THE SEXUAL SELF

BY GROUP 2
• ‘’Self-love is about respecting and appreciating every
single part of who you are, and being proud to be you’’
- Miya yamanouchi
Development of the Secondary Sex Characteristics
and the Human Reproductive System

Soon after the fertilization of an egg, the development of the

reproductive system begins. Rapid reproductive development
happens inside the mother’s womb.
Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and
Fetus
The female sex is considered the “fundamental” sex because if a particular
chemical prompting is absent, all fertilized eggs will develop into female. For a
fertilized egg to become male, a cascade of chemical reactions must be present
initiated by a single gene in the male Y chromosomes called SRY (Sex-determining
Region of the Y chromosomes).
Both male and female embryos have the same group of cells that will potentially
develop into male and female gonads or sex glands.
Further Sexual development Occurs at Puberty
Puberty- is the stage of development at which individuals become
sexually mature.
“The outcome of puberty is different for boys and girls, but the
hormonal process is similar.”
5 stages of puberty
Stages Girls
1. 8-11yrs. Old
The ovaries enlarge and hormone
production starts, but external
development is not yet visible.
2. 8-14 yrs. old
 Breast Development
 The aureole will increase in size
 First stage of pubic hair may also be
present at this time.
 Height and weight increase. The
body gets rounder and curvier.
Boys
9-12 yrs. old
No visible signs of development occur;
but internally, male become a lot more
active. Sometimes a growth spurt begins
at this time.
9-15 yrs. old
 Height increases and shape of body
changes
 Muscle tissue and fat develop
 The aureole darkens and increases in
size
 The testicles and scrotum grow, but the
penis probably does not.
 A little bit of pubic hair begins to grow
at the base of the penis
3. 9-15 yrs. old
 Breast growth continues, and pubic hair gets
coarser and darker
 Whitish discharge from the vagina
 For some girls, the first menstrual period
begins
4. 10-16 yrs. old 11-17 yrs. old
 Some girls notice that their aureoles get
even darker and separate into a little
mound rising above the rest of the breast
 Pubic hair may begin to have a more adult
triangular pattern of growth.
 If it did not happen in stage 3, menarche
(first menstruation) start.
 Ovulation may start now too, but it will
not occur in regular basis.
11-16 yrs. old
 The penis start to grow, it tends to grow in
length rather than width.
 Shoulders broaden, making the hips look
smaller.
 Pubic hair is getting darker and coarser and
spreading to where the legs meet the torso
 Height continue to increase and faces begin to
appear more mature.
 The penis starts to grow in width.
 The testicles and scrotum also continue to
grow. Hair may begin to grow on the anus.
 The texture of the penis becomes more
adult-looking. Underarm and facial hair
increases as well.
 The first fertile ejaculations typically
appear at approximately 15, but this age
can widely across individual boys.
 Skins gets oiler, and voice continues to
deepen.
5. 12-19 yrs. old
 final stage of development. Full
height is reached and young
women ovulating regularly.
 Pubic hair is filled in, and the
breast are developed fully for
the body.
14-18
 Boys reached their full adult
height.
 Pubic hair and the genitals look
like an adult man’s do.
 Shaving is a necessity
 Some young men continue to grow
past this point, even into their
twenties.
What are the erogenous zones of the body?
Erogenous zone- popularized in the 1960s-1970s
-describe the areas of the body that are highly sensitive
to stimuli and are often (but not always) sexually exciting.
“Highly sensitive” these areas of the body have a high number of sensory
receptors or nerve endings that react to stimuli. These are the places where in a
person is generally more sensitive to both pain and pleasure than in other areas of
the body.
a.) Skin
The skin serves as the primary erotic stimuli.
Two types of erogenous zones exist in the skin
1. Nonspecific type
a. It is similar to any other portion of the usual haired skin.
b. The nerves supplying it are composed of the usual density of dermal-nerve networks and
hair-follicle networks.
c. The learned and anticipated pleasurable sensations when a stimulus is presented in these
regions produce the amplified sensation.
d. The pleasurable sensation felt from the regions is simply an exaggerated form of tickle.
e. Examples of this type of skin are the sides and back of the neck, the axilla (armpit) and
the side of the thorax (chest).
2. Specific Type
a. It is found in the mucocutaneous regions of the body or those
regions made both of mucous membrane and cutaneous skin.
b. These regions favor acute perception.
c. These specific sites of acute sensation are the genital regions,
including the prepuce, penis, the female external genitalia
(vulva), the perianal skin, lips and nipples.
Prepuce- the retractable fold of skin covering the tip of the penis.
- It is also a similar fold of skin covering the tip of the clitoris.
-Nontechnical name: foreskin
Penis- is a male erectile organ of copulation by which urine and semen are discharged
from the body.
Female external genitalia (vulva) include:
 The mons pubis
 The clitoris- a female sexual organ that is small, sensitive and located in front of
the opening of the vagina.
 The labia majora and labia minora
The hymen- is a membrane that surrounds or partially covers the external
vaginal opening.
Labia majora- are the fleshy lips around the vagina.
-larger outer folds of vulva
Labia minora- also known as inner labia, inner lips or nymphaea are two
flaps of skin on either side of the human vaginal
opening in the vulva situated between labia majora
 Vaginal intriotus- is the opening that leads to vaginal canal
Perianal Skin- the area of the body surrounding the anus, and in particular, the
skin.
- very sensitive
- it is also susceptible to injury and damage.
Lips- human lips are designed to be perceived by touch, and can be an
erogenous zone when used in kissing and any other acts of intimacy.

Nipples- are the raised region of tissue on the surface of the breast.
-A recent study found that the sensation from the nipples travels to the
same part of the brain as sensations from the vagina, clitoris and cervix.
Understanding the Human Sexual Response
Sexual response cycle- refers to the sequence of physical and emotional occurrence
when the person is participating in a sexually stimulating activity, such
as intercourse or masturbation.
-both men and women experience these phases, however, they do not
experience it at the same time.
-discovered by William Masters and Virginia Johnson, in the late 1950s.
Four phases of human cycle

Phases General Characteristics

Phase 1:  Muscle tension increases

Excitement  Heart rate quickens, and breathing is accelerated
 Skin become flushed (blotches of redness appear on the chest and back)
 Nipples become hardened or erect
 Blood flow to the genitals increases, resulting in swelling of the
woman’s clitoris and labia minora (inner lips) and erection of the man’s
penis
 Vaginal lubrication begin
 The woman’s breast become fuller and the vaginal walls begin to swell
 The man’s testicles swell, his scrotum tightens and he begins secreting a
lubricating liquid
Phase 2:  The changes begun in phase 1 are intensified
Plateau  The vagina continues to swell from increased blood flow and the vaginal walls turn
a dark purple
 The woman’s clitoris becomes highly sensitive (may even be painful to touch) and
retracts under the clitoral hood to avoid direct stimulation from the penis
 The man’s testicle are withdrawn up into the scrotum
 Breathing heart rate and blood pressure continue to increase
 Muscle spasms may begin in the feet, face and hands
 Tension in the muscle increase

Phase 3: This phase is the climax of the sexual response cycle. It is the shortest of the phases generally
Orgasm lasts only a few seconds.
 Involuntary muscle contraction begin
 Blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing are at their highest rates, with a rapid intake of oxygen
 Muscle in the feet spasm
 There is a sudden, forceful release of sexual tension
 In women, the muscles of the vagina contract. The uterus also undergoes rhythmic contractions
 In men, rhythmic contractions of the muscles at the base of the penis result in the ejaculation of
semen
 A rash or “sex flush” may appear over the entire Body.
Phase 4:  During this phase, the body slowly returns to its normal
Resolution functioning level. The swelled and erect body parts return to
their previous size and color. This phase is marked by
general sense of well-being; intimacy is enhanced; and often
fatigue sets in.
 With further sexual stimulation, some women can return to
orgasm phase. This allows them to experience multiple
orgasms.
 Men on the other hand, need recovery time after orgasm.
This called the refractory period. How long a man needs a
refractory period varies among men and his age.
Sex and Brain. What are parts involved?
Primarily, sex is the process of combining male and female genes to form an
offspring. However, complex systems of behavior have evolved the sexual process
from its primary purpose of reproduction to motivation and rewards circuit that root
sexual behavior.
Ultimately, the largest sex organ controlling the biological urges, mental processes,
as well as the emotional and physical responses to sex is BRAIN.
Roles of the brain in sexual activity
1. Responsible for translating the nerve impulses sensed by the skin into pleasurable
sensation.
2. It controls the nerves and muscle used in sexual activities.
3. Sexual thoughts and fantasies are theorized to lie in the cerebral cortex, the same
area used for thinking and reasoning.
4. Emotions and feelings (which are important for sexual behavior) are believed to
originate in the limbic system.
5. The brain releases the hormones considered as the physiological origin of sexual
desire.
Roles of hormones in sexual activity
Hypothalamus- most important part of the brain for sexual functioning.
-the pituitary gland secretes thee hormones produced in the hypothalamus
1. Oxytocin
“Love hormone” that believed to be involved in our desire to maintain
close relationships.
Released during sexual intercourse when orgasm is achieved
2. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Responsible for ovulation of females.
3. Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
Crucial in regulating the testes in men and ovaries in women.
In men, the LH stimulates the testes to produce testosterone .

4. Vasopression
Involve in the male arousal phase.
The increase of vasopressin during erectile response is believed to be directly associated
with increased motivation to engage sexual behavior.

5. Estrogen and Progesterone

Typically regulate to engage in sexual behavior for females, with estrogen increasing and
progesterone decreasing it.
Understanding the Chemistry of Lust, love and attachment
LOVE
Falling in love can be a beautifully wild experience.
It is a rush of longing, passion and euphoria
Three stages of falling in love by Helen Fisher
1. Lust (erotic passion)
This stage is marked by physical attraction
You want to seduce and be seduced by your object of affection
Lust is driven by testosterone in men and estrogen in women
It will not guarantee that the couple will fall in love an any lasting way.
2. Attraction
 You begin to crave for your partner’s presence.
 You feel excitement and energetic as you fantasize about things you could do together as a
couple.
Three chemicals trigger
A. Norepinephrine
 Responsible for extra surge energy and triggers increased heart rate, loss appetite, as well as
the desire the desire to sleep.
B. Dopamine
 Associated with motivation and goal-directed behavior.
 It makes you pursue your object affection.
C. Serotonin
Thought to cause obsessive thinking
Low levels of serotonin are said to be present in people with obsessive-
compulsive behavior (OCD)

3. Attachment
Involves the desire to have lasting commitment with your significant other.
At this point you want to get married and have children
Psychological aspects of sexual desire
Sexual desire
Viewed as an interest in sexual objects or activities.
Sexual desire is sometimes but not always, accompanied by genital arousal.
Can be triggered by large variety of cues and situations, private thoughts, feelings
and fantasies, erotic materials and a variety of erotic environments, situations or
social interactions.
Gender difference on sexual desire
Factors that influence the notable difference on sexual desire include:
 Culture
 Social environment
 Political situation
 Women place great emphasis on interpersonal relationships as part of the
experience.
 Males enjoying more casual sexual behaviors
PHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
MOTIVATION
• Hypothalamus plays an important role in motivated behaviors and sex.
• Amygdala and nucleus accumbens for sexual motivation
Amygdala – interactive for emotions, emotional behavior and motivation
Nucleus accumbens – cognitive processing and response to reward and
reinforcing effects, translating emotional stimulus into behavior.
THE DIVERSITY OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

 Sexual orientation
– an individual general sexual disposition towards partners of the same sex,
opposite sex, or both sexes.
- is a person’s emotional and erotic attraction toward another individual
GENDER IDENTITY VS. SEXUAL ORRIENTATION

• Gender Identity - One’s sense of being male or female

• Sexual orientation - is a person’s emotional and erotic attraction toward
another individual
WHAT IS LGBTQ+?

• Lesbian
• Gay
• Bisexual
• Trans-gender
• Queer
SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY
ISSUE
Sex is a label – birth based on genital you’re born with and
chromosomes you have.
Gender
- not determined biogically
- as a result of sexual characteristics of either women or man but is
constructed socially
Gender identity
– different from their assigned at birth.
- individuals perceive themselves and they call themselves.
- One’s innermost concept of as male, female, a blend of both or neither.
Sexual Orientation
- Inherent or immutable enduring emotional, romantic or sexual attraction of some
other people.
SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS
• Culturally not restrictive
FAMILY INFLUENCES
•Children’s upbringing and social environmental influences their developing gender
identities

URBAN SETTING
• Homosexuality correlated with urbanization
CHALLENGES OF RURAL LIVING FOR LGBTQ+

• High level of intolerance

• Limited social and institutional support
• Higher incidence of social isolation
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE(STD)

 it is also known as STI or sexually transmitted infection

 Is a disease or infection acquired through sexual contact where the
organisms that cause STD are passed on from person to person in blood,
semen, and vaginal or any other bodily fluids.
STD CAN BE TRANSMITTED NON-SEXUALLY
THROUGH:
• Mother to infant during pregnancy
• Blood transfusion
• People sharing used needles for injection.
THE RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACT OF 2012
RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACT OF 2012
An Act providing for a national policy on responsible parenthood and Reproductive Health
Citation Republic Act No. 10354
Enacted by House of Representatives of the
Philippines
Date enacted December 19, 2012
Date signed December 21, 2012
Signed by Miriam Defensor Santiago
Date commenced January 17, 2013
GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES OF
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW
Specific objectives:
 Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality
ratio
 Reduced by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality
rate
 To have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse, the spread of HIV/AIDS
Regional Objectives
 Improve access to the full range of affordable, equitable and high-quality family planning and
reproductive health services to increase contraceptive use rate and reduce unwanted pregnancies and
abortions
 Making pregnancy safer
 Support countries and areas in developing evidence-based policies and strategies for reduction of
maternal and newborn mortality
 Improve the health and nutrition status of women of all ages, especially pregnant and nursing women
 Gender, women and health
 Integrate gender and rights consideration into health policy and programs, especially into reproductive
health and maternal health care
 Improve the health and nutrition status of all women of all ages
 FAMILY PLANNING

Methods of contraception:
 Long-acting reversible contraception, such as the implant or the intra uterine device
(IUD)
 Hormonal contraception, such as the birth control pill and the birth control injection
 Barrier methods, such as condoms
 Fertility awareness
 Permanent contraception, such as vasectomy and tubal ligation
Benefits of family planning/contraception according to WHO
 Prevent pregnancy-related health risks in women
 Reduce infant mortality
 Help prevent HIVS/AIDS
 Empower people and enhance education
 Reduce adolescent pregnancies
 Slow population growth
BENEFITS OF USING FAMILY PLANNING
ACCORDING TO DOH
Mother
Children
Father
DISADVANTAGES
Birth control health risk
Possibility of pregnancy
Pregnancy after birth control
THE NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP)

Is the method that uses the body’s natural physiological changes and
symptoms to identify the fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual
cycle.
The preferred contraceptive method for women
Do not protect a person against STDs and HIV
Types of NFP method
1. Periodic abstinence (fertility awareness) method.
2. Use of breastfeeding or lactationalamenorrhoea method (LAM).
3. Coitus interruptus (withdrawal or pulling out) method
PERIODIC ABSTINENCE(FERTILITY AWARENESS)
METHODS
• Rhythm(calendar) method
- Couple tracks the woman’s menstrual history to predict she will ovulate.
• Basal body temperature(BBT) monitoring
- is a contraceptive method that relies a woman’s basal body temperature on a daily basis.
• Cervical mucus(Billing’s method)
- examining the color and viscosity of the cervical mucus to discover when ovulation is
occuring
 LACTATION AMENORRHEA METHOD
• Exclusive breastfeeding

COITUS INTERRUPTUS

• Oldest methods of contraception

• Releasing the sperm outside the vagina
HORMONAL CONTRACEPTION

• Manipulates the hormones that directly affect the normal menstrual cycle
so that ovulation will not occur
 ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES
• Known as pill
• Contains synthetic estrogen and progesterone
TRANSDERMAL CONTRACEPTIVE PATCH

 Medicated adhesive patch that is placed on the skin to deliver a specific dose of
medication through the skin and into the bloodstream.
VAGINAL RING
• A birth control ring inserted into the vagina and slowly releases hormones through the
vaginal wall into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy.
 SUBDERMAL IMPLANTS
• The delivery of steroid progestin from polymer capsules or rods placed
under skin.

HORMONAL INJECTIONS
• Is a contraceptive given in every three months
• Suppress ovulation, keeping the ovaries releasing an egg.
INTRAUTERINE DEVICE
• An IUD is a small, T-shaped plastic device wrapped in copper or contains hormones.

CHEMICAL BARRIERS
• It lowers the pH level of vagina, so it will not become conducive for the sperm.
 DIAPHRAGM
• Dome-shaped barrier methods of contraception that block the sperms from entering the
uterus

CERVICAL CAP
 A silicone cup inserted in the vagina to cover the cervix and keep the uterus out of the
uterus
 MALE CONDOMS
 A latex or synthetic rubber sheath placed on the erect penis before vaginal penetration to
trap the sperm during the ejaculation.

FEMALE CONDOMS
 A thin pouch inserted into the vagina before sex serving as productive barrier to prevent
pregnancy and protection from sexually transmitted disease
SURGICAL METHODS

• Ensures conception is inhibited permanently after the surgery

Two types of surgical methods
 Vasectomy – surgical procedure wherein the tube that carries the sperm to
a man’s penis is cut.
 Tubal ligation – a surgical procedure for female sterilization involving
severing and tying the fallopian tubes.