-
Hormones and Behavior Jul 2013This article is part of a Special Issue "Puberty and Adolescence". Sexuality emerges as a major developmental element of puberty and the adolescent years that follow.... (Review)
Review
This article is part of a Special Issue "Puberty and Adolescence". Sexuality emerges as a major developmental element of puberty and the adolescent years that follow. However, connecting the sexuality that emerges with puberty and elements of adult sexuality is difficult because much adolescent sexuality research addresses the transition to partnered sexual behaviors (primarily coitus) and consequences such as unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. This review proposes a framework of an expanded understanding of puberty and adolescent sexuality from the perspective of four hallmarks of adult sexuality: sexual desire; sexual arousal; sexual behaviors; and, sexual function. This approach thus addresses important gaps in understanding of the ontogeny of sex and the continuum of sexuality development from adolescence through the adult lifespan.
Topics: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Adult; Female; Humans; Libido; Pregnancy; Puberty; Sexual Behavior; Sexuality
PubMed: 23998672
DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.03.007 -
Acta Clinica Croatica Sep 2019This study aimed to investigate whether infertility and its treatment affect couple sexuality. A systematic literature review was performed, focusing on female and male... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
This study aimed to investigate whether infertility and its treatment affect couple sexuality. A systematic literature review was performed, focusing on female and male sexual dysfunctions due to infertility. The method was descriptive, using a meta-synthesis of scientific research published between 2012 and 2017 in the English language. The search for suitable studies was carried out with the research databases Medline, CINAHL, PubMed and ScienceDirect using the following keywords: infertility, sexual dysfunctions, couple. It can be concluded that infertility negatively affects the sexuality of an infertile couple, which is further proven by a high percentage of sexual dysfunctions (43%-90% among women and 48%-58% among men). Couples report less satisfaction with sexuality. Since lower satisfaction and dysfunctions are closely connected with infertility and its treatment, couples might benefit from sexual therapy and support during the process of infertility treatment. Further research should focus on the evaluation of different psychological interventions that would address sexuality in couples when diagnosed and treated for infertility.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Infertility; Male; Middle Aged; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological; Sexuality
PubMed: 31969764
DOI: 10.20471/acc.2019.58.03.15 -
The Journal of Adolescent Health :... Jan 2021School-based sex education plays a vital role in the sexual health and well-being of young people. Little is known, however, about the effectiveness of efforts beyond... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
School-based sex education plays a vital role in the sexual health and well-being of young people. Little is known, however, about the effectiveness of efforts beyond pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease prevention. The authors conducted a systematic literature review of three decades of research on school-based programs to find evidence for the effectiveness of comprehensive sex education.
METHODS
Researchers searched the ERIC, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE. The research team identified papers meeting the systematic literature review criteria. Of 8,058 relevant articles, 218 met specific review criteria. More than 80% focused solely on pregnancy and disease prevention and were excluded, leaving 39. In the next phase, researchers expanded criteria to studies outside the U.S. to identify evidence reflecting the full range of topic areas. Eighty articles constituted the final review.
RESULTS
Outcomes include appreciation of sexual diversity, dating and intimate partner violence prevention, development of healthy relationships, prevention of child sex abuse, improved social/emotional learning, and increased media literacy. Substantial evidence supports sex education beginning in elementary school, that is scaffolded and of longer duration, as well as LGBTQ-inclusive education across the school curriculum and a social justice approach to healthy sexuality.
CONCLUSIONS
Review of the literature of the past three decades provides strong support for comprehensive sex education across a range of topics and grade levels. Results provide evidence for the effectiveness of approaches that address a broad definition of sexual health and take positive, affirming, inclusive approaches to human sexuality. Findings strengthen justification for the widespread adoption of the National Sex Education Standards.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Schools; Sex Education; Sexual Behavior; Sexuality; Sexually Transmitted Diseases
PubMed: 33059958
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.07.036 -
East Asian Archives of Psychiatry :... Mar 2019Sexuality is a vital component of human life. Sexuality deals with procreation and pleasure. Sexual behaviours and orientations vary and may be related to mental health.... (Review)
Review
Sexuality is a vital component of human life. Sexuality deals with procreation and pleasure. Sexual behaviours and orientations vary and may be related to mental health. Some sexual orientations may be discriminated or censored by religious or political beliefs, and this has a big impact on sexual variations. Frequently, sexual variations are considered to be pathological and need to be medically treated. However, it should be accepted that sexuality includes a continuum of behaviours, thoughts, fantasies, acts, and attractions that are beyond procreation. Modern sexology introduced the concept of gender identity and sexual fluidity to describe how gender and sexual orientation vary and are flexible over time. Healthcare professionals and policy makers should be aware of these new definitions in order to meet health needs of sexually variant people and prevent sexuality discrimination.
Topics: Female; Gender Identity; Human Rights; Humans; Internationality; Male; Sexual Behavior; Sexuality
PubMed: 31237255
DOI: No ID Found -
Brain and Behavior Dec 2019Sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm are mediated by complex, yet still not fully understood, interactions of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems operating at the... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm are mediated by complex, yet still not fully understood, interactions of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems operating at the central and peripheral levels. Disruption of endocrine, neural, or vascular response, caused by aging, medical illness, neurological diseases, surgery, or drugs, can lead to sexual dysfunctions, thus significantly affecting patients' quality of life.
PURPOSE
This narrative review aims at characterizing the involvement of the central nervous system in human sexual behavior.
METHODS
A literature search was conducted using PubMed in its entirety up to June 2018, analyzing the studies dealing with the neurobiological and neurophysiological basis of human sexuality.
RESULTS
Sexual behavior is regulated by both subcortical structures, such as the hypothalamus, brainstem, and spinal cord, and several cortical brain areas acting as an orchestra to finely adjust this primitive, complex, and versatile behavior. At the central level, dopaminergic and serotonergic systems appear to play a significant role in various factors of sexual response, although adrenergic, cholinergic, and other neuropeptide transmitter systems may contribute as well.
CONCLUSIONS
Providing healthcare professionals with information concerning sexual behavior may overcome useless and sometimes dangerous barriers and improve patient management, since sexual well-being is considered one of the most important aspects of one's quality of life.
Topics: Adult; Arousal; Autonomic Nervous System; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Brain; Dopaminergic Neurons; Female; Humans; Male; Neuroanatomy; Orgasm; Quality of Life; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Sexuality; Spinal Cord
PubMed: 31568703
DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1389 -
American Journal of Public Health Jun 2003
Topics: Heterosexuality; History, 20th Century; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Incidence; Male; Sexual Behavior; Social Control, Informal
PubMed: 12773346
DOI: 10.2105/ajph.93.6.894 -
Substance Use & Misuse 2005This study examines the relationship between MDMA (Ecstasy), sexual behavior, and sexual risk taking. The sample consisted of 98 current and former users of MDMA....
This study examines the relationship between MDMA (Ecstasy), sexual behavior, and sexual risk taking. The sample consisted of 98 current and former users of MDMA. Several strategies were utilized to recruit respondents and data were collected through in-depth interviews during 1997 and 1998. The majority of respondents had used MDMA during the 6-month period prior to the interview and a large percentage had consumed the drug on 100 occasions or more. Most respondents reported feelings of emotional closeness while consuming MDMA but without the desire for penetrative sex. Others, however, reported that MDMA increased sexual arousal and some respondents (in particular, gay and bisexual females) had used MDMA specifically for sexual enhancement. Sexual risk taking (e.g., having multiple partners, engaging in sex without a condom) was prevalent among respondents who did engage in sexual activity during MDMA episodes. Explanations for the findings are offered and implications for prevention/intervention are discussed.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Arousal; Emotions; Female; Hallucinogens; Health Surveys; Homosexuality; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; Sexuality
PubMed: 16048828
DOI: 10.1081/JA-200066814 -
Health Psychology : Official Journal of... Feb 2017Ileostomy, in which the small intestine is redirected out of an abdominal wall so that waste is collected using a bag, is used to treat conditions including inflammatory...
OBJECTIVES
Ileostomy, in which the small intestine is redirected out of an abdominal wall so that waste is collected using a bag, is used to treat conditions including inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. This article reports an in-depth idiographic analysis of the experience of living with an ileostomy.
METHOD
Twenty-one participants took part in semistructured interviews about their lives and relationships. Those interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the experiential qualitative methodology interpretative phenomenological analysis.
RESULTS
Two superordinate themes arose from the data: ileostomy's intrapersonal impact and the impact of ileostomy on relationships with others. The authors found that ileostomy may destabilize the sense of self, disrupt body image, and alter experience of age and sexuality. Other participants were able to use their illness to positively reframe the self. Disclosure of ileostomy status was difficult for some. Intimate and friend relationships were often challenged by stoma status, whereas other family relationships were largely characterized as supportive.
CONCLUSIONS
Ileostomy may impact upon both intra- and interpersonal aspects of the lives of those who live with it, in both negative and positive ways. Consequently, the sense of self can appear challenged, and relationships with partners, family members and friendships could be causes of distress. On the other hand, some partners were supportive, and children were found to be sources of comfort. (PsycINFO Database Record
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Aged; Body Image; Emotions; Female; Friends; Humans; Ileostomy; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Middle Aged; Self Concept; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Sexuality; Young Adult
PubMed: 27831706
DOI: 10.1037/hea0000427 -
BMC Public Health Jul 2021A common risk behavior in adolescence is the early initiation of unprotected sex that exposes adolescents to an unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections....
BACKGROUND
A common risk behavior in adolescence is the early initiation of unprotected sex that exposes adolescents to an unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections. Schools are an ideal place to strengthen adolescents' sexual knowledge and modify their behavior, guiding them to exercise responsible sexuality. The purpose of this article was to evaluate the knowledge of public secondary school teachers who received training in comprehensive education in sexuality (CES) and estimate the counseling's effect on students' sexual behavior.
METHODS
Seventy-five public school teachers were trained in participatory and innovative techniques for CES. The change in teacher knowledge (n = 75) was assessed before and after the training using t-tests, Wilcoxon ranks tests and a Generalized Estimate Equation model. The students' sexual and reproductive behavior was evaluated in intervention (n = 650) and comparison schools (n = 555). We fit a logistic regression model using the students' sexual debut as a dependent variable.
RESULTS
Teachers increased their knowledge of sexuality after training from 5.3 to 6.1 (p < 0.01). 83.3% of students in the intervention school reported using a contraceptive method in their last sexual relation, while 58.3% did so in the comparison schools. The students in comparison schools were 4.7 (p < 0.01) times more likely to start sexual initiation than students in the intervention schools.
CONCLUSION
Training in CES improved teachers' knowledge about sexual and reproductive health. Students who received counseling from teachers who were trained in participatory and innovative techniques for CES used more contraceptive protection and delayed sexual debut.
Topics: Adolescent; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Schools; Sex Education; Sexual Behavior; Sexuality; Sexually Transmitted Diseases
PubMed: 34289834
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11388-2 -
Archives of Sexual Behavior Jan 2018There is a notable gap between heterosexual men and women in frequency of orgasm during sex. Little is known, however, about sexual orientation differences in orgasm...
There is a notable gap between heterosexual men and women in frequency of orgasm during sex. Little is known, however, about sexual orientation differences in orgasm frequency. We examined how over 30 different traits or behaviors were associated with frequency of orgasm when sexually intimate during the past month. We analyzed a large US sample of adults (N = 52,588) who identified as heterosexual men (n = 26,032), gay men (n = 452), bisexual men (n = 550), lesbian women (n = 340), bisexual women (n = 1112), and heterosexual women (n = 24,102). Heterosexual men were most likely to say they usually-always orgasmed when sexually intimate (95%), followed by gay men (89%), bisexual men (88%), lesbian women (86%), bisexual women (66%), and heterosexual women (65%). Compared to women who orgasmed less frequently, women who orgasmed more frequently were more likely to: receive more oral sex, have longer duration of last sex, be more satisfied with their relationship, ask for what they want in bed, praise their partner for something they did in bed, call/email to tease about doing something sexual, wear sexy lingerie, try new sexual positions, anal stimulation, act out fantasies, incorporate sexy talk, and express love during sex. Women were more likely to orgasm if their last sexual encounter included deep kissing, manual genital stimulation, and/or oral sex in addition to vaginal intercourse. We consider sociocultural and evolutionary explanations for these orgasm gaps. The results suggest a variety of behaviors couples can try to increase orgasm frequency.
Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Orgasm; Sexual Behavior; Sexuality; United States
PubMed: 28213723
DOI: 10.1007/s10508-017-0939-z