SEXUAL SELF

ADOLESCENCE SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT

Occurs during puberty and includes many changes such as

What
physical, is GONADOTROPHINS?
emotional, and social changes (Kail & Cavanough, 2010).
• These are special hormones that activate the sexual glands.
What is PUBERTY?
These sexual glands are the testes for boys and ovaries for
girls.
• Refers to the transformations that occur as a child that
• Once these sexual glands are activated, they begin to release
undergoes physical developmental changes, resulting in a
their own hormones that result
sexually mature body of an adult. in physical changes throughout
the body. The hormones released by the male’s testes are
• Science articulates and
called androgens, that the
the hormones
biological processes
released byof female’s
puberty
begin
ovarieswhen the brain’s
are called hypothalamus and pituitary gland get to
estrogens.
release gonadothrophins (Gordon, et. Al., 2005).
 Physical Changes

There are two types of physical changes in puberty: primary sex

charcteristics and secondary sex characteristics (Gordon, et. Al., 2005).
• Primary- this refers to sexual organs. Primary sex characteristics
changes in boys involve an increase in the size of the prostate
gland, testes, seminal vesicles, and penis. The most noticeable
change that occurs in men is the first ejaculation. For girls, it
includes the change of uterus and vagina. The uterus begin to build
a lining, and the vagina starts to produce a discharge. The most
noticeable change that occurs in women is the first menstrual
period.
Physical Changes
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 Physical Changes

• Secondary- this refers to the visible changes that mark adult

maturation (Garn, et. Al,. 2009). These includes body hair growth,
odor, and a sudden increase in height. Also, changes to body shape
or voice may occur. The first noticeable change to one’s appearance
will be a quick growth spurt. This sudden increase in height may
cause them to feel awkward and uncoordinated as they are adapting
to their new bodies, but in reality, they are increasing in strength and
coordination at this time as well.
 Common Diseases Linked to Reproductive System

An individual’s reproductive system has many functions,

including ensuring one’s fertility and providing sex hormones
that support his/her sexual well-being. Although problems that
arise in the system are often curable, several disorders can
have potentially serious consequences. An understanding of
these problems can definitely have positive effects on one’s
sexuality.
 Common Diseases Linked to Reproductive System

INFECTION
• In men, infections can be caused either by bacteria or virus
and may be developed in the scrotum area where the testes
reside. For example, prostatitis, a bacterial infection, can
start in the prostate gland surrounding the urethra. This can
result to inflammation and pain in the testes.
 Common Diseases Linked to Reproductive System

CANCER SYMPTOMS
• It can develop in any of the organs that make up the male
reproductive system. The most common is the prostate
cancer usually related to aging. Symptoms include difficulty
in urinating and low back or pain with ejaculation. Another
one is penile cancer that can be caused by the Human
Papilloma Virus or HPV.
 Common Diseases Linked to Reproductive System

INFERTILITY
• Male infertility can be developed because of genetic factors
causing low or absent sperm production, a blockage in the
duct system, a hormonal imbalance that interferes with the
production. A condition called varicocele, in which veins in
the scrotum that carry blood back to the heart become
enlarged can also cause fertility problems.
 Common Diseases Linked to Reproductive System

PENILE PROBLEMS
• Disorder in the penis may compromise either urination or
sperm production. A condition called erectile dysfunction
interferes with a man’s ability to develop or sustain an
erection, compromising his ability to have sex and father
children.
 Common Diseases Linked to Reproductive System

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE

• Reproductive tract infection for women such as vaginal
Escherichia coliinfection caused by bacteria or virus can
result to pelvic inflammatory disease and fertility problems.
STDs that include chlamydia, gonnorrhea infections go
undetected in women most of the time because they
frequently do not cause symptoms.
 Common Diseases Linked to Reproductive System

ENDOMETRIOSIS
• The tissue lining the womb or the uterus is the
endometrium, which grows during the menstrual cycle.
Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrial tissue
grows outside the uterus, usually in other sites within the
pelvis such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the outer
surface of the uterus
 Common Diseases Linked to Reproductive System

ADENOMYOSIS
• It describes endometrial tissue that has grown into the
muscular wall of the uterus. Endometrial tissue in abnormal
locations undergoes the same growth and sloughing as the
endometrial lining of the womb, which may lead to cyclic
pelvic and/or abdominal pain.
 Common Diseases Linked to Reproductive System

OVARIAN DISORDERS
• Polycystic ovary syndrome indicates woman who have
abnormally high levels androgens, causing an imbalance
that leads to cysts in the ovaries. Among the symptoms are
irregular or absent periods, increased body hair and acne.
Because ovulation does not occur normally with PCOS,
woman with this condition may be infertile.
 Common Diseases Linked to Reproductive System

MENOPAUSE
• Defined as the absence of menstrual period for 12 months,
it is in time in a woman’s life when the function of the
ovaries ceases. Note that the process of menopause does
not occur overnight. Instead, it is a gradual process. This is
when women stop ovulating and menses stop entirely,
ending child-bearing ability. Since production of the
estrogen is reduced, the ovaries finally stop functioning as
endocrine gland.
 Social and Emotional Changes

The physical changes in puberty can likewise cause social

and emotional changes for adolescents. The ‘raging hormones’
is experienced during puberty stage. The bodies at this stage
are adjusting to these fluctuating hormone levels. These are
the reason why mood swings occur and emotion can change
suddenly. Experiencing these physical and emotional changes
during puberty also result in new and unfamiliar social
experiences.
 The Chemistry of Love, Lust, Attraction, Attachment

• Love is a very difficult thing to define, classify, and explain. According to

anthropology professor Helen Fisher (1998), there are three stages of
falling in love: lust, attraction, and attachment.
• Teenagers experience the desire to experience ‘love’ as a result of
activated estrogen and testosterone in the bodies for the first time. These
desires are also known as lust (erotic passion), play a big role in the
teenage life.
• Lust is different from attraction (or infatuation), which is passionate and
obsessive love. Here, a person focuses their energy and attention on a
mating partner they prefer in particular (Bowlby, 1982). But, while lust keeps
us ‘looking around,’ what leads us to attraction is our desire for romance
(Lewis, et. Al, 2000).
 The Chemistry of Love, Lust, Attraction, Attachment

• When attraction (romantic passion) comes into play, the old saying ‘love is
blind’ is at work, wherein we often lose our ability to think rationally. This is
the stage when we often do not see any flaws our partners might have and
this is the time when we cannot get them off our minds. In this stage, the
couples spend many hour getting to know each other. If this attraction
remains strong and mutually felt, then they usually end up entering the third
stage, which is attachment.
• The attachment or commitment stage is love for the duration. You are done
with fantasy love and are now entering into real love. This stage of love has
to be strong enough to withstand many problems and distractions.
 The Chemistry of Love, Lust, Attraction, Attachment

So how the chemistry of love works?

• The initial happiness that comes when we are first falling in love includes a
racing heart, flushed skin and sweaty palms. Researchers say this is due to
the dopamine, norepinephrine and phenylethylamine that we are releasing
(Carmichael, et. Al., 1994).

 Dopamine- the pleasure chemical producing a feeling of bliss

 Norepinephrine- similar to adrenaline and producing the excitement