UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

ON LINE ACTIVITIES

UNPACKING THE SELF - THE PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL SELF

Submitted by: Pamela Ledesma Suson I BSA 2

Submitted to: Mrs. Ana Maria Vicente Malabanan

 ACTIVITY 1: DEFINE THE FOLLOWING TERMS:

1. Beauty

 According to Lexi Herrick, beauty has varied throughout time, various cultures
and the vast different perceptions of the world. Beauty has been described and
depicted through pictures and concepts penetrating our minds. Beauty has been
defined in so many ways. What I have discovered is that beauty is simple.
Beauty is happiness.
 It's the images and moments that inspire and represent the most distinct and
remarkable attractiveness of our souls. It's the moments we feel free and real. It's
the moments we feel proud and eminent. It's the moments we feel alive. It seems
like that element should be inherent, but it isn't.
 Beauty is often distorted, misunderstood and shadowed by a wide amount of
conflicting pressures. It is something we endlessly strive for, rather than see in
the true essence of our happiest moments.

Herrick L. (September 10, 2016). What Is the Real Definition of Beauty?. Retrieved from
https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/8117790/amp

 Beauty is the ascription of a property or characteristic to an animal, idea, object,

person or place that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure or satisfaction.
Beauty is studied as part of aesthetics, culture, social psychology and sociology.
An "ideal beauty" is an entity which is admired, or possesses features widely
attributed to beauty in a particular culture, for perfection. Ugliness is the opposite
of beauty.
The experience of "beauty" often involves an interpretation of some entity as
being in balance and harmony with nature, which may lead to feelings
of attraction and emotional well-being. Because this can be
a subjective experience, it is often said that "beauty is in the eye of the
beholder." Often, given the observation that empirical observations of things that
are considered beautiful often align among groups in consensus, beauty has
been stated to have levels of objectivity and partial subjectivity which are not fully
subjective in their aesthetic judgement.

Retrieved from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty

2. Gonads

 A gonad, sex gland, or reproductive gland is a mixed gland that produces

the gametes (sex cells) and sex hormones of an organism. In the female of the
species the reproductive cells are the egg cells, and in the male the reproductive
cells are the sperm. The male gonad, the testicle, produces sperm in the form
 of spermatozoa. The female gonad, the ovary, produces egg cells. Both of these
gametes are haploid cells.

Retrieved from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonad

 Gonad, in zoology, primary reproductive gland that produces reproductive cells

(gametes). In males the gonads are called testes; the gonads in females are
called ovaries. The gonads in some lower invertebrate groups (e.g., hydrozoans)
are temporary organs; in higher forms they are permanent. In some
invertebrates, such as oligochaete worms and leeches, both male and female
gonads exist in a single organism. Sponges do not have discrete gonads;
instead, reproductive cells are formed by aggregations of amoebocytes in the
body wall. In echinoderms (e.g., starfish), the gonads are usually suspended
from the radiating arms directly into the sea.
 The usually paired gonads of vertebrates produce both gametes and hormones
necessary for reproduction. Some, such as both male and female adult
cyclostomes, have only one gonad. Most female birds, a few female teleost and
elasmobranch fishes, some male lizards and female crocodiles, and the female
platypus and a few female bats also have only one gonad.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/science/gonad

3. Gametes

 Gametes are an organism's reproductive cells. They are also referred to as sex
cells. Female gametes are called ova or egg cells, and male gametes are called
sperm. Gametes are haploid cells, and each cell carries only one copy of each
chromosome. These reproductive cells are produced through a type of cell
division called meiosis. During meiosis, a diploid parent cell, which has two
copies of each chromosome, undergoes one round of DNA replication followed
by two separate cycles of nuclear division to produce four haploid cells. These
cells develop into sperm or ova. The ova mature in the ovaries of females, and
the sperm develop in the testes of males. Each sperm cell, or spermatozoon, is
small and motile. The spermatozoon has a flagellum, which is a tail-shaped
structure that allows the cell to propel and move. In contrast, each egg cell, or
ovum, is relatively large and non-motile. During fertilization, a spermatozoon and
ovum unite to form a new diploid organism.

Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/scitable/definition/gamete-gametes-311/

 A gamete (/ˈɡæmiːt/; from Ancient Greek γαμετή gamete from gamein "to marry"

is a haploid cell that fuses with another haploid cell
 during fertilization in organisms that sexually reproduce. In species that produce
two morphologically distinct types of gametes, and in which each individual
produces only one type, a female is any individual that produces the larger type
of gamete—called an ovum— and a male produces the smaller tadpole-like type
—called a sperm.
 In short a gamete is an egg cell (female gamete) or a sperm (male gamete). This
is an example of anisogamy or heterogamy, the condition in which females and
males produce gametes of different sizes (this is the case in humans; the human
ovum has approximately 100,000 times the volume of a single human sperm
cell).
 In contrast, isogamy is the state of gametes from both sexes being the same size
and shape, and given arbitrary designators for mating type. The name gamete
was introduced by the German cytologist Eduard Strasburger. Gametes carry
half the genetic information of an individual, one ploidy of each type, and are
created through meiosis.

Retrieved from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamete

 Gametes are the physical agents by which genes and gene combinations are
passed on from one generation to the next, and hence the gene pool represents
the transitional step between one generation and the next.

Human Population Genetics and Genomics, 2019. Retrieved from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-
biology/gamete

4. Hormones

 A hormone (from the Greek participle ὁρμῶν, "setting in motion") is any member

of a class of signaling molecules, produced by glands in multicellular organisms,
that are transported by the circulatory system to target distant organs to
regulate physiology and behavior.
 Hormones serve to communicate between organs and tissues
for physiological regulation and behavioral activities such
as digestion, metabolism, respiration, tissue function, sensory
perception, sleep, excretion, lactation, stress induction, growth and
development, movement, reproduction, and mood manipulation. 
 Hormones affect distant cells by binding to specific receptor proteins in the
target cell, resulting in a change in cell function. When a hormone binds to the
receptor, it results in the activation of a signal transduction pathway that typically
activates gene transcription, resulting in increased expression of target proteins;
non-genomic effects are more rapid, and can be synergistic with genomic effects.
 Amino acid–based hormones (amines and peptide or protein hormones) are
water-soluble and act on the surface of target cells via second
messengers; steroid hormones, being lipid-soluble, move through the plasma
membranes of target cells (both cytoplasmic and nuclear) to act within
their nuclei.

Retrieved from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone

 A hormone is a chemical that is made by specialist cells, usually within an

endocrine gland, and it is released into the bloodstream to send a message to
another part of the body. It is often referred to as a ‘chemical messenger’.
Hormones are found in all multicellular organisms and their role is to provide an
internal communication system between cells located in distant parts of the body.
 In the human body, hormones are used for two types of communication. The
first is for communication between two endocrine glands, where one gland
releases a hormone which stimulates another target gland to change the levels of
hormones that it is releasing. The second is between an endocrine gland and a
target organ, for example when the pancreas releases insulin which causes
muscle and fat cells to take up glucose from the bloodstream.

Retrieved from https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/

5. Puberty

 Puberty is the time in life when a boy or girl becomes sexually mature. It is a
process that usually happens between ages 10 and 14 for girls and ages 12 and
16 for boys. It causes physical changes, and affects boys and girls differently.
In girls:
The first sign of puberty is usually breast development. Then hair grows in the
pubic area and armpits. Menstruation (or a period) usually happens last.
In boys:
Puberty usually begins with the testicles and penis getting bigger. Then hair
grows in the pubic area and armpits. Muscles grow, the voice deepens, and
facial hair develops as puberty continues.
 Both boys and girls may get acne. They also usually have a growth spurt (a rapid
increase in height) that lasts for about 2 or 3 years. This brings them closer to
their adult height, which they reach after puberty.

NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Retrieved from
https://medlineplus.gov/puberty.html

 Puberty is the name for the time when your body begins to develop and change
as you move from kid to adult. We're talking about stuff like girls developing
 breasts and boys starting to look more like men. During puberty, your body will
grow faster than at any other time in your life, except for when you were a baby.
 It helps to know about the changes that puberty causes before they happen. That
way, you know what to expect. It's also important to remember that everybody
goes through these changes. No matter where you live, whether you're a boy or
a girl, whether you like vanilla or double-fudge-chunk ice cream, you will
experience them. No two people are exactly alike, but one thing everyone has in
common is that we all go through puberty. Usually, puberty starts between ages
8 and 13 in girls and ages 9 and 15 in boys. This wide range in ages may help
explain why some of your friends still look like young kids whereas others look
more like adults.
 When your body is ready to begin puberty, your pituitary gland (a pea-shaped
gland located at the bottom of your brain) releases special hormones. Depending
on whether you're a boy or a girl, these hormones go to work on different parts of
the body.

Dowshen S. All About Puberty. Retrieved from

https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/puberty.html

6. Menarche

 Menarche is the first menstrual cycle, or first menstrual bleeding, in

female humans. From both social and medical perspectives, it is often
considered the central event of female puberty, as it signals the possibility
of fertility. Girls experience menarche at different ages. The timing of menarche
is influenced by female biology, as well as genetic and environmental factors,
especially nutritional factors. The mean age of menarche has declined over the
last century, but the magnitude of the decline and the factors responsible remain
subjects of contention. The worldwide average age of menarche is very difficult
to estimate accurately, and it varies significantly by geographical region, race,
ethnicity and other characteristics. Various estimates have placed it at 13. There
is a later age of onset in Asian populations compared to the West. The average
age of menarche is about 12.5 years in the United States, 12.7 in Canada, and
12.9 in the UK. A study of girls in Istanbul, Turkey, found the median age at
menarche to be 12.7 years.

Retrieved from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menarche

 Menarche is the occurrence of a first menstrual period in the female adolescent.

Menstruation is the monthly shedding of the functional layer of the uterine
endometrial lining that occurs when ovulation is not followed by fertilization. It
occurs approximately every 28 days, with a range from every 21 to every 45
 days. The average age of onset of menarche is 12.4 years. Most menstrual
periods last between 3 and 7 days, and menses that last more than 10 days is
considered abnormal. Menarche signals maturation of the adolescent female
body. It commonly is associated with the ability to ovulate and reproduce.
However, the appearance of menarche does not guarantee either ovulation or
fertility.

Langaker L, AE. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470216/

7. Neoplasm

May also be called: Cancer; Malignant Tumor; Metastatic Tumor; Carcinoma

 A malignant neoplasm is a cancerous tumor, an abnormal growth that can grow

uncontrolled and spread to other parts of the body. Tumors, or neoplasms, are
groupings of abnormal cells that cluster together to form a mass or lump. They're
formed when cells divide and grow excessively, and they can be benign (not
cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
 A cancerous tumor (malignant neoplasm) can grow unchecked, invade healthy
tissue and metastasize (spread), or spread from the place where it starts to other
parts of the body. If it goes untreated and continues to spread, a malignant
neoplasm can interfere with organ function and become life threatening.
Treatment depends on the type of cancer and how far it has progressed. If the
cancer is limited to one area and hasn't spread, the tumor may be removed
through surgery. Other common treatments include chemotherapy, which kills
cancer cells throughout the body, and radiation therapy, which kills cancer cells
in a specific area of the body.

Retrieved from https://m.kidshealth.org/Nemours/en/parents/az-neoplasm-

malignant.html?WT.ac=clk_fromdesk

 According to Sally Robertson, the term neoplasm refers to an abnormal growth

of tissue caused by the rapid division of cells that have undergone some form of
mutation. The body is made up of trillions of cells that grow, divide, and die in an
orderly fashion. This process is a tightly regulated one that is controlled by the
DNA machinery within the cell. When a person is growing up, the cells of the
body rapidly divide, but once adulthood is reached, cells generally only divide to
replace worn-out, dying cells or to repair injured cells. Neoplasia describes when
these cells proliferate in an abnormal manner that is not coordinated with the
surrounding tissue. These rogue cells (neoplastic cells) cannot be controlled in
the way that normal cells can because they do not die when they should and they
divide more quickly. As this excessive growth persists, a lump or tumor that has
no purpose or function in the body is eventually formed. This is referred to as a
 neoplasm and it may be non-cancerous (benign), pre-cancerous (pre-malignant)
or cancerous (malignant).

Retrieved from https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-a-Neoplasm.aspx

8. Menopause

 Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her period stops. It usually occurs
naturally, most often after age 45. Menopause happens because the woman's
ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone. A woman has
reached menopause when she has not had a period for one year. Changes and
symptoms can start several years earlier.

Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health. Retrieved from
https://medlineplus.gov/menopause.html

 Menopause is the time that marks the end of your menstrual cycles. It's
diagnosed after you've gone 12 months without a menstrual period. Menopause
can happen in your 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the United States.
Menopause is a natural biological process. But the physical symptoms, such as
hot flashes, and emotional symptoms of menopause may disrupt your sleep,
lower your energy or affect emotional health. There are many effective
treatments available, from lifestyle adjustments to hormone therapy.

Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-

causes/syc-20353397

9. Erogenous Zone

 The word erogenous comes from the Greek eros which means love, and the
English genous, meaning producing. An erogenous zone is an area of the
human body that has heightened sensitivity, which, when stimulated, may create
a sexual response such as relaxation, thoughts of sexual fantasies, sexual
arousal and orgasm.

Evans, S. (July 28, 2015). Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-

sex/the-lesser-known-erogenous-zones-and-how-to-find-them-10419267.html?
amp#aoh=15842886871269&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From
%20%251%24s

 Although below-the-belt regions are well known sites of sexual pleasure, they’re
not the only spots that might make you go hmmm. Other areas of the body have
a high concentration of nerve endings, so they’re particularly sensitive to touch,
 pressure, or vibration. These erogenous zones, as they’re called, can contribute
to sexual arousal.

Shoemaker E. (October 25, 2019). Everything You Need to Know About Erogenous
Zones. Retrieved from https://greatist.com/play/guide-to-male-female-erogeneous-
zones#genital-e-zones

10. Human Sexual Behavior

 “Human sexuality” refers to people’s sexual interest in and attraction to others;

it is the capacity to have erotic or sexual feelings and experiences. Sexuality
differs from biological sex, in that “sexuality” refers to the capacity for
sexual feelings and attraction, while “biological sex” refers to how one’s anatomy,
physiology, hormones, and genetics are classified (typically as male, female, or
intersex). Sexuality is also separate from gender identity, which is a person’s
sense of their own gender, or sociocultural classification (i.e., man, woman, or
another gender) based on biological sex (i.e., male or female). It is also distinct
from—although it shapes—sexual orientation, or one’s emotional and sexual
attraction to a particular sex or gender.

Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-

psychology/chapter/introduction-to-sexual-behavior/

 Human sexual activity, human sexual practice or human sexual

behaviour is the manner in which humans experience and express
their sexuality. People engage in a variety of sexual acts, ranging from activities
done alone (e.g., masturbation) to acts with another person (e.g., sexual
intercourse, non-penetrative sex, oral sex, etc.) in varying patterns of frequency,
for a wide variety of reasons. Sexual activity usually results in sexual arousal and
physiological changes in the aroused person, some of which are pronounced
while others are more subtle. Sexual activity may also include conduct and
activities which are intended to arouse the sexual interest of another or enhance
the sex life of another, such as strategies to find or attract partners
(courtship and display behaviour), or personal interactions between individuals
(for instance, foreplay or BDSM). Sexual activity may follow sexual arousal.
 Human sexual activity has sociological, cognitive, emotional, behavioural and
biological aspects; these include personal bonding, sharing emotions and
the physiology of the reproductive system, sex drive, sexual intercourse and
sexual behaviour in all its forms. In some cultures, sexual activity is considered
acceptable only within marriage, while premarital and extramarital sex are taboo.
Some sexual activities are illegal either universally or in some countries or
subnational jurisdictions, while some are considered contrary to the norms of
 certain societies or cultures. Two examples that are criminal offences in
most jurisdictions are sexual assault and sexual activity with a person below the
local age of consent.

Retrieved from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_sexual_activity

11. Self-Gratification

 The act of satisfying your own desires and giving yourself pleasure.

Retrieved from https://www.definitions.net/definition/SELF-GRATIFICATION

 The act of giving oneself pleasure or of satisfying one's own desires.

Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. Retrieved from

https://www.wordnik.com/words/self-gratification

12. Heterosexual Behavior

 Heterosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction or sexual
behavior between persons of the opposite sex or gender. As a sexual
orientation, heterosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or
sexual attractions" to persons of the opposite sex; it "also refers to a person's
sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviors, and membership
in a community of others who share those attractions."
 Someone who is heterosexual is commonly referred to as straight. Along
with bisexuality and homosexuality, heterosexuality is one of the three main
categories of sexual orientation within the heterosexual–homosexual
continuum. Across cultures, most people are heterosexual, and heterosexual
activity is by far the most common type of sexual activity.
 Scientists do not know the exact cause of sexual orientation, but they theorize
that it is caused by a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, and environmental
influences, and do not view it as a choice. Although no single theory on the
cause of sexual orientation has yet gained widespread support, scientists
favor biologically-based theories. There is considerably more evidence
supporting nonsocial, biological causes of sexual orientation than social ones,
especially for males. The term heterosexual or heterosexuality is usually applied
to humans, but heterosexual behavior is observed in all mammals and in other
animals, as it is necessary for sexual reproduction.

Retrieved from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosexuality

 The term “heterosexuality” comes from the Greek affix “hetero,” meaning
“different” or “other.” Heterosexuality is a sexual orientation in which a person is
 sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex. People who identify as
heterosexual have emotional, sexual, and romantic relationships with people of
the opposite sex. A common term for a person who identifies as heterosexual is
“straight.”

Retrieved from https://sexinfo.soc.ucsb.edu/article/heterosexuality

13. Petting

 Originating in America in the 1940s, petting originally meant stroking or

caressing. 'Similar to how you would stroke a pet cat,’ says Annabelle Knight, sex
and relationships expert at Lovehoney. ‘It is more or less the equivalent of the US
terms “necking” and “making out”. There was no equivalent word in the UK, so
petting gradually became used worldwide during the late 20th Century and is still
used today– particularly by middle-aged people.’ So what does petting actually
involve? ‘It essentially means sexual fooling around, fondling or foreplay,’
explains Alix Fox, sex educator for TENGA. So in practice, petting is all about
‘stimulating someone’s body in an erotic context and/or dry humping, but
stopping short of sexual intercourse.’ These days, petting is known by more
modern terms like dry humping, outercourse, getting off with someone, and
copping off.

Gilmour, P. (November 25, 2019). Retrieved from https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-

living/sex-life/a2231/what-is-petting/

14. Coitus

 Coitus: Sexual intercourse.
 Sexual intercourse (or coitus or copulation) is sexual activity typically
involving the insertion and thrusting of the penis into the vagina for sexual
pleasure, reproduction, or both. This is also known as vaginal
intercourse or vaginal sex. Other forms of penetrative sexual intercourse
include anal sex (penetration of the anus by the penis), oral sex (penetration of
the mouth by the penis or oral penetration of the
female genitalia), fingering (sexual penetration by the fingers), and penetration by
use of a dildo (especially a strap-on dildo). These activities involve physical
intimacy between two or more individuals and are usually used among humans
solely for physical or emotional pleasure and can contribute to human bonding.

Shiel, W. (December 11, 2018). Medical Definition of Coitus. Retrieved from

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_intercourse
  Coitus (Latin coitio, meaning “a coming together”) is, for many of us, a vehicle
for the expression of emotion and intimacy. Strictly speaking, coitus (or sexual
intercourse) is the penetration of the vagina by the penis, which can be
called vaginal coitus. However, the term coitus is also used for other forms of
sexual contact, including oral coitus (oral–genital contact), femoral coitus (when
the penis is inserted between the thighs), mammary coitus (when the penis is
inserted between the breasts), and anal coitus (insertion of the penis into the
rectum). There are many common slang phrases for coitus, such as “making
love,” “going to bed,” and other more descriptive phrases.

Richard E. Jones PhD, Kristin H. Lopez PhD. (2014). Human Reproductive Biology

(Fourth Edition). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-
dentistry/coitus

15. Ejaculatory Impotence

 In ejaculatory impotence, the male achieves an erection but cannot reach

orgasm in the partner’s vagina. The erection may be maintained for long periods,
even long after the female partner has achieved orgasm. This form of impotence
nearly always has an emotional rather than physical cause.

Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/science/ejaculatory-impotence

 Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is a type of sexual

dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of
the penis during sexual activity. ED can have psychological consequences as it
can be tied to relationship difficulties and self-image.
 A physical cause can be identified in about 80% of cases. These
include cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, neurological problems such as
following prostatectomy, hypogonadism, and drug side effects. 
 Psychological impotence is where erection or penetration fails due to thoughts or
feelings; this is somewhat less frequent, on the order of about 10% of cases. In
psychological impotence, there is a strong response to placebo treatment. The
term erectile dysfunction is not used for other disorders of erection, such
as priapism. Treatment involves addressing the underlying causes, lifestyle
modifications, and addressing psychosocial issues. In many cases, a trial of
pharmacological therapy with a PDE5 inhibitor, such as sildenafil, can be
attempted. In some cases, treatment can involve inserting prostaglandin pellets
into the urethra, injecting smooth muscle relaxants and vasodilators into the
penis, a penile implant, a penis pump, or vascular reconstructive surgery. It is the
most common sexual problem in men.
Retrieved from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erectile_dysfunction

16. Vaginismus

 Vaginismus is a condition involving a muscle spasm in the pelvic floor muscles.

It can make it painful, difficult, or impossible to have sexual intercourse, to
undergo a gynecological exam, and to insert a tampon. When you try to insert an
object such as a tampon, penis or speculum into the vagina, it tightens up
because of an involuntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles. This leads to
generalized muscle spasm, pain and temporary cessation of breathing. The most
common muscle group affected is the pubococcygeus (PC) muscle group. These
muscles are responsible for urination, intercourse, orgasm, bowel movements
and childbirth. Without treatment, it can lead to frustration and distress, and it
may get worse. However, treatment is possible.

Smith, L. (February 13, 2018). What you need to know about vaginismus. Retrieved
from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/175261#types

 Vaginismus is involuntary contraction of muscles around the opening of the

vagina in women with no abnormalities in the genital organs. The tight muscle
contraction makes sexual intercourse or any sexual activity that involves
penetration painful or impossible. Most women with vaginismus cannot tolerate
sexual intercourse, and some cannot tolerate using tampons. Doctors base the
diagnosis on symptoms and a subsequent pelvic examination, done as gently as
possible.
 Women are taught how to touch their genital area, gradually moving closer to
their vagina and becoming used to touching it without experiencing pain, and
then to insert a finger, then progressively larger cones into the vagina. These
exercises may enable women to have sexual intercourse without the pain that
they fear.
 In vaginismus, vaginal muscles tighten involuntarily despite women’s desire for
sexual intercourse. Vaginismus usually begins when women first attempt to have
sexual intercourse. However, it sometimes develops later, for example, when
another factor makes intercourse painful for the first time or when women attempt
intercourse while they are emotionally distressed. Because intercourse may be
painful, women fear it. This fear makes muscles even tighter and causes or
increases pain when sexual intercourse is attempted. A reflex reaction develops
so that when the vagina is pressed or sometimes even just touched, the vaginal
muscles automatically (reflexively) tighten. Most women thus cannot tolerate
sexual intercourse or any sexual activity that involves penetration. Some women
cannot tolerate the insertion of a tampon or have never wanted to try. However,
 most women with vaginismus enjoy sexual activity that does not involve
penetration.

Basson, R. (July, 2013). Retrieved from https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/women-s-

health-issues/sexual-dysfunction-in-women/vaginismus

17. Sexually Transmitted Diseases

 STDs are sexually transmitted diseases. This means they are most often -- but
not exclusively -- spread by sexual intercourse. HIV, chlamydia, genital
herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, some forms of hepatitis, syphilis,
and trichomoniasis are STDs.
 STDs used to be called venereal diseases or VD. They are among the most
common contagious diseases. More than 65 million Americans have an incurable
STD. Each year, 20 million new cases are reported; half of these infections are
among people ages 15 to 24 and they can have long-term consequences. STDs
are serious illnesses that require treatment. Some STDs, such as HIV, cannot be
cured and can be deadly. By learning more about STDs, you can learn ways to
protect yourself. You can get a STD from vaginal, anal, or oral sex. You can also
be infected with trichomoniasis through contact with damp or moist objects such
as towels, wet clothing, or toilet seats, although it is more commonly spread by
sexual contact.

Understanding Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). Retrieved from

https://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/understanding-stds-basics#1

 An STD may also be called a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or venereal

disease (VD). That doesn’t mean sex is the only way STDs are transmitted.
Depending on the specific STD, infections may also be transmitted through
sharing needles and breastfeeding.

Cruickshank, H. (July 31, 2018). Everything You Need to Know About Sexually
Transmitted Diseases (STDs). Retrieved from
https://www.healthline.com/health/sexually-transmitted-diseases#symptoms-in-men

18. Natural Family Planning Method

 Natural family planning (or "fertility awareness") is a method of contraception

where a woman monitors and records different fertility signals during her
menstrual cycle to work out when she's likely to get pregnant. At a glance: facts
about natural family planning:
If natural family planning is followed correctly, it can be up to 99% effective. This
means that 1 woman in 100 who use natural family planning will get pregnant in
 1 year. It is less effective if the instructions aren't carefully followed. There are no
physical side effects, and you can use it to plan when you get pregnant. You
have to keep a daily record of your fertility signals, such as your temperature and
the fluids coming from your cervix – it takes 3 to 6 menstrual (monthly) cycles to
learn the method. Your fertility signals can be affected by illness, stress and
travel. If you want to have sex during the time when you might get pregnant,
you'll need to use contraception, such as a condom, diaphragm or cap. By using
condoms as well as natural family planning, you'll help to protect yourself against
sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
 How natural family planning works
Natural family planning involves identifying the signs and symptoms of fertility
during your menstrual cycle so you can plan or avoid pregnancy. If you're
interested in learning natural family planning, make sure you're taught by a
qualified fertility awareness teacher. Find an NHS fertility awareness clinic in your
local area. There are 3 different fertility signals you can monitor and record for
natural family planning. These are:
the length of your menstrual cycle
daily readings of your body temperature
changes to your cervical secretions (cervical mucus)
 It's best to record these measures together to give you a more accurate picture of
when you're likely to be most fertile. You can use fertility charts to record and
track your measurements over the course of each menstrual cycle. You can
download fertility charts from the Fertility Education and Training site, with
information on how to use them. You can also download smartphone apps to
track this information.

Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/natural-family-planning/

 Natural family planning is a form of birth control that doesn't involve pills or

devices. As a result, you don't have side effects. With these methods, you track
your fertility, which is when you are most likely to get pregnant.
 How It Works:
Usually, a woman releases an egg from her ovaries at about the same time each
month. That’s called ovulation. The egg moves through the fallopian
tubes toward the uterus. An unfertilized egg can live up to 24 hours. Most women
are fertile for about 6 days each month -- 5 before ovulation and the day of
ovulation. Natural family planning uses different methods to pinpoint those fertility
days.
 Types
You can use natural family planning to control pregnancy in several ways:
 Rhythm method. One of the oldest ways of natural family planning, this is based
simply on the calendar. A woman's normal menstrual cycle lasts between 28 and
32 days. Ovulation usually happens around day 14. So you would avoid
unprotected sex on days 8 through 19, since that’s when you’re most fertile.
Cervical mucus or ovulation method. Here, you track
the mucus your cervix makes. When you're ovulating, your mucus is clear,
stretchy, and wet, like raw egg whites. You write down what your mucus is like
each day so you know when you're ovulating.
Basal body temperature (BBT) method. Your temperature can rise between 0.5
and 1 degree when you ovulate and stay there until your next period. With this
method, you take your temperature before you get out of bed each morning,
before you have anything to eat or drink. BBT by itself isn't a good way to prevent
pregnancy because charting your temperature tells you when ovulation has
already happened.
Symptothermal method. With this, you combine several methods, usually BBT
and cervical mucus. Using more than one method can give you a better idea
what's going on in your body.

Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/natural-family-planning-

methods

19. Calendar Method

 Calendar-based methods are various methods of estimating a woman's

likelihood of fertility, based on a record of the length of previous menstrual
cycles. Various methods are known as the Knaus–Ogino method and the rhythm
method. The standard days method is also considered a calendar-based method,
because when using it, a woman tracks the days of her menstrual cycle without
observing her physical fertility signs. The standard days method is based on a
fixed formula taking into consideration the timing of ovulation, the functional life of
the sperm and the ovum, and the resulting likelihood of pregnancy on particular
days of the menstrual cycle. These methods may be used to
achieve pregnancy by timing unprotected intercourse for days identified as fertile,
or to avoid pregnancy by avoiding unprotected intercourse during fertile days.
 The calendar method helps you predict your fertile days by tracking the length
of your menstrual cycles over several months.
 Before you can use the calendar method as birth control, you need to keep track
of the length of your menstrual cycles for at least 6 periods. You can do this with
a regular calendar or our period tracking app. Here’s how you do it: Mark the first
day of your period (this is day 1). Then mark the first day of your next period.
 Count the total number of days between each cycle (the number of days between
the first days of each period). You must chart at least 6 cycles, but charting a few
more months is even better. Here’s an example: If all of your cycles are shorter
than 27 days, the calendar method won’t be accurate for you.

Retrieved from https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/fertility-

awareness/whats-calendar-method-fams

 Calendar based contraceptive methods prevent pregnancy by monitoring

the fertile periods during the menstrual cycle. To use this method a woman
monitors the length of her menstrual cycle for a period of six months to establish
how many days her cycle usually lasts for. She then tracks the progress through
each future cycle from the first day of menstrual bleeding (e.g. by numbering the
days in a calendar). Doing this enables a woman to determine whether or not she
is fertile on a given day of her menstrual cycle and avoid sexual intercourse on
those days.
 How calendar based methods work
Calendar based methods work allow women to avoid sexual intercourse or
use alternative contraceptive methods during the fertile stages of their menstrual
cycle.
 Research has demonstrated that women are fertile for only around six days of
their menstrual cycle, and that the period of fertility coincides with ovulation (the
release of an egg from the ovaries). When an egg is released from the ovaries, it
enters the fallopian tubes, where fertilisation can occur. If the egg is not fertilised,
it travels through the tubes and is expelled through the vaginal opening. This
process takes around 24 hours, and it is only within this 24 hours period that
fertilisation of the egg can occur. However, sperm can survive in the fallopian
tubes for up to five days following ovulation. This means that if a woman
has unprotected sex in the 5 days prior to ovulation, there is a chance that viable
sperm, that is sperm which are still alive and have the capacity to fertilise an egg,
may remain in her fallopian tubes until ovulation occurs. Therefore, the woman is
considered fertile for six days, rather than 24 hours. In the vast majority of
menstrual cycles, ovulation occurs in middle of the cycle. For women who have
standard length menstrual cycles (cycles between 26-32 days in length) 94% of
women will experience ovulation within 4 days of their cycle midpoint. Thus by
calculating the mid point of the cycle, women can also work out when they are
potentially fertile, and when they are definitely infertile. Sex can then be avoided
or an alternative method of contraception used on the fertile days of the cycle.

Retrieved from https://healthengine.com.au/info/calendar-based-methods-of-

contraception
20. Vasectomy

 Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male sterilization or

permanent contraception. During the procedure, the male vasa deferentia are cut
and tied or sealed so as to prevent sperm from entering into the urethra and
thereby prevent fertilization of a female through sexual intercourse. Vasectomies
are usually performed in a physician's office, medical clinic, or, when performed
on an animal, in a veterinary clinic—hospitalization is not normally required as
the procedure is not complicated, the incisions are small, and the necessary
equipment routine.
 There are several methods by which a surgeon might complete a vasectomy
procedure, all of which occlude (i.e., "seal") at least one side of each vas
deferens. To help reduce anxiety and increase patient comfort, men who have an
aversion to needles may consider a "no-needle" application of anesthesia while
the "no-scalpel" or "open-ended" techniques help to accelerate recovery times
and increase the chance of healthy recovery.
 Due to the simplicity of the surgery, a vasectomy usually takes less than thirty
minutes to complete. After a short recovery at the doctor's office (usually less
than an hour), the patient is sent home to rest. Because the procedure is
minimally invasive, many vasectomy patients find that they can resume their
typical sexual behavior within a week, and do so with little or no discomfort.
Because the procedure is considered a permanent method of contraception and
is not easily reversed, men are usually counseled and advised to consider how
the long-term outcome of a vasectomy might affect them both emotionally and
physically. The procedure is not often encouraged for young single childless men
as their chances for biological parenthood are thereby more or less permanently
reduced to almost zero. It is seldom performed on dogs (castration, a different
procedure, remains the preferred reproductive control option for canines) but is
regularly performed on bulls.

Retrieved from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasectomy

 A vasectomy is a small operation a man gets to prevent pregnancy. It

blocks sperm from getting to your semen when you ejaculate. With no sperm
entering the woman, she won’t get pregnant. You can still have an orgasm and
ejaculate. Your doctor can do the procedure in their office. They may call it male
sterilization. Your friends might refer to it as “the snip” or “getting snipped.”

Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/vasectomy-overview

  A vasectomy is a procedure that makes a man permanently unable to get a
woman pregnant. It involves cutting or blocking two tubes, called the vas
deferens, so that sperm can no longer get into the semen.

Retrieved from https://familydoctor.org/vasectomy-what-to-expect/

ACTIVITY 2: ESSAY

1. Explain human sexual behavior

Based on what I have read on the internet about human sexual behavior, I learned
that human sexual behavior is the concept that defines the act of an individual towards
sexual practices like masturbation, having sexual intercourse with an opposite or same
sex, sexual intercouse through oral or anal sex. Sexual behavior also comprises the
attraction of one individual to another of which one seekingly find a partner or attract
them to increase their sexual interest.

In my opinion, these sexual behaviors have lead to some illegal practices. Since
sexual behaviors like sexual intercourse are only done after marriage based on culture,
some are still doing it even though they are not still married. This refers to the practice
of premarital sex. Extramarital sex, on one hand, becomes also a hot trend in some
countries because of numerous cases which are connected to this behavior. This
practice is considered illegal as it is contrary to the norms of some society or country.
The desire for sexual activities for the pleasure leads some people to become
uncontrolled when it comes to this sexual behavior. For me, human sexual behavior has
gone wild due to the modern world that presents different and explorable behavior
towards these sexual acts which influence other people in an immoral way.
2. Describe sexually transmitted

Sexually Transmitted Diseases are diseases that are spread through sexual
intercourse. The chance of having these diseases can be acquired from having unsafe
sex to others; through vaginal, anal, or oral sex; or having multiple sexual partners. That
is why it is required that you must use condom everytime you are having a sexual
intercouse and avoid having multiple partners. Example of sexually transmitted
diseases are HIV, chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, some forms
of hepatitis, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.

These diseases are all serious illness and must be treated or cured. However,
some sexually transmitted diseases can not be cured like HIV (human
immunodeficiency virus). This disease can be also deadly. It is a virus that targets the
cells that help the body fight infection. This virus makes a person more prone to other
infections and diseases. HIV can be transmitted through unprotected sex or through
sharing injection drug equipment. If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS
(acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). It is said that human body can’t get rid of HIV
that is why no effective HIV cure exists. To sum it up, once you have HIV, you will have
it for life. But there is HIV medicine that can make a person with HIV live long and have
healthy lifestyle and preventing the transmission of this disease.

3. Differentiate natural and artificial method of contraception

Natural method of contraception like natural family planning is a ways of monitoring

fertility signals to know when she is likely to get pregnant. This method has no physical
side effect since it is done in a natural way and it is a safe way of planning when you
want to be pregnant. These natural methods are effective only if it will be followed
correctly. Keeping daily record of your temperature and fluids coming from cervix are
practices included under natural method of contraception.

Artificial method of contraception, on the other hand, includes taking pill to control
being pregnant. Used of condom is also an artificial way of contraception, it also help
you to avoid acquiring sexually transmitted diseases. Nowadays, numerous methods of
artificial birth control are already available in the worldwide market. Methods in the pill
form are the most common used method. However, these artificial methods of
contraception have dangerous effects if it failed like abortion. Excessive use of these
artificial methods of birth control results to infertility. The pills can also cause your blood
to clot, make you more prone to sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, or cause
cancer.