What is human sexuality?
It is an umbrella term generally referred to the expression of sexual sensation and related intimacy between human beings. It also includes expression of identity through sex (influenced by or based on sex).
Sexuality is an expression of who we are. It involves a person’s thoughts, feelings, sexual expression. It varies across the cultures and regions of the world and has continually changed throughout history.
What is Sexual Health?
Ability to enjoy and express one’s sexuality free from the risks of STIs, unwanted pregnancies, violence and discrimination.
One’s biological characteristics:
-Anatomical: Breast, vagina(Female), penis, testicles(Male)
-Physiological: menstrual cycle(Female), spermatogenesis(Male)
-Genetics: XX(Female), XY(Male)
A person’s core sense of being male/female/a place in between. Erotic/romantic attraction for sharing sexual expression with members of the opposite sex (heterosexual), one’s own sex (homosexual), or both sexes (bisexual).
Various activities related to the expression of one’s sexuality (what people do sexually with others and themselves) eg: touching, kissing, other stimulation of body and penetration. It represents a very complex integration between biology and psychology. In most societies and legal jurisdiction, there are legal bounds on what sexual behaviour is permitted.
It is a sequence of emotional and physical changes that occur as a person becomes sexually aroused and participates in sexual activity.
It has 4 phases.
Common sexual problems:
Male:
Premature ejaculation
Erectile dysfunction
Female:
Vaginismus
Both (male and female):
Loss of sexual desire (Loss of Libido)
Orgasm problems
Premature Ejaculation
This is when ejaculation occurs more quickly than a man and his partner would wish, causing problems in a sexual relationship. Usually, the man experiences this during penetration itself or very soon afterwards.
It’s a relatively common problem – in fact, the most common sexual dysfunction in men. Lifetime prevalence is around 30%.
This is more common among the younger males, especially in the early sexual relationships.
It’s very rarely caused by a physical problem.The most common causes are:
Remember, this is a very common issue!! So you are not alone. There’s not much you can do, except find better ways of coping with stress and resolving difficulties with your partner. You should see a doctor, if the problem is persisting and causing you anxiety or affecting your relationship.
Behavioural treatment works well for premature ejaculation.
Erectile dysfunction (Impotence):
It means the persistent inability to reach or maintain an erection, good enough to complete any sexual activity satisfactorily.
Prevalence rises with age, therefore commoner in older males.
It may either may be due to physical or psychological causes. The majority of cases are found to be due to physical causes. So, it’s better that you seek medical advice as soon as you notice this problem.The main physical causes are:
The main psychological causes are:
Have a healthy lifestyle. Quitting smoking and alcohol. Regular aerobic exercise and a low-fat diet will also reduce the risks of atherosclerosis.
If you have Diabetes, ensure it is properly controlled.
Remember, this is a very common issue!! So you are not alone. There’s not much you can do, except find better ways of coping with stress and resolving difficulties with your partner. You should see a doctor, if the problem persists and is causing you anxiety or affecting your relationship.
Whatever the cause or treatment of their erectile dysfunction, many men could benefit from counselling or sex therapy. Sex therapy will be particularly necessary if the erectile dysfunction has psychological causes which can’t actually be “cured” with physical treatments.
There are now a number of oral treatments available, (Eg: Sildanafil,Tadelafil,vandenafil) and most work by helping to relax the blood vessels in the penis, allowing blood to flow in.
The most common side-effects are headaches and facial flushing.
*These oral treatments must not be taken by men using medicines containing nitrates (commonly prescribed for ischaemic heart disease).
This is an effective and reliable way of producing an erection with drugs, yet, the drug has to be injected every time they have sex. It relaxes the blood vessels and muscles, allowing increased blood flow and producing an erection within 15 minutes.
It involves the insertion of a small pellet, containing a drug increasing the blood flow to the penis, into the urethra through the opening to the penis.
The penis is inserted into a clear plastic cylinder and the air is pumped out, creating a vacuum,as a result the penis fills with blood,causing an erection.
Vaginismus:
It is a condition in which there is involuntary tightening of the muscles surrounding the vagina, causing pain during intercourse. The tightness of the vagina may be so great that the opening of the vagina may be completely closed off, restricting the insertion of the penis at all.
Women with vaginismus are often unable to:
This is commoner among the young women in their early sexual exposure.
Vaginismus does not have a single cause. It can occur due to a variety of physical and psychological causes.
Psychological causes include:
Some of the physical causes of vaginismus are naturally occurring changes in a woman’s body.
Vaginismus can also be brought on by other medical conditions such as:
Pelvic trauma such as pelvic surgery (Eg: hysterectomy),trauma caused by rape.
In some cases, the cause of vaginismus remains unknown.
Treatment can be physical or psychological and is often individualized.
Counseling or therapy is aimed at resolving issues such as fears, strict religious upbringing and traumatic experiences
Therapy helps women with vaginismus deal with the problems of depression and low self-esteem that often accompany this condition.
Physical treatment of vaginismus is used to help relax pelvic floor muscles by alternative contraction and gradual dilatation using a finger or plastic dilators.
Loss of sexual desire
A condition in which you lack interest in sex, causing concern to you and/or your partner. This may sometimes lead to relationship problems.
There are a wide range of causes:
But, it’s possible that you simply have a naturally lower level of sexual desire than your partner and that your real problem is finding a way to negotiate some sort of compromise.
Have a healthy lifestyle. Quitting smoking and alcohol. Regular aerobic exercise and a low-fat diet will also reduce the risks of atherosclerosis.
If you have Diabetes, ensure it is properly controlled.
Remember, this is a very common issue!! So you are not alone. There’s not much you can do, except find better ways of coping with stress and resolving difficulties with your partner. You should see a doctor, if the problem is persisting and causing you anxiety or affecting your relationship.