human sexuality exam one (COMPLETE)

four components of sexual intelligence

four components of sexual intelligence

• self understanding about sexuality

  • attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, values and their sources

orgasm

the peak of sexual arousal

how does testosterone have an effect on male sexual behavior?

• linked to sexual desire and genital sensitivity

• castration leads to reduced sexual desire

hypogonadism

testosterone deficiency that results from certain endocrine system diseases

effects of having low level testosterone

• decreased sexual desire

• reduced sexual sensitivity

• depression

• low energy

• decreased bone density

• increased fat

what factors contribute to diverse sexual attitudes and behaviors in the united states?

• many ethnic and religious groups

• differences in acculturation within groups

• cultural traditions vs religious teachings

• wide range of values

• varying degrees of education and socioeconomic status

• intergroup differences

• often more variability within a group than between any two groups

what was the historic view of sex in terms of legitmacy, specifically focusing on procreation?

• sex = penis in vagina only

• penis is primary source of satisfaction

• devalues behaviors that may be pleasurable for females

• other forms are considered foreplay (and not “real sex”)

how do gender roles play a role in sexuality?

• extend beyond physiological differences

• expectations of “appropriate behavior” for men and women (“slut shaming)

• rigid gender role conditioning can limit each persons potential and can harm their sexual

• strict and binary gender socialization can be oppressive for gnc individuals

what are ways christianity views sex?

• spirituality through celibacy (considered superior to marriage)

• sex outside of marriage as sinful

• contradictory images of women emerged

  • virgin mary: compassionate, pure and unattainable

  • eve: evil tempress

  • underpinned witch hunts (blamed on carnal lust)

what are judiac traditions regarding sexuality?

gender roles were highly specialized and procreation was essential

what are more sex positive changes that were made to christianity?

• protestant reformation

• valued sex in marriage → goes beyond procreation

• prostitution flourished

• increased respect for women

  • during the victorian era womens role was polarized between images of madonna and eve

  • distance between husband and wife

    • intensely passionate friendships sometimes developed between women

how is moshers research contradictory?

victorian women experienced sexual desire, enjoyed intercourse and experienced orgasm

how did women's roles shift during wartime in the early 20th century?

• 19th amendment gave women the right to vote

• great depression led to more restrained behavior

• during wartime, womens roles shifted

after WWII

• post-war retreat into traditional gender roles

  • men returned to the workplace

  • women devoted themselves to their homes, children and husbands

how has sexuality and views on sexuality developed over time?

• 60s and 70s “sexual revolution” confronted the norms of previous decades

  • numerous contraceptives introduced

  • permitted separation of sexual pleasure from reproduction

• attitudes begin to change toward homosexuality

  • lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people began top openly declare their sexual orientation

• supreme court legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015

list some of the various ways the internet is utilized in relation to sexuality, as mentioned in the information

• has potentially epic impact on sexual attitude

  • internet used for dating, finding sex partners, retrieving sexual health info, viewing porn, expressing sexual fantasies and more

in what ways have personal and political beliefs are merged when it comes to sexuality?

• it impacts societal norms

• increases freedoms and responsibilities

• controversies regarding social policies, laws and ethics

what are some controversial positions and examples of blending personal and political

• overturning of 1973 roe vs wade by the supreme court

• “right to get an abortion should be regulated by the state”

• federal vs private funding for birth control

• government should censor more degrading sites on the internet

• abstinence only vs comprehensive sex education in schools

• civil rights for sexual and gender minorities

• public funding for sex research

sexology

the study of sexuality

what are the goals of sexology?

• understanding sexual behavior (physiological, cognitive and social)

• predict sexual behavior (medical and interpersonal outcomes)

• to control/influence sexual behavior and events

  • improve psychosocial functioning, safe sex and other behaviors

  • ethical considerations when controlling behavior

what is direct observation?

researchers observe and record responses of participants

what are the advantages and disadvantages of direct observation?

advantages:

• eliminates the possibility of data falsification

disadvantages:

• may be difficult to find an adequate research sample

• behavior is influenced by observers

what is the experimental method?

• conducted in a controlled laboratory

  • subjects reactions can be relliably measured

  • independent variable: component manipulated

  • dependent variable: resulting behavior

what are the advantages and disadvantages of the experimental method?

advantage:

• casual relations can be identified

disadvantage:

• artificial settings

what are quantitative studies?

• examines a small group of people in depth

  • can be studied individually or in a groups

• is why social phenomena exists

• it is how people contextualize and make meaning of their experiences

how is data gathered in quantitative studies?

• individual interviews

• focus groups

• qualitative responses are coded and looks for themes

what are advantages and disadvantages of quantitative studies?

advantages:

• in-depth explorations of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. good for understanding context and lived experiences

• rich, detailed, complex, and highly personal info

• good for understanding rare events/conditions, context and lived experiences

disadvantages:

• limited generalization of findings

• not suitable for many kinds of research questions

• possibility of inaccurate reports

what do sex research surveys do?

asks participants about sexual experiences or attitudes

• small to large samples

• most frequently used approach

• gains data from survey sample to generalize to target population

• data gathered from relatively large groups of people by means of questionnaires or interviews

what are advantages and disadvantages of surveys?

advantages:

• questionnaires: quick, cheap and anonymity may improve honesty

• interviews: more flexible, rapport may be established and possibly improve understanding

disadvantages:

• influenced by emotions, values, reporting concerns, and poor memory

• non-response bias

• demographic bias

• possibility of inaccurate info

When was the national survey of sexual health and behavior commissioned, and what was the initial motivation behind its creation?

• commissioned during the AIDS epidemic in 1987 funding was cut in 1991 (conservatives) and eventually received funding from private foundations

• survey of ~4k people to assess prevalence of practices and attitudes and to contextualize these findings

• there was a continuing problem for obtaining federal funding for sex research

• seeking funding from pharmaceutical companies which shifted focus to biological processes from psychosocial aspects of sexual functioning

what were the findings of the national survey of sexual health and behavior?

• more content with erotic lives

• less sexually active

• more sexually conservative than was widely believed

what are some examples of survey studies?

• kinsey’s reports

  • wrote “sexual behavior in the human male” (1948) and “female” in 1953. he helped make sexual behavior an approachable subject for research

  • following WWII, first surveys to consider patterns of sexual behavior among US adults (not representative of US population)

  • good baseline for estimating changes over time (rates of intercourse among unmarried people)

• clark and hatffield (1989)

  • researched confederates in night club proposition others for sex

  • majority of men consented; women did not

    • possibly because of concerns about safety and social repuation

• baranowski and hecht (2015)

  • “matchmaking” study: if agree to meet, 30 minutes filmed then can leave

  • men = women with number of partners selected

penile strain gauge

measures male sexual arousal

vaginal photoplethysmography

increases in vaginal blood volume

clitoral photoplethysmography

clitoral blood volume and genital arousal

vaginal and rectal myograph

measure muscular activity in pelvic area

what are the advantages and disadvantages of sex research via the internet?

advantages:

• cheaper

• more efficient

• less influenced by social desirability

• easier to download and analyze data

• nearly limitless participants

disadvantages:

• sample-selection bias

• low response rates

• privacy issues

what are some issues to consider when choosing a study sample?

• caregivers might not provide consent

• sexual and gender minority youth might have to come out to parents

• nonresponse: the refusal to participate in research study

  • more comfortable? concerned their experiences are atypical?

• self-selection: more sexually experienced and more positive attitudes

• social desirability bias: issues with recall and self image

• demographic bias: weighted towards white, middle-class volunteers

the vulva

external female genitalia

mons veneris

triangular mound over pubic bone above the vulva

• pads of fatty tissue, numerous nerve endings, covered with hair at puberty

labia majora

outer lip of the vulva

labia minora

inner lips of the vulva

• hairless folds of skin that join at prepuce, the clitoral hood

clitoris

highly sensitive structure, only function is sexual pleasure

vestibule

area of vulva inside labia minora (urinary and vaginal openings)

urethra / urethral opening

tube/opening through which urine passes through bladder

introitus

opening of the vagina

hymen

tissue that partially covers the vaginal opening

perineum

area between the vagina and the anus for the female and the scrotum and anus of the male

cavernous and vestibular bulbs

engorged with blood during arousal, functions closely with the clit

bartholins glands

secretes a few drops of fluid during sexual arousal in the vaginal opening

pelvic floor muscles

• multi-directional design; allows vaginal opening to expand greatly during childbirth and to contract afterward

  • kegel exercises strengthening for pelvic floor

vagina

stretchable canal that opens at the vulva

grafenberg spot

• area of erotic sensitivity on lower front wall of vagina

  • sensitive to pressure

  • sometimes results in ejaculation of fluid

  • located by systematic palpation of entire front wall of vagina

how does rugae keep the chemical balance of the vagina stable?

via vaginal secretions

• douching and other sprays/powders are not necessary and can lead to irritations, cancer etc

vasocongestion

extensive network of blood vessels in tissues around vagina become engorged with blood

• decreases of ph of vagina and can increase enjoyment

cervix

small end of the uterus, location at the back of the vagina

uterus

pear-shaped organ inside the female pelvis, within which the fetus develops

endometrium

nourishes zygotes, thickens with hormonal changes

fallopian tubes

two tubes, extending from the sides of the uterus in which the egg and sperm travel

• cilia and contractions move the egg (viable for 24-48 hours)

ovaries

female gonads that produce ova and sex hormones

• estrogen and progesterone

menstruation

sloughing off of the uterine lining and takes place if conception has not occurred

• flow

  • lasts from two to six days

• volume

  • varies from six to eight ounces

• duration

  • varies from 24 - 42 days

  • interval between ovulation and onset is 14 days (range 12-16)

menarche

initial onset of menstrual periods

• age 11-15

• dependent on heredity, health altitude (lower = early); also obesity

the menstrual cycle

the pituitary gland makes hormones that tell the ovaries what to do. follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) makes the ovaries produce estrogen and helps eggs mature. luteinizing hormone (LH) makes the ovaries release a mature egg and stimulates the development of the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone

negative feedback mechanism

provides an internal control that regulates hormone fluctuation during the three phases of the menstrual cycle

what are the three phases of the menstrual cycle?

• menstrual: shedding of endometrium; estrogen and progesterone

  decrease and hypothalamus stimulates pituitary to release FSH

• proliferative: increased FSH; thickening of endometrium, follicle maturation and ovulation

• secretory: corpus luteum development and further thickening of endometrium

how does the menstrual cycle affect sexual activity?

• increased desire and interest at the time of ovulation

• avoidance (though not necessary medically)

• includes:

  • pre-menstrual syndrome: physical discomfort and emotional irritability prior to

    • menstruation (80%-95% of women)

    • dysmenonrrhea: painful meses

    • amenorrhea: no menses (e.g. during pregnancy, athletes)

self help for menstrual symptoms

diet and exercise

menopause

• climacteric: physiological changes during transition period of fertility to infertility

• perimenopause: time before menopause

• menopause: cessation of menstruation

breasts

physical characteristics other than genitals that distinguish males from females

mamary glands

produce milk

areola

darker area of the breasts

nipple

located in the center of the areola

what is an important practice for breast health that individuals can perform on their own?

breast self-examination

what is the primary method for breast cancer screening?

mammography

3 different breast lumps

• cysts: fluid filled sacs

• fibroadenmas: solid, round, benign tumors

• malignant tumors

what are the key components of breast cancer treatment?

treatments for breast cancer may include surgery, chemo, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy

name some risk factors associated with breast cancer

age, family history, certain genetic mutations, hormonal factors, lifestyle factors (alcohol consumption and lack of physical activity)

what is the purpose of reconstructive breast surgery in the context of breast cancer?

is performed to restore the shape and appearance of the breast after a mastectomy or lumpectomy

why is early detection important in breast cancer?

it improves the chances of successful treatment and increases the range of available treatment options

what are some common methods used for the early detection of breast cancer?

mammography, clinical breast exams, self-exams. regular screenings and awareness of changes in the breast are crucial for early diagnosis

the penis

• is made up of blood, vessels, fibrous, tissue, and 3 parallel cylinders of spongy tissue

  • not a lot of muscle (misconception), through more muscle at base for ejection of semen and urine through the urethra

frenulum

• a loose strip of skin on the underside of the penis running between the glans and the shaft

  • is particularly responsive to stimulation

  • strengthening musculature around the penis

corona

• the rim of the glans and the penis

  • is particularly responsive to stimulation

  • ridge where the glans rise abruptly from the shaft

what is the external anatomy of the penis?

foreskin, glans (head), shaft (longer portion), and root (attached to pelvis)

what is the internal anatomy of the penis?

cavernous bodies (2 larger cylinders); spongy body (3rd cylinder, extends to form the glands); and the penile urethra

scrotum

pouch of skin of external male genitals that encloses the testes

testis

male gonads that produces sperm and sex hormones

cryptorchidism

undescended testis; address by 6 months or could lead to infertility (sperm remains at body temp) or risk for testicular cancer

foreskin

covers some or all of glans; can be retracted fairly easily

circumcision

the removal of the foreskin

• pros:

  • hygienic values and increased HIV protection

• cons:

  • possibility of unknown function, altered function and trauma for newborns

• rates of circumcisions vary widely around the world

• AAP moderate opposition

  • benefits slighting outweigh risks

  • data not significant to recommend routine procedure

seminiferous tubules

thin, coiled structures in the testis in which sperm are produced

epididymis

structure along the back of each testis in which sperm maturation occurs

spermatic cord

contains sperm-carrying tube (vas deferens) and blood vessels, nerves, and cremasteric muscle fibers, that influence testis position

the vas deferens

• sperm-carrying tubes that begins at the testis and end at the urethra

  • sperm held in the epididymis eventually drain into the vas deferens

vasectomy

• male sterilization procedure

  • involves removing section from each vas deferens

seminal vesicles

• small glands adjacent to terminals of vas deferens

  • secretes an alkaline fluid (conducive to sperm motility) that constitutes the greatest portion of volume of seminal fluid released during ejaculation (70%)

prostate gland

• gland located at the base of the bladder

• both ejaculatory duct and urethra pass through

• produces about 30% of the seminal fluid released during ejaculation

cowpers gland

• pea-sized glands located alongside the urethra base

• secretes alkaline fluid during sexual arousal (may have sperm)

sperm (seminal fluid)

• volume is about one teaspoon

• 100 - 500 million sperm per ejaculation

erection

• coordinated by autonomic nervous system

  • arteries leading to the three erectile cylinders in the penis expand

  • blood outflow cannot keep up with inflow

• capacity for erection is present at birth

  • common for infant boys

what is a psychogenic and a psyhiogenic erection?

injects come simultaneously from thoughts and physical stimulation