condition will be the prostate cancer or a
common sequel of prostatic hypertrophy
THE MALE REPRODUCTVE SYSTEM
EROGENOUS ZONES
 Theseare parts of the body that are primarily receptive and
increase sexual arousal when touched in sexual manner, to
wit:
- Mouth - Thighs
- Breasts - Neck
- Genitals - Abdomen
- Anus - Feet
HUMAN SEXUAL BEHAVIOR is any activity that
includes sexual arousal. This may be solitary,
between 2 persons or a group. There are 2 major
factors that determine this, to wit:
1. Inherited sexual response pattern – means of
ensuring reproduction and that become part of
each individual’s genetic inheritance
2. Degree of restraints or other types of influence
exerted by society
TYPES OF BEHAVIOR:
SOLITARY BEHAVIOR
Involving only 1 individual or self-gratification.
Males, mostly young and untamed, are more
susceptible to this type of behavior.
Among the influences is through advertising and
social media wherein adolescents are exposed to
sexual stimuli making them more aggressive on
their sexual response. This often leads to
premarital sex and teenage pregnancy much worst
acquiring sexually transmitted diseases.
 SOCIOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR
Involvingmore than 1 person and is generally divided into
3 behaviors:
Heterosexual – between male and female and is the
most common and within our norms. It usually begins
with petting and ended with coitus or the insertion of
male reproductive structure into female reproductive
organ
Homosexual – between male with male or female with
female
Heterosexual and Homosexual – involving 3 or more
individuals
PHYSIOLOGY OF HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE
 Excitement Phase – commonly known as arousal with the
following symptoms:
 Increase in pulse and blood pressure
 Flushing
 More rapid breathing
 Secretion of genital fluids
 Vaginal expansion
 General increase in muscle tension
 Swellingof all distensible body parts like male reproductive
structure and female breasts
Plateau Phase – generally
of brief duration and if
stimulation continues,
orgasm occurs
Sexual Climax – lasts only for few
seconds and is characterized by a
feeling of abrupt intense pleasure, a
rapid increase in pulse rate and blood
pressure, spasms of the pelvic muscles
causing contraction of the female
reproductive organ, ejaculation on
males, and involuntary vocalizations.
Resolution Phase – the return to a normal
or subnormal physiologic state. But, with
continued stimulation, females can still
achieve additional or repeated orgasm
without the intervening rest period
required by males
NERVOUS SYSTEM FACTORS
The hypothalamus and the limbic system are parts of the brain believed
to be responsible for regulating the sexual response. The autonomic system
is involved in controlling the involuntary responses and the spinal cord
serves as a transmission cable. In the presence of stimulus enough to initiate
sexual response, the efferent cerebrospinal nerves transmit the sensory
messages to the brain which interpret it and dictates what will be
immediate and appropriate response of the body. Afterwhich, the efferent
cerebrospinal nerves receive commands from the brain and send them to
the muscles which then contracts in response to the signal while the glands
secrete their respective products.
Other sexual response is through reflex that is not brain-controlled sexual
response. When stimulated, this reflex is mediated by the lower spinal cord
which leads to erection and ejaculation for males and vaginal discharges and
lubrication for females.
SEXUAL PROBLEMS
These are classified into a categories:
1. Physiological Problem – this is due to the abnormal development of
the genitalia or that part of neurophysiology controlling sexual
response like vaginal infections, retroverted uteri, prostatitis,
adenal tumors, diabetes, senile changes of the vagina and
cardiovascular problems. These physiological problems can be
resolved through medication and surgery while problems of nervous
system are more difficult to treat.
2. Psychological problems – usually caused by socially induced
inhibition, maladaptive attitudes, ignorance and sexual myths held
by society. Magazines, marriage books, sexual folklore and social
media greatly affects these problems that will lead to negative
emotions like the feeling of inadequate anxiety and guilt.
Examples of these problems :
a. Premature emission of semen – common problem for young
males which is a natural result of excessive tension in a male
who has been sexually deprived.
b. Erectile impotence – inability of the male structure to erect as
a sexual response due to self perpetuating problem that can be
solved only by a successful act of coitus. Other causes may be
fatigue, disinterest in sexual partner, and distractions.
c. Ejaculatory impotence – inability to ejaculate in coitus due to
traumatic experience or exceeds sexual capacity.
d. Vaginismus – a strong spasm of the pelvic musculature
constricting the female reproductive organs so that penetration
is painful or impossible due to anti-sexual conditioning or
psychological trauma.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
 Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are infections transmitted
from an infected person to unaffected person through sexual
contact
 It usually caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites including
gonorrhea, genital herpes, human papillomavirus infection,
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS), Chlamydia, chancroid, herpes simplex virus,
trichomonas vaginalis, and syphilis
 STD infection can increase the risk of getting and transmitting HIV
and modify the way the disease develops resulting to long term
health problems like pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility,
tubal or ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer, perinatal or
congenital infections in infants born to infected mothers
 STDs are a significant global health priority due to their
overwhelming impact on women, infants and their inter-
relationship with HIV and AIDS
 AIDS is acquired by advanced HIV infection and is the most
leading STDs worldwide. The virus attacks the T-cells (CD4
cells) of the immune system making the individual more
prone to infections and other diseases. This virus may be
transmitted via body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal
fluids, and breast milk
METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION
 NATURAL METHOD
 Abstinence – the act of refraining from sexual intercourse. It is
the most effective natural birth control and effective way to
avoid STD infections but only few people use this method since
it is difficult to comply
 Calendar Method – also called the rhythm method. It is
withholding from coitus during the days that the woman is
fertile (3-4 days before and after ovulation)
 Basal Body Temperature (BBT) – it indicates the woman’s
temperature at rest which serves as basis for this method. The
woman must record her temperature every morning and a
slight decrease followed by a gradual increase can be a sign
that a woman has ovulated
 NATURAL METHOD (continuation)
 Cervical Mucus Method – the cervical mucus during ovulation is the basis
for this method. The woman is fertile as long as the cervical mucus is
copious, thin and watery thus she must avoid coitus on this period to
avoid conception.
 Symptothermal Method – basically the combination of BBT method and
the cervical mucus method. The woman should abstain from coitus 3
days after a rise in temperature or on the 4th day after the peak of mucus
change.
 Ovulation detection – this method uses an over-the-counter kit that
requires sample of the woman. It can predict the surge of luteinzing
hormone (LH) that happens 12 to 24 hours before ovulation.
 Coitus interrupts – commonly known as withdrawal. A couple still goes
on with coitus but the man withdraws the moment he ejaculates to
release the spermatozoa outside of the female reproductive organ. This
method still causes fertilization due to the pre-ejaculation fluid that
contains few spermatozoa.
ARTIFICIAL METHODS
 Oral contraceptives – a pill containing synthetic estrogen and
progesterone that suppresses the follicle hormone and LH to
prevent ovulution and decreases the permeability of the
cervical mucus to limit the sperm’s access to the ova.
 Transdermal patch – a patch containing estrogen and
progesterone which is apllied every week for 3 weeks on the
upper outer arm, upper torso, abdomen or buttocks until
menstrual flow occurs.
 Vaginal ring – a ring that releases a combination of estrogen
and progesterone surrounding the cervix. It is interested into
the female reproductive organ for 3 weeks on the 4th weeks
as menstrual flow would occur.
 Subdermal implants – 2 rod-like implants, made of etonogestrel,
desogestrel and progestin, are inserted under the skin of the
female during her menses on the 7th Of menstruation. This will be
helpful for 3-5 years.
 Hormonal injections – injections containing
medroxyprogesterone, and is usually given every 12 weeks
intramuscularly.
 Intrauterine device (IUD) – a small t-shaped object containing
progesterone and inserted into the uterus via the female
reproductive organ. This will be effective for 5-7 years.
 Chemical barriers – this method uses spermicides, vaginal gels
and creams, and glycerin films to cause death of sperms before
they can enter the cervix and to lower pH level of the female
reproductive organ so it will not become conducive for the
sperm.
Cervical cap – made of soft rubber and shaped like a
thimble with a thin rim. This will be fitted on the rim of the
cervix and could stay in place not more than 48 hours.

 Male condoms – a latex synthetic rubber sheath that is

placed on the erect male reproductive organ before coitus to
trap the sperm during ejaculation.

 Female condoms – made of latex sheaths that are pre-

lubricated with spermicide and boundary by 2 rings. The
outer ring is first inserted against the opening of the
reproductive organ and the inner ring cover the cervix.
• Surgical method – vasectomy (for men) is a
small incision made on each side of the scrotum
where in vas deferens is tied, cauterized, cut or
plugged to block the passage of sperm. Tubal
ligation (for women ) is performed after
menstruation and before ovulation. This 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.
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