THE SEXUAL SELF

INTRODUCTION
 Sexuality is a crucial part of a person’s identity.
 Sex is central to who we are and to our emotional well-being.
 All people have the potential to positively experience and
pleasurably express their sexuality .
 Sexuality is always part of an individual professional nurse, as
health care providers, focus on the holistic nature of care and have
responsibility to provide effective sexual health care for their
clients.
TERMINOLOGIES
 CLIMACTERIC- Decline in sexual drive. Eg. Menopause in women
 GENDER ROLE- Behavior appropriate to the sex of an individual.
 HETEROSEXUAL- Sexual and emotional orientation towards persons of
opposite sex.
 HOMOSEXUAL- Sexual and emotional orientation towards persons of same
sex.
 INFERTILITY- Inability to conceive.
 MYOTONIA- Lack of muscles tone, muscle action has a prolonged contraction
phase and slow relaxation.
 ORGASM- The climax of sexual excitement.
 SEXUAL ORIENTATION- It describes the predominant gender perforation of a
person’s sexual attraction.
SEXUAL HEALTH
 Sexual health is the integration of the somatic, emotional, intellectual and
social aspects of sexually, in ways that are positively enriching and that
enhance personality, communication and love.
 A state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to
sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity.
Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and
sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe
sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual
health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be
respected, protected and fulfilled.
 THREE ELEMENTS OF SEXUAL HEALTH
1. A capacity to enjoy and control sexual behavior in accordance
with a social and personal ethic
2. Freedom from fear, shame guilt, false beliefs, and other
psychological factors inhibiting sexual response and impairing
sexual relationship.
3. Freedom from organic disorders , disease, and deficiencies that
interfere with sexual and reproductive functions.
COMPONENTS OF SEXUAL HEALTH
 Sexual self concept- It determines the gender and kinds of people a person
is attracted to, and the values about when, where, and with whom one
expresses sexuality.
 A positive sexual self-concept enables people to from intimate
relationship through out life.
 A negative sexual concept may impede formation of relationship.
 Body image- It is the sense of life, it is constantly changing , aging,
pregnancy, trauma, disease and therapies can alter an individual’s
appearance and function, which can affect body image.
COMPONENTS OF SEXUAL HEALTH
 Gender identity- It is one’s self image as a male and female. gender role
behavior is the outward expression if what is perceived as gender
appropriate behavior.
 Sexual orientation- It is defined as one’s attraction to people of same sex,
opposite sex, or both sexes. Sexual orientation lies along a continuum with a
wide range between the two extremes of exclusively heterosexual attraction
and exclusively homosexual attraction Individual who are attracted to people
of both genders are called bisexual.
STAGES OF PSYCHOSEXUAL DEVELOPMENT
1. THE ORAL STAGE During this period, the oral region or the sensory area of
mouth provides the greatest sensual satisfaction for the infant.
2. THE ANAL STAGE The greatest amount of sensual pleasure for the toddler
is obtained from the anal and urethral areas.
3. THE PHALLIC STAGE The greatest sensual pleasure is derived from the
genital areas. The oedipal stage occurs in the later part of the phallic
period. During this stage, the child “LOVES” parents of the opposite sex as
the provider of sensual satisfaction. The parent of same sex is considered
to be a rival.
 STAGES OF PSYCHOSEXUAL DEVELOPMENT
4. THE LATENCY STAGE At the beginning of the latency stage the child has
resolved or is resolved the oedipal conflict. During the latency period children
from close relationship with others of their own age and sex.
5. THE PUBESCENT STAGE During puberty, secondary sexual characteristics
appear in both sexes. The same psychosexual conflict that occurred during the
oedipal period are revived. If children resolve the conflicts, they are free to
enter into heterosexual relationship as adults.
FACTORS INFLUENCING SEXUALITY CULTURE
CULTURE
 Sexuality regulated by the individual’s culture. For eg. Muslims can have more
than one wife.
 Polygamy or monogamy maybe the norm.
 Specific sex practices include circumcision.
RELIGIOUS VALUES
 Religion influences sexual expression. It provides guideline for sexual
behavior and acceptable circumstances for the behavior as well as prohibited
sexual behavior and consequences of breaking sexual rules.
FACTORS INFLUENCING SEXUALITY CULTURE
PERSONAL
 Although ethics is integral to religion, ethical thought and ethical approaches
to sexuality can be viewed separately from individual to individual
HEALTH STATUS
Healthy minds, bodies and emotions are necessary for sexual well-being.
Many health factors can interfere with myocardial infraction person’s
expression of sexuality Disorders that may alter of sexuality are:-
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION

Most STIs have no symptoms.

 A person can have an STI and not know it.

Why would you be at greater risk of getting an STI that doesn't

cause any symptoms?
3 TYPES OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION

 Bacterial STIs – Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis

 Parasitic STIs – Pubic lice, Scabies, Trichomoniasis

 Viral STIs – Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Herpes, Hepatitis, HIV /

AIDS
BACTERIAL STI
PARASITIC STI
VIRAL STI
VIRAL STI
FAMILY PLANNING
This is a concept of enhancing the quality of life in every member
of the family through the use of family planning methods to
regulate the number of children.
 It reduces the need for unsure abortion.
 It helps prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually
transmitted infections. Reinforces people’s right to determine the
number and spacing of their children.
Allows people to attain their desired number of children and
determine the spacing of pregnancies. It is achieved through use of
contraceptive methods and the treatment of infertility.
BENEFITS OF FAMILY PLANNING
 Preventing pregnancy-related health risks in women.
 Reducing infant mortality.
 Help to prevent HIV/AIDS
 Empowering people and enhancing education
 Reducing adolescent/pre-marital pregnancies
 Slowing population
METHODS OF FAMILY PLANNING