Erogenous zones

It refers to part of the body that are primarily receptive and increase sexual
arousal when touched in a sexual manner. Examples: mouth, breast, genitals, anus.
However, erogenous zones may vary from one person to another. Some people may
desire and enjoy being touched in certain area more than the other area, like, neck,
thighs, abdomen and feet.

Human Sexual Behavior

It defined as any activity – solitary, between two persons, or in a group – that

induces/ brings sexual arousal [Gebhard, P.H. 2017]. This behavior is classified
according to gender and number of participants.

Types of behavior: Solitary behavior [involving one individual]; and Socio-sexual

behavior [more than one individual]

Solitary behavior

Self – gratification [begins at or b4 puberty] means self –stimulation that leads to

sexual arousal and generally, sexual climax. This takes place in personal and private
as an end in itself, but can also be done in a socio-sexual relationship.

This is common for males but becomes less frequent or is abandoned when
sociosexual activity is available.

Therefore, self-gratification is most frequent among the unmarried. However this

self-gratification usually decreases as soon as an individual develop socio-sexual
relationship.

Nowadays, human are frequently being exposed to sexual stimuli esp. from
advertising and social media. Some adolescents become so much aggressive when
they respond to such stimuli.

The rate of teenage pregnancy is recently increasing. The challenge is to develop

self-control so that to balance suppression and free expression. Why? To prevent
premarital sex and acquire STD.

Socio-sexual behavior

It is the greatest amount of socio-sexual behavior that occurs b/w only one male
and one female. This usually begins in childhood and may be motivated by curiosity,
such as showing or examining genitalia.
 Physical contact involving necking and petting is considered as an ingredient of
the learning process and eventually of courtship and selection of a marriage partner.

Petting differs from hugging, kissing and generalized caresses of the clothed
body to produce stimulation of the genitals. This is done due to affection as source of
pleasure, preliminary to coitus [this is an insertion of male reproductive organ into
female organ]. This is regarded as an important aspect in selecting partner but also a
way of learning how to interact with another person sexually.

A behavior may be interpreted by society or individual as erotic depending on

the context in which the behavior occurs. Example, kissing as a gesture of intimacy b/w
couples while other sees this as respect and reverence.

Physiology of human sexual response

Sexual response follows a pattern of sequential stages or phases when sexual

activity is continued.

1. Excitement phase = it is caused by increase in pulse and blood pressure; a

sudden rise in blood supply to the surface of the body resulting in increased skin
temperature, flushing, and swelling of all distensible body parts particularly noticeable
in the male and female reproductive system, rapid breathing, secretion of genital fluids,
vaginal expansion, and a general increase in muscle tension.

2. Plateau phase = it is generally of brief duration. If stimulation is continued,

orgasm usually occurs.

3. Sexual climax = a feeling of abrupt, intense pleasure, and rapid increase in pulse
rate and blood pressure, and spasms of the pelvic muscles causing contractions of the
female reproductive organ and ejaculation by the male that last only for few seconds
normally not over ten.

4. Resolution phase = it refers to the return to a normal or subnormal physiological

state. Whereas males return to normal even if stimulation continues, but continued
stimulations can produce additional orgasms in females. Females are physically
capable of repeated orgasms without the intervening “rest period” required by males.
Nervous system factors

The nervous system plays a significant role during sexual response. The autonomic
system is involved in controlling the involuntary responses.

The efferent cerebrospinal nerves transmit the sensory messages to the brain to create
stimulus and later initiating a sexual response. The brain will interpret the sensory message
and dictate what will be the immediate and appropriate response of the body. The muscles
contract in response to the signal coming from the motor nerve fibers while glad secretes their
respective product. So, sexual response is dependent the activity of the nervous System.

Hypothalamus and limbic system are part of the brain believed to be responsible for
regulating the sexual response, but there is no specialized “sex center” that has been located
in the human brain.

Apart from brain-controlled sexual responses is the reflex. This reflex is mediated by
the lower spinal cord that leads to erection and ejaculation for male, vaginal discharges and
lubricant for female when the genital areas are stimulated. But still, the brain can overrule and
suppress such reflex activity, when sexual response is socially inappropriate.
Sexual problems

These may be classified as physiological, psychological and social in

origin. Physiological problems are the least among the three categories.
Small number of people suffering from diseases due to abnormal
development of the genitalia or that part of the neurophysiology controlling
sexual response. Example: vaginal infection, retroverted uteri, prostatitis,
adrenal tumors, diabetes, senile changes of the vagina and cardiovascular
problems.

Medication: Through surgery

Psychological problems: usually caused by socially induced

inhibitions, maladaptive attitudes, ignorance and sexual myths held by
society. Example: mature sex must involve rapid erection, prolonged coitus
and simultaneous orgasm. Methods: magazines, married books and general
sexual folklore often strengthen these demanding ideals which are not always
achieved; therefore, can give rise to feeling of inadequacy anxiety and guilt.
Hence, resulting negative emotions can definitely affect the behavior of an
individual.

Premature emission of semen is a common problem for young males.

Why? Because of the natural result of excessive tension in a male who has
been sexually deprived. Erectile impotence is almost always a psychological
problem in males under 40; in other cases, the impotence may be the result
of disinterest in the sexual partner, fatigue, and distraction because of
nonsexual worries, intoxication and other causes such as occasional
impotency is common and requires no therapy.
 Ejaculatory impotence [inability to ejaculate in coitus] is uncommon
and usually of psychogenic origin. Why? It is due to the past traumatic
experiences. Warning! Occasional ejaculatory inability can be possibly
expected in older men or in any male who has exceeding his sexual capacity.

Lastly, vaginismus is a strong spasm [contraction] of the pelvic

musculature constricting the female reproductive organ so that penetration is
painful or impossible. It can be due to anti-sexual conditioning or
psychological trauma as an unconscious defense against coitus.

Medication: through psychotherapy and by gradually dilating/widening the

female organ with increasing large cylinders.

Sexual Reproductive diseases are the following:

1. Chlamydia

2. Gonorrhea

3. Syphilis

4. Chancroid

5. Human Papillomavirus

6. Herpes simplex virus

7. Trichomonas vaginalis

Natural and artificial methods are the following:

1. Abstinence

2. Calendar method

3. Basal body temperature

4. Cervical mucus method

5. Symptothermal method

6. Ovulation detection

7. Coitus interruptus

Artificial methods are the following:

1. Oral contraceptive
2. Transdermal patch

3. Vaginal ring

4. Subdermal implants

5. Hormonal injections

6. Intrauterine device

7. Chemical barriers

8. Diaphragm

9. Cervical cap

10. Male condoms

11. Female condoms

12. Surgical methods (vasectomy and ligation)