Human sexuality is a very important topic for discussion obstetrics and gynaecology. It's focus is on the orientation of human sex and behaviour.

1. Class Presentation On :-
:- Priyanshu Anand
B.Sc Nursing 4th Year
O.I.N.S.R, Damoh

2. CONTENTS :-
• INTRODUCTION
• HUMAN SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS
• BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
• PRINCIPLES REGARDING INFORMATION ABOUT
SEXUALITY
• STAGES OF SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT
• PHYSIOLOGY OF SEX/SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE
• SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS

3. INTRODUCTION
• Human sexuality is the way people experience and
express themselves sexually.
• Regardless, whether we are young or old, man or
woman, it is an integral part of what we do and who
we are.
• Human sexuality is a general term referring to various
sexually related aspects of human life, including
physical and psychological development and behaviors,
attitudes and social customs associated with the
individual’s sense of gender, relationships, sexual
activity, mate selection and reproduction.

4. • Human sexual behavior is different from the
sexual behavior of other animals, as it is
governed by a variety of interplay of different
factors.
• Humans are not sexually active just for the sake
of reproduction; rather, there are a variety of
complex factors that lead people to have sex.
• Because it is a broad term, which has varied with
historical contexts over time, it lacks a precise
definition.

5. HUMAN SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS :-
Sexual characteristics are divided into two types
1. Primary Sexual Characteristics :- These are
directly related to reproduction and include sex
organs(genitalia).
2. Secondary Sexual Characteristics :- These are the
attributes other than sex organs that generally
distinguish one sex from other but are not
essential for reproduction(e.g. – Breast, facial
hairs, etc.).

6. BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES :-
Like other mammals, humans are primarily
grouped into either the male or female sex.
The biological aspects of humans' sexuality deal
with the reproductive system, the sexual
response cycle, and the factors that affect these
aspects. They also deal with the influence of
biological factors on other aspects of sexuality,
such as organic and neurological
responses, heredity, hormonal issues, gender
issues, and sexual dysfunction.

7. • Hormones are also viewed as one of the major “driving
forces” of sexual behavior.
• Hormones are produced by the gonads (i.e.- testes and
ovaries), the adrenal cortex, the pituitary gland, and
the hypothalamus.
• Androgens are responsible for the sexual
differentiation of male reproductive system before
birth and the sexual maturation of boys at puberty.
• Estrogens and Progestins, found in higher
concentrations within females, regulate menstrual
cycle and are responsible for reproduction.

8. PRINCIPLES REGARDING
INFORMATION ABOUT SEXUALITY:-
These are the principles related to the information
provided to the children about sexual characteristics
and sexual activities.
1. Each child’s process of maturation as a person is
different :-Since parents know, understand and love
each of their children in their uniqueness, they are in
the best position to decide what the appropriate time
is for providing a variety of information , according to
their child’s physical and spiritual growth.

9. 2. Parents who are alone will have to act with great
sensitivity when speaking with a child of the opposite
sex :- The communication works out better when the
parents who communicates the biological, emotional,
moral and spiritual information is of the same sex as the
child or young person as they are aware of roles,
emotions and problems of their own sex.
3. Timely information regarding sexuality must be provided
in the broadest context :- In talks with children, suitable
advice should always be given regarding how to grow in
the love and the meaning of sexuality. Parents should
always present positive models and suitable ways of using
their vital energies.

10. 4. Delay should not be done in providing information
to children :- Parents should provide information
regarding sexuality with great delicacy, but clearly
and at the appropriate time.

11. STAGES OF SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT:-
There are two periods of marked sexual differentiation in
human life. The first occurs prenatally and second occurs at
puberty.
1. Prenatal Sexual Development :- Although adult women
and men may differ greatly in genital appearance and
secondary sexual characteristics , they are almost identical
during prenatal development. From fertilization through
about the first six weeks of development, male and
female embryos differ only in the pair of sex
chromosomes they have in each cell – two X
chromosomes (XX) in females and one X and one Y
chromosome (XY) in males.

12. • About six weeks after conception, if a Y
chromosome is present in the embryo’s cells, a
gene on the chromosome directs the
undifferentiated gonads to become testes. If the
Y chromosome is not present, the gonads will
become ovaries.
• If the gonads become testes , they begin to
produce androgens (primarily testosterone) by
about 8 weeks after conception. These
androgens later leads to development of male
genital organs of the embryo.

13. 2. Development in puberty :-
– Puberty typically begins in girls from 8-12 years of
age and in boys from 10-14 years of age.
– The secondary sexual characteristics develop at this
stage, followed by menstrual period in females.
– The hormones primarily responsible for these
changes in young girls are the adrenal androgens,
estrogen, progesterone and growth hormones.
– Growth hormone and androgens, particularly
testosterone are responsible for pubertal changes in
boys.

14. Apart from these, there are some changes in
adolescence. They include :-
• Adolescence period is from the age of 12-17
years or older, and is marked by increased sexual
behavior.
• Both the males and females need more sexual
orientation during this age.
• The term “Sexual Orientation” refers to a person’s
erotic, romantic, or affectional attraction to the
other sex, the same sex or both sexes.

15. • A person who is attracted to the other sex is
labeled ‘heterosexual’, or sometimes ‘straight’.
• A person attracted to the same sex is labeled
‘homosexual’.

16. PHYSIOLOGY OF SEX:-
It is also known as sexual response cycle.
It is important to help people become more
familiar with their bodies and their sexual
responses and to assist in the diagnosis and
treatment of sexual dysfunctions.
Human sexual response cycle is divided into four
stages : Excitement, Plateau, Orgasm and
Resolution.

19. 1. Excitement :- It is the stage of sexual arousal in which
there is vasocongestion.
• In men, the tissues in the penis become engorged
with blood, causing the penis to become larger and
erect. The skin of the scrotum thickens, tension
increases in the scrotal sac, and the scrotum is pulled
up closer to the body.
• In women, fluid seeps through the vaginal walls to
produce vaginal lubrication. The glans of clitoris
becomes larger and harder than usual. Nipples also
become erect. The labia majora flattens and spread
apart somewhat and the labia minora swell and open.
• Pulse rate and BP also increases.

20. 2. Plateau :- In this phase, vasocongestion peaks.
Breathing rate, pulse rate and BP increase.
• The man’s penis becomes completely erect and the
glans swells. Fluid secretes from the Cowper’s gland
may appear at the tip of the penis. This fluid which
nourishes the sperm, may contain active sperm
capable of impregnating a woman.
• In women, the breast continue to swell, the lower
third of the vagina swells, the clitoris retracts into the
body, and the uterus enlarges. As the woman
approaches orgasm, the labia majora darken.

21. 3. Orgasm :- It is called as climax.
• It is an intense and usually pleasurable sensation that
occurs at the peak of sexual arousal. But not all sexual
arousal leads to orgasm.
• During the orgasm stage the heart rate, blood
pressure, muscle tension, and breathing rates peak.
• The pelvic muscle near the vagina, the anal sphincter,
and the uterus contract. Muscle contractions in the
vaginal area create a high level of pleasure, though all
orgasms are centered in the clitoris.

22. 4. Resolution :- In this phase, the process of
excitement and plateau stages reverse, and
the bodies of both men and women return
to the unaroused state and there is reduction
in muscular tension.

23. SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS:-
Some of the sexual dysfunctions are listed here :
• Impotence (Erectile dysfunction) :- Refers to
the inability of a man to have or maintain an
erection.
• Premature Ejaculation :- It occurs when the
man is not able to postpone or control his
ejaculation.

24. • Female orgasmic dysfunction :- (Anorgasmia, or
inhibited female orgasm) refers to the inability of a
woman to have an orgasm.
• Inhibited male orgasm :- Occurs when a man cannot
have an orgasm despite being highly aroused.
• Dyspareunia :- Refers to painful intercourse in either
women or men.
• Low sexual desire :- is a lack of interest in sexual
activity.
• Discrepant sexual desire :- refers to a condition in
which partners have considerably different levels of
sexual interest.