This document discusses human sexuality and sexual development. It defines human sexuality as how people experience and express themselves sexually. It outlines the primary and secondary sexual characteristics and explains the biological and learning perspectives on sexuality. The document then describes the stages of sexual development from prenatal through adulthood. It discusses physiology of sex, including the excitement, plateau, orgasm and resolution phases. The document concludes with a brief mention of sexual dysfunction.

1. HUMAN SEXUALITY
B y : A k h i l a . E

2. INTRODUCTI
ON

3. DEFINITION
HUMAN SEXUALITY is the way
in which we experience and
express ourselves as sexual
beings.
-Rathus et al - 1993

4. 1.Primary Sexual
Characteristics
2. Secondary Sexual
Characteristics
o They are directly related to
reproduction and include the sex
organs(genetalia).
o They are the attributes other than
the sex organs that generally
distinguish one sex from the
other.
o They are not essentially required
for reproduction.
o These are the breasts in women
o Facial hair and deeper voice in
HUMAN SEXUAL
CHARACTERISTICS

5. BIOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVE
LEARNING
PERSPECTIVE

6. BIOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVE
• Hormones are the major “driving forces” of sexual desire.
• Hormones are produced by: a.Gonads(testes and ovaries)
b.Adrenal cortex(androgens & estrogen)
c.The pituitary gland(FSH & LH)
d.Hypothalamus(GnRH)
• Androgens , estrogen and progestin are present both in male and female.
• Androgens differentiate male reproductive system before birth and puberty
in boys.
• Estrogen and progestins found in higher concentration within females
regulate menstrual cycle and essential for reproduction.

7. LEARNING PERSPECTIVE

8. PRINCIPLES
REGARDING
INFORMATION ABOUT
SEXUAITY

9. Each child s process of maturation as a
perosn is different.
Single parents sensitivity with a child of
opposite sex.
Timely information regarding sexuality must be
provided in the broadest context.
Delay should not be done in providing
information to the children.

10. STAGES OF SEXUAL
DEVELOPMENT
1.PRENATAL SEXUAL
DEVELOPMENT
3.DEVELOPMENT IN
PUBERTY
4.DEVELOPMENT
IN ADOLESCENCE
2.CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
5.DEVELOPMENT IN
ADULTHOOD

11. PRENATAL SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT
● About 6 weeks after conception, if Y chromosome is present in
the embryo’s cells, a gene on the chromosome directs the
undifferentiated gonads to become testes.
● If Y is not present, the undifferentiated gonads will become
ovaries.
● If the gonads become testes, they begin to produce androgens by
about 8th week after conception .

12. CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT:
• Usually children touch or play with their genital organs at this age.
• From the beginning itself, there is difference in toys and play preferences.
• Children indulge in play games such as ‘doctor’ or ‘house’ that include sexual
exploration.
• These experiences are not labelled sexual by the children.
• Generally by the age of 6 or 7, children develop a sense of privacy and are aware
of social restrictions on sexual expression.
• Bodily changes of puberty begin, sometimes from the age of 8 to the age of 12,
the child may become self-conscious and more private.

13. DEVELOPMENT IN PUBERTY
• Puberty in girls begins from 8-13 yrs., where as in boys it starts about 2
yrs. later.
• The secondary sexual characteristics develop at this age, followed by
menstrual period in female.
• Hormones primarily responsible for these changes in young girls are:
-Adrenal androgens, Estrogens, Progesterone, Growth
hormones
In boys:
-Growth hormones, Androgens(testosterone).
• Sex education should be provided to boys and girls in this age.

14. DEVELOPMENT IN ADOLESCENCE
• Adolescence period is from about the age of 12-17yrs or older.
• It is the socially defined periods during which a person adjusts to
the physical emotional and sexual changes associated with the
transition from childhood to adulthood.
• They get exposed to sexual orientation which refers to a persons
erotic, romantic or affectional attraction to other sex or both
-Homosexuality
-Heterosexuality

15. DEVELOPMENT IN ADULTHOOD
• It is the period leading to engagement and the choice of that preferred
attachment which can lead to formation of family.
• During the period, more permanent relationships, in the form of marriage
become prevalent.

16. PHYSIOLOGY OF SEX
1. EXCITEMENT:
• It is the stage of sexual arousal in which there is vasoconstriction.
• In Men-
Penis becomes engorged with blood.
Penis gets larger and erect.
Skin of scrotum thickness.
Tension increases in the scrotal sac.
Scrotum is pulled up closer to the body.
• In Women-
Fluid seeps through vaginal walls to produce vaginal lubrication.
The glans of the clitoris becomes larger and harder than usual.
Nipples become erect.
Labia majora flattens and spread apart.
Labia minora swell and open.
Pulse rate and blood pressure increases during excitement phase.

17. 2. PLATEAU:
• In this phase vasoconstriction peaks.
• Breathing rate, pulse rate and BP increases.
• The mans penis becomes completely erect and the glans swells.
• Fluid secreted from the cowpers gland( located near the urethra, below the
prostate) may appear at the tip of the penis.
• This fluid which nourishes the sperm, may contain active sperms capable of
impregnating a women.
• In women, the breasts continues to swell, the lower third of the vagina swells , the
clitoris retracts into the body, and the uterus enlarges.
• As women approaches orgasm, the labia majora darkens.

18. 3.ORGASM:
• It is also called the climax
• It is an intense and usually pleasurable sensation that occurs at the peak of
sexual arousal.
• Not all sexual arousal leads to orgasm.
• Breathing rate, pulse rate and BP increases dramatically during orgasm.
• The sensation is very intense-more intense than the tingling or pleasure that
accompany strong sexual arousal.
4.RESOLUTION:
• In this phase, the processes of excitement and plateau stages reverse, the bodies
of both the women and men return to the unaroused state and there is reduction in
muscular tension.

19. SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION

20. THAT’S ALL