Brief description of what sexuality and sexual health are

1. Human Sexuality & Sexual Health
Onika Henry

2. Page  2
At Dusk
It was that time of evening, just before dark. The house was empty except
for the two of them. As they lay together entwined in a warm embrace, this
room, this bed, was the universe. She stroked the nape of his neck. He
nuzzled her erect nipple, first gently with his nose, then licked it, tasted,
smelled and absorbed her body odour. It wa a hot and humid August day,
and they had been perspiring. Slowly, he caressed her breast as he softly
rolled his face over the contours of the other. He pressed his body close
against her, sighed, and completely tired, closed his eyes and soon fell
into a deep sleep. Ever so slowly she slipped herself out from under him,
for fear fear she would disturb him; she cradled him in her arms and then
moved him to his crib. Having completed his 6 o‘clock feeding, the 4-
month-old had just experienced another important step toward his sexual
development.

3. What do you think?
•Some would not recognize any sexual overtones at all
•Others may be surprised that is isn’t sexual in the way it first seemed
to be
Two Important Concepts:
1. It suggests the important early beginnings or our sexual
development
2. It reminds us that what we assume to be sexual or erotic, do not
always remain true for all situations and cultures.

4. Page  4
Safer Sex Salad Game!

5. Page  5
What are …….
Sexuality and Sexual Health?
A Total Sensory Experience ……
(touch, smell, taste, hearing, sight)
Involving the most important sex organ ….
Ability to ENJOY & CONTROL our sexual &
reproductive lives.
The BRAIN
And of course, it involves the BODY

6. Page  6
SEXUALITY
 Expression of who we are
 It involves thoughts
 It involves feelings
 It involves sexual expression and sexual relationships
 It involves the biology of the sexual response system
SEXUAL HEALTH
The ability to enjoy and express one’s sexuality:
Free from risks of sexually transmitted infections
Free from unwanted pregnancy
Free from force
Free from violence
Free from discrimination

7. Page  7
Sexual Orientation & Sexual Behaviour
 Sexual Orientation – the erotic or romantic attraction (or “preference”) for
sharing sexual expression with members of the opposite sex
(heterosexual), one’s own sex (homosexual), or both sexes (bisexual)
 Sexual Behaviours - are actions (touching, kissing and other stimulation of
the body) related to the expression of one’s sexuality.
 Sexual Practices – activities related to sexual expression that are
performed habitually or repeatedly.
 Sexual behaviours and practices are what people “do” sexually with
others or themselves.
 Sexual practices do not always indicate a sexual orientation or identity
(e.g. persons may practice a sexual behaviour for survival, money, for
power over another individual, or because society says it’s acceptable
even if they it is not that person’s orientation

8. Page  8
SEX, SOCIETY AND CULTURE
 Ms. W is a married woman seeking counselling at a
health clinic. She is concerned that her husband is ‘gay’
because he wants to have anal sex. What is she
confused about?
 Lana is married with 7 children and her husband works
a long distance from home. Lana’s day involves feeding
the children, cooking, cleaning, getting them to school,
carrying water, gardening, laundry for herself and for a
living. At the end of the day, she is exhausted and her
husband expects to have sexual relations whenever he
wants. All the women in her community are expected to
obey their husbands’ demands for sex. Is this about her
sex or gender?
 A couple of students have asked their teacher, Mr.
Williams if “oral sex is a sin” in their religion. They are
told this, but have heard many people say they do this
and they are confused about the information given.
Formal or informal, values or religion?

9. Page  9
SEX, SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Attitudes towards contraception, (commercial) sex work, anal sex, sex
education
Do laws protect, do they try to regulate sexual behaviour, do
some engage in sex for survival or while away from home,
polygamy, slavery etc. Formal and Informal values.
Sex as “sacred”, some practices are “sin”, everyone is “doing it”, sex is
for the youth etc.
What should/not men do? What should/not women do?

10. VALUES Let’s find out! AGREE
DISAGREE
NOT SURE

11. Page  11
THE KEY BODY TOOLS FOR SEX!!!
 The most important sex organ -
controls all our sexual responses, releases
sex hormones, creates sex fantasies that
stimulates the body
The largest sexual organ –
has nerves that respond to touch, temperature and
texture. Some areas are very sensitive (like the
genitals, nipples, backs of knees) and can lead to
arousal and pleasure.
– for both men and women may provide sexual
pleasure

12. Page  12
THE KEY BODY TOOLS FOR SEX!!!

13. Page  13
THE KEY BODY TOOLS FOR SEX!!!

14. Page  14
THE KEY BODY TOOLS FOR SEX!!!

15. The Female Sexual Response Cycle
& Mens’ Sexuality – The Basics
What happens during sex!!

16. WHAT AFFECTS SEXUAL FUNCTION?
When things are not quite what you’d like …

17. Page  17
What affects sexual function?
Psychological/Emotional factors (stress, negative body
image, fear of getting an STI, performance anxiety, negative
sexual experiences)
Biological/Physiological factors (medical conditions, aging,
physical injury (spinal cord), hormonal contraceptives,
pregnancy, substance abuse)
Interpersonal/social factors (peer pressure, poor
communication skills, abuse, attitude toward sexual
orientation, conflicts, uncertainty of how behave)
Environmental factors (culture, gender, availability of
partners, lack of privacy)

18. JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF SEX
CAN WE HAVE SEXUALITY WITHOUT SEXUAL
INTERCOURSE ???

19. Page  19

20. Page  20
CHALLENGE & CHOICE
 SEX IS NICE
 SEX IS ADDICTIVE
 SEX EXPOSES ONE TO INFECTIONS AND DISEASES – SOME
CURABLE, SOME DEADLY, SOME CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO
TISSUES
 SEX BRINGS US THE JOYS OF CHILDREN OR THE CHALLENGE OR
CHILD REARING
 SEX IS STILL TABOO FOR MANY
 SEX DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN LOVE AND COMMITTMENT

21. Page  21
CHALLENGE & CHOICE
One can choose to abstain from sexual activity until
he/she feels a sense of empowerment and self
awareness
Couples can choose to express sexuality by giving
each other sexual pleasure without sexual
intercourse
Masturbation alone or together is safe, once body
fluids are not exchanged

22. Page  22
Sex Fishbowl Activity