Healthy Sexuality Final

T/F: Sexual activities and pleasure during pregnancy are associated with higher relationship quality after childbirth

TRUE

T/F: The main predictor of dyspareunia after childbirth is the size of the baby at delivery

FALSE

T/F: Breastfeeding is linked to lower levels of sexual activity and desire for females

TRUE

T/F: Compared to before pregnancy, sexual activity is lower during the first year after childbirth

TRUE

T/F: Letting God decide when or if you will have babies is a good way to approach birth control

FALSE

T/F: The pill is the most common form of birth control

TRUE

T/F: IUDs are preferred by many women because they don’t contain chemicals

FALSE (they do)

Which of the following is an advantage of the POP over the combination birth control pill?

C: It is safe during lactation

T/F: The introduction of reliable birth control has not had a dramatic effect on the sexual practices of most people

FALSE

From the article on sexuality during pregnancy by Bartnicka, which of the following is NOT accurate?

A. Most couples have some sexual problems after child birth

B. During the first trimester women experience less pleasure during sex than they did before they were pregnant

C. Most couples engage in intercourse until at least the seventh month of pregnancy

D. ALMOST NO COUPLES ARE AFRAID OF HURTING THE FETUS DURING SEX

T/F: Erections, vaginal lubrication, and orgasm are completely voluntary

FALSE, they are semi voluntary

Which of the following is the most common male sexual disorder?

Premature Ejaculation

Which of the following is the most common female sexual disorder?

A. Low desire

T/F: When the diagnosis of a disorder includes levels of distress about the problem, the percentage of disorders decreases by an order of 10

TRUE

T/F: If ED is present early in marriage it can lead to all of the other common sexual disorders

FALSE

T/F: From the chapter in SWIM on harmonious sexual passion, it would be accurate to say that the largest percentage of couples had a sexual passion style where both partners were highest on harmonious sexual passion

FALSE

T/F: According to the chapter in SWIM on harmonious sexual passion, most couples struggle to develop and sustain healthy sexual passion in marriage

TRUE

From the article by Leonhardt on the pursuit of harmony, the findings on sexual abuse suggest that:

A. Sexual abuse for women was more influential on passion than physical abuse for women

B. For men, both physical and sexual abuse were equally significant on passion

C. Men who were sexually abused had higher associations with both obsessive and inhibited passion

D. Childhood sexual abuse had not significant associations in the model

E. BOTH A & C

F. Both B & D

From the Leonhardt article on the pursuit of harmony, the findings on personality suggest that:

A. Impulsivity was associated with higher obsessive sexual passion

B. Men’s shyness was related to lower levels of harmonious passion

C. Impulsivity was associated with higher inhibited passion

D. ALL OF THE ABOVE

From the article by Leonhardt on the pursuit of harmony, which statement is NOT accurate:

A. Individuals with higher sexual desire were more likely to develop optimal passion.

  B. Individuals with no childhood abuse were more likely to develop optimal passion.

  C. INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH IMPULSIVITY AND SHYNESS WERE MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP OPTIMAL PASSION

 D. Individuals with high secure attachment were more likely to develop optimal passion

What were some of the effects of the development of contraception?

Sex and reproduction became separate (most important change)

Also less kids = less population

Women had more options in family planning, education, careers, etc

When should a woman start hormonal birth control?

Six months prior; see how the pill affects you and adapt if needed

What are the different forms of birth control available?

The pill (pop and coc)

The ring

Injections

IUD’s (two types: upper and hormonal)

Patch

Implant

Condoms

FABM (fertility based awareness)

Cervical mucus method

Sterilization

The pill

92% effective (but if used correctly, that becomes 99%)

Has hormones that help prevent pregnancy IF taken on time

Stops the sperm from fertilizing the egg by preventing ovulation

POP

Progestin only pills

PROS: succeeds 94% of the time, no estrogen and less progestogen (so its safer for women with high disease risk)

SAFE DURING LACTATION

Reduces menstrual flow

Over the counter

CONS: not as effective as the combination pill

Must be taken close to the same time every day

Some unpredictable bleeding

How does the ring work?

Small ring that nestles inside the vagina

Take it out once a month to bleed, then put in the new one

91% effective

Same thing as the pill (stops ovulation)

Same side effects as the combined pill but usually for less time and at a lower intensity

CON: Remembering to put it in at the same time each month, correctly putting it in

Injections

Prevent pregnancy by injecting hormone called progestin which stops ovulation

94%

CON: must see dr every three months

Copper IUD

Repels sperm so they can’t get to the egg

Stops ovulation

Hormonal IUD

Thickens mucus in cervix so the sperm can’t get through

Releases hormones the same as POP to stop ovulation

Pros of IUD’s

Lasts for years

99% effective

Can reduce side effects for women

CON: Excruciating to implant

COPPER CON: worse periods

HORMONAL CON: depression

The patch

Contains estrogen and progestin to stop ovulation

Thickens cervical mucus to stop sperm

CON: Must switch out every three weeks, menstruate on the fourth; only 91% effective

The implant

Thin rod that contains progestin that gets inserted under the skin in the upper arm

Thickens mucus and stops ovulation

Lasts up to 3 or 4 years

99% effective

Diaphragms, sponges, and cervical caps

Used with spermicide; inserted deep into vagina; not reliable, must be used every time before intercourse

Condoms

Avg 82% effectiveness, 98% if used correctly

Fertility awareness based methods

Avoid unprotected sex only during ovulation

90% effective

No chemicals, very natural, engages both partners

CONS: not effective for inconsistent cycles

Cervical Mucus Method or 2/Day Method

Mucus increases and becomes more slippery just before ovulation

Just after ovulation, mucus decreases and thickens

Avoid unprotected PVI as soon as you notice secretions

Sex is good after 2 dry days

Two types of sterilization

Vasectomy (men) and tubal ligation (women)

How does sexuality change during pregnancy?

First trimester: nausea and fatigue

Second trimester: increase in sexual interest, sensitivity, sensuality

Third trimester: fatigue, belly is in the way so you gotta get creative, penetration tends to stop

What strategies can couples employ to maintain sensuality?

Sensual massages and sexual touch; try new sex positions propped up with pillows

On average, how long is the recovery period after labor?

6-8 weeks (C-section takes months)

What is genital prime?

Best physical condition/strongest hormonal interest/ages 18-30

What is sexual prime?

Most satisfying sex/ages 45-60

Less frequency, higher quality; decrease in neuroticism that makes you stiff, increase in maturity

What are the main challenges that threaten sexuality across the life span and how do we combat them?

1. Monotony: appetite decreases to sex can come to feel as routine as anything else

Combat monotony via creativity and embrace positive perception of your partner

2. Body changes: hormonal changes, esp menopause

3. Busy lifestyles

Most significant concerns of senior couples for men and women:

Men: significant decreases in testosterone will reduce sex interest and possibly lead to ED

Women: changes in libido (either increase or decrease can be overwhelming)

In order, what are the most common sexual dysfunctions men face?

Premature ejaculation

Erectile dysfunction (risk increases by 10% each decade)

Low desire

Painful intercourse

In order, what are the most common sexual dysfunctions women face?

Low desire

Sexual arousal disorder

Inability to orgasm

Painful intercourse

What is the first solution?

Approach the problem as a normal part of life

What is the second problem and second solution?

Who is being compared to whom? (“Women are harder to arouse” only compared to men, you could argue men are too easily aroused when compared to women)

Allow each other to be unique

What is the third problem and third solution?

The issues cannot be dealt with individually, only as couples

So work together in a nonjudgemental way to solve the issue

What disorder leads to almost all others?

Premature Ejaculation

What is the fourth problem and solution?

Anxiety/depression/stress exacerbates regular problems into dysfunctions

So find effective coping strategies that protect your bedroom

Main points about PE

Cascading problem

The key is to focus on the wife and help her build arousal at her pace

Kiegel exercises

Pre sex quickie

Main points about desire difficulties

Stress is the most common source of a lack of sexual interest

Home environment is often the biggest source of stress for women, so having sex there can be tough; spouse is key to alleviating this

Outside environment is the biggest source of stress for men; they need to learn to set boundaries on other responsibilities so they can be fully present in the moment

Both need to learn to see sex as a fun escape

If a woman has difficulty orgasming…

Go at her pace and NEVER fake it

If a man is struggling with erectile dysfunction…

Don’t worry, it happens! But if it happens more than once a month go see a doctor, just in case

What is harmony in sexuality?

VERTICAL agreement that produces something beyond the couple’s personal harmonics

What is synchrony in sexuality?

The ability to SUSTAIN harmony across time-horizontal agreement

What are the four types of passion?

1. Artistic/creative

2. Physical

3. Relational

4. Spiritual/intellectual

Passions that coming 2+ types are more likely to bring increased and enduring well being; sexual passion combines all of these

Factors that predict passion

Porn usage (more inhibited = more likely to have high porn use)

Attachment style

What is the worst combination of passion?

Both inhibited (closely followed by obsessive male and inhibited female)

What are the strongest predictors of being inhibited sexually?

Instilling shame on children while growing up

TRIAD: Anxious attachment, shyness, and sexual abuse

Highly religious couples are both more likely to be ___ and ____?

Inhibited and harmonious

2 approaches to passion

1. fixed mindset (this is just how I am, just how my relationship is)

2. growth mindset (I can manipulate and shape my experiences with sex in a positive way)

If you view sexuality as sanctified…

Less likely to be inhibited

If you are religious…

You are more likely to be inhibited and therefore less likely to have high satisfaction; the key to combatting that is sanctification

What has research concluded about the relationship between creativity and sexuality?

Increased creativity leads to longer sustained romantic relationships; it allows partners to see each other in a positive light and makes them appear more attractive

What has research concluded about the relationship between sexuality and sanctification?

Newly weds that view their relationship as sacred report higher sexual satisfaction, intimacy, and overall marital quality, independent of general religiosity.