HUMAN

SEXUALITY
 Is subject to lifelong
dynamic change.
WHAT IS
Normal developmental alterations
and health status may necessitate
SEXUALITY
adaptations in sexual expressions,
but individuals continue to express
sexuality in a variety of ways
throughout their lives.
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How you feel about The ability to
your body and communicate your
interest in sexual sexual needs to a
activity. partner.

The ability to engage

Need for touch. in satisfying sexual
activity
Begins with conception and continuous
throughout the life span.
SEX
IS THE TERM MOST COMMONLY
USED TO IDENTIFY BIOLOGIC
MALE OR FEMALE STATUS

ALSO USE TO DESCRIBE SEXUAL

BEHAVIOR IN GENERAL
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SEXUALITY

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FACTORS
AFFECTING
SEXUALITY
Nurses require basic skills to help clients in the
area of sexuality
• Self-knowledge and comfort with their own
sexuality
• Acceptance of sexuality as an improvement area
for nursing intervention and willingness to work
with clients expressing their sexuality in a variety
of ways
• Knowledge of sexual growth and development
throughout the life cycle
• Knowledge of human sexuality, including how certain
health problems and treatments may effect sexuality
and sexual function and which interventions facilitate
sexual expression and functioning
• Therapeutic communication skills
• Ability to recognize the need of the client and family
members to have the topic of sexuality introduced not
only in written or audiovisual materials but also in verbal
discussion.
 GENDER
Icon Icon Icon
IDENTITY

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 GENDER IDENTITY
- is one’s self-image as a
male or female
- includes social and
cultural norms.

- The result of a long series of

developmental events that
may or, may not conform to
one’s apparent biologic sex.
 Transgender is an umbrella term for
people whose gender identity or gender
expression differs from their anatomical
sex.
Cross-dresser: people
who routinely wear
clothes associated
with the other sex.

Intersexed: people whose sexual organs are

ambiguous at birth
GENDER ROLE
BEHAVIOR
GENDER ROLE BEHAVIOR
The outward
expression of a
person’s sense of
maleness or
femaleness as well as
the expression of
what is perceived as
gender-appropriate
behavior.
PROBLEMS IN
HEALTHCARE
ABOUT
SEXUALITY
Clients are often hesitant to
introduce the topic of sex with their
primary health care providers.

Clients may be too embarrassed or

they may think that they should not
have sexual problems in our
liberated times.
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 SEXUAL
HEALTH
CONCERNS
Sexual health concerns related to body integrity and to sexual safety

•Need for health-promoting behaviors for early identification of sexual

problems (e.g. regular check-ups and health screening, breast and testicular
self-scans).

•Need for freedom from all forms of sexual coercion and sexual violence
(including rape, sexual abuse and harassment).

•Need for freedom from body mutilations (e.g. female genital mutilation).

•Need for freedom from contracting or transmitting STIs (including HIV).

•Need for reduction of sexual consequences of physical or mental disabilities.

•Need for reduction of impact on sexual life of medical and surgical conditions
or treatments.
Sexual health concerns related to reproduction

•Need to make informed and responsible choices

about reproduction.
•Need to make responsible decisions and practices
regarding reproductive behavior regardless of age,
sex and marital status.
•Access to reproductive health care.
•Access to safe motherhood.
•Prevention of and care for infertility.
 Sexual health concerns related to sexual orientation

•Need for freedom from discrimination based on sexual

orientation.

•Need for freedom to express sexual orientation in safe

and responsible manners within a values framework that is
respectful of the rights of others.
 Sexual health concerns related to gender

•Need for gender equality.

•Need for freedom from all forms of discrimination

based on gender.

•Need for respect and acceptance of gender

differences.