Unformatted text preview: Running head: SEXUAL HEALTH 1 Sexual Health
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Date SEXUAL HEALTH 2
Sexual Health
Introduction According to the World Health Organization, Sexual health is a state of either mental,
emotional and physical as well as social well-being concerning the sexuality of an individual
(World Health Organization, 2006). The implication of the above definition is not only just the
absence of dysfunction, disease or infirmity but it also comprises the need to have positive on
both sexual relationship and the sexuality of a person. Additionally, sexual health requires one to
have pleasurable and safe sexual experience which is free of violence, coercion as well as free of
discrimination. It is necessary that the sexual rights of a person are both respected and protected
such that he or she can attain and maintain sexual health (World Health Organization, 2006).
Sexual health begins with the development of a sexual reproductive system of the teens during
their puberty period. In this stage, the teens experience several forms of maturation which
comprise of cognitive, biologic as well as the psychosocial. Puberty refers to the complex series
of biological transformation that a teen will undergo to be a matured person.
Standard features of puberty stage include the growth in stature and development of
secondary sexual characteristics of teens. The body will reach fertility upon the changes in the
body systems which comprises of blood pressure, bone size, aerobic power, and the
neuroendocrine axis. This paper seeks to discuss the reproductive system of both the genders
with an aim to demonstrate the changes that occur at their lifespan which includes andropause
and menopause. Additionally, the examples of sexually transmitted infection and the effects that
they have on both genders concerning the good and the ill sexual health will be presented. In this
case, a detailed description of common sexual dysfunction problems that both men and women
are subjected to their lifespan. The particular focus of this paper will be to address the fertility SEXUAL HEALTH 3 issues that influence the sexual reproduction of a person. Moreover, sexual health knowledge
will be address with an objective of giving a broader meaning of sexual health (World Health
Organization, 2006).
MAIN BODY
The anatomical changes which occur in a human body comprise the changes in either the
body structure or the changes in some parts of the body structure. It involves the changes in not
only the shape of the body structure but also the differences in their form. Psychological changes,
on the other hand, refer to the changes in the characteristics or the functionality of body parts
which includes tissues and the organs. The glands of the body may undergo changes which
consist of not only getting smaller but also growing in fibrous nature. The variations of the color
of an organ can be utilized by the scientist to determine its age. During both anatomical and
physiological changes, aging of the hormone is considered to be normal especially for the growth
hormone. Has a person grow, low level of growth hormone will be produced, and old people are
required to do much exercise. Psychological changes which occur due to the aging of the
hormone include the difference in the functionality of kidneys. The glands of organs will absorb
more water as their cells, and hormones get old. Additionally, thyroid gland shrinks which
influence the metabolic system of the body.
The changes in the reproductive hormones for males and females varies. It comprises
several stages in both genders as they undergo varies anatomical and physiological changes.
Puberty is a stage where both male and female person passes through significant changes in the
structure, shape and the functionality of body and body parts. Since the onset and the progression
of puberty varies, Tanner developed a scale which has gained popularity and accepted
worldwide. The scale describes both the onset and the progression of pubertal changes. Tanner SEXUAL HEALTH 4 developed a five-point scale which is utilized in rating both male and females in different
perspectives. The elements considered while rating both girls and boys include the genital
development and growth of pubic hair on boys and the development of breast and the growth of
pubic hair on girls. Below is a detailed description of the rated changes that occur in both boys
and girls according to Tanner’s scale (Lloyd, 2002).
The anatomical changes which occur in a human body comprise the changes in either the
body structure or the changes in some parts of the body structure. It involves the changes in not
only the shape of the body structure but also the differences in their form. Psychological changes,
on the other hand, refer to the changes in the characteristics or the functionality of body parts
which includes tissues and the organs. The glands of the body may undergo changes which
consist of not only getting smaller but also growing in fibrous nature (French, 2009). The
variations of the color of an organ can be utilized by the scientist to determine its age. During
both anatomical and physiological changes, aging of the hormone is considered to be normal
especially for the growth hormone. Has a person grow, low level of growth hormone will be
produced, and old people are required to do much exercise. Psychological changes which occur
due to the aging of the hormone include the difference in the functionality of kidneys. The glands
of organs will absorb more water as their cells, and hormones get old. Additionally, thyroid gland
shrinks which influence the metabolic system of the body (Widmaier, 2008).
Tanner scale the growth of pubic hair on females in five points rations. These comprise of
preadolescent whereby vellos hair starts to grow over their pubes to a larger size compared to the
hair presence anterior wall. Stage two of the hair growth involved the changes in their
characteristics. Downy, long and pigmented hair start to appears. These hairs are also straight,
sparse and slightly curled. The growth of these hairs which possess the same characteristics are SEXUAL HEALTH 5 mainly found in labia. As the puberty progress, stage three is featured where hairs which are
curlier, darker and coarser hair appears. At this stage, the hair spread sparsely to the junction of
pubes. Stage four comprise the decrease in the hair distribution quantity. Zero distribution will
occur toward the medial surface of the thighs. Stage five demonstrate an inverse triangle and a
small spread of hair towards the thighs but not beyond the edges of the triangle (Lloyd, 2002).
Pubic hair growth on boys also are scaled into five points which are similar to the points
discussed on girls. The first stage is the preadolescent stage which demonstrate the absents of
hair around the pubes of the boys. Stage two illustrate the start of hair growth which are
characterized by their long length, sparse distribution, pigmented in color and straight. These
hairs are found mainly along labia at the base of penis. Stage three include the changes in their
characteristics where more hair appears which are darker in color, coarser as well as curlier
compared to the one on stage two. In stage four, the boy is referred to have attained the stages of
being an adult, the hair decreases in their distribution. Stage five is similar to that of girls, the
hair appears to spread to the thighs (French, 2009).
Tanner also scale and rated breast development for the female gender in their lifespan.
The stages scale consists of five steps which starts with the preadolescent. This is a stage which
is characterized by the papilla being elevated above the level of the chest wall. The next stage
that follows comprises the budding of the breast. This is described by the elevation of the breast
as well as the papillae which occur as a small amount. The papillae also increase in the diameter
of areolae. In stage three of the changes, the breast, as well as the areolae, continue to enlarge.
However, there is no indication of a separate contour as they grow big. At stage four, both the
papillae and the areolae elevate above the level of the breast and form a secondary mount. At
step four, there is also further development of the breast tissues. At stage five, female gender is SEXUAL HEALTH 6 considered to have fully developed a mature breast. The scene also demonstrates a slight
extension of papillae from the contour level (Lloyd, 2002).
Male genital development is among the elements scale by Tanner into five points. Like
other elements, male genital development starts with the stage of a preadolescent. In this stage
both the penis, testes, as well as the scrotal sac, have sizes which are similar to those seen in their
childhood. Stage two comprises the enlargement of both testes and the scrotum. Similarly, the
texture of the scrotum skin changes. Additionally, the color of the scrotum skin reddened and
therefore cannot be found on a white and black photograph (Melville, 2015). Stage three is
characterized by the increase in the size of the penis and small increase in its circumference.
Similarly, this stage is featured by the increase in both the size of testes and the scrotum: the
glans of the penis, the size in both length and the circumference increase significantly in stage
four. The scrotum and the tests continue to increase in size. Step five is the stage where the
genital parts of a male us described to have fully developed to maturity (World Health
Organization, 2006).
Menopause is a term which is used to describe the status where women lose their fertility
at a specific time of their age. This is a change which is characterized by the infrequent
occurrence of periods because ovaries stop producing eggs. The hormones which ensure regular
production of ovaries reduces in the body. These hormones include estrogen and the
progesterone. As for men, the decline in the production of hormones which includes androgen or
the sex hormones characterized the status of andropause (McHugh, 2016). It is a physical change
in men as they get old. Although fertility of men does not end, the sexual activeness reduced and
the sexual function also goes down. In a normal situation, the occurrence of both menopause and
andropause is later in the life of a person. Some individual cases such as when one has been SEXUAL HEALTH 7 treated from cancer can make him, or her lose his or fertility earlier. The scenario where women
or men stops being fertile after treatment is referred to as chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea
(Andrews, 2005).
Sexually transmitted infection refers to the diseases which a person can get by having sex
with another person who is infected. Example of STI which affects sexual and the reproductive
organs are gonorrhea and the chlamydia. Other examples of sexually transmitted fiction which
comprises of syphilis, hepatitis B and the HIV are responsible for the infections that are
subjected to the victim. Most of the STIs especially in women does not portray any symptoms
and therefore may fail to be treated. Several of the STIs are associated with the infertility cases
as well as the Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases (French, 2009). The adolescent is a stage which one
is active for sexual acts. At this time, sexual health becomes a priority for the health of an
individual. This is a matter which the public should be intensely concerned. One of the adverse
consequences which are obtained from the unsaved sex is teenage pregnancy as well as sexually
transmitted infection. There are several approaches which can be employed in ensuring the
absence of adolescent pregnancy. One of these approaches which can be used to stop teenage
pregnancy is to raise awareness among young people (Melville, 2015).
The use of alcohol or any drugs can influence the judgment and contributes to the high
possibility of a victim to engage in the livelihood of unhealthy sexual practices. Alcohol and
drugs expose a victim to the high probability of getting. Culture is also a factor that can
determine the women sexuality of the community. It is, therefore, necessary for the health
practitioners to learn on the cultural influence on the women sexuality such that they can design
appropriate approaches for good sexual health (Melville, 2015). SEXUAL HEALTH 8 The impacts of pornography on young people who are still sexually active varies from
one person to the other. An individual who has occasionally watch pornography is likely to
develop an addiction and in this case, is tempted to put this in practice. The images and `the
videos of pornography can create an addictive condition of an individual which impacts on the
sexual behavior of that person (McHugh, 2016). Although pornography is associated with the
change in the action, there are positive impacts that can result from liberating pornographies.
These include the reduction of rape, as well as the rate of sexual violence. Erectile dysfunction is
a health condition in men where they are characterized by the failure of their penis to erect. This
is a condition that can results in not only relationship strain but also causes stress and low selfesteem among the victims. The main characteristic of sexual dysfunction is the failure of the
penis to erect enough for sexual action (Andrews, 2005).
One who is suffering from erectile dysfunction is first evaluated from both anatomic and
physical condition. This is a condition that can be overcome by stimulating the body to enable
erections to occur. Viagra is a medication which only works on men with erectile dysfunction
(Peattie, 2003). It works by increasing the blood flow to the penis such that it cannot only get the
penis erected but also keep it hard for sexual acts. Viagra is designed to work only when a victim
is sexually stimulated. The use of drugs by men can disadvantage the production and the strength
of sperm produced to swim through the semen. Drugs slow down the production of sperm as
well as the appetite for sex. It is therefore concluded that drugs can cause sexual health problems
(World Health Organization, 2006). In summary, Sexual health is a state of either mental, emotional and physical as well as
social well-being concerning the sexuality of an individual. It requires one to have pleasurable SEXUAL HEALTH 9 and safe sexual experience which is free of violence, coercion as well as free of discrimination. It
is necessary that the sexual rights of a person are both respected and protected such that he or she
can attain and maintain sexual health. Over the lifespan of a person, the body undergoes both
anatomical change and physiological changes. The anatomical changes which occur in a human
body comprise the changes in either the body structure or the changes in some parts of the body
structure. It involves the changes in not only the shape of the body structure but also the
differences in their form. Psychological changes, on the other hand, refer to the changes in the
characteristics or the functionality of body parts which includes tissues and the organs. The
glands of the body may undergo changes which consist of not only getting smaller but also
growing in fibrous nature. The use of alcohol or any drugs can influence the judgment and
contributes to the high possibility of a victim to engage in the livelihood of unhealthy sexual
practices. SEXUAL HEALTH 10 References
World Health Organization. (2006). Defining sexual health: report of a technical consultation on
sexual health, 28-31 January 2002, Geneva. World Health Organization.
Andrews, G. (Ed.). (2005). Women's sexual health. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Melville, C. (2015). Sexual and Reproductive Health at a Glance. John Wiley & Sons.
Lloyd, T. (2002). Boys and Young Men's Health: What Works. London: Health Development
Agency. (Lloyd, 2002)
French, K. (Ed.). (2009). Sexual health. John Wiley & Sons.
McHugh, T. (2016). Faces inside and outside the clinic: A foucauldian perspective on cosmetic
facial modification. Routledge.
Peattie, P. (2003). Physiology for health care and nursing. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Widmaier, E. P., Raff, H., & Strang, K. T. (2008). Vander's human physiology: the mechanisms
of body function (p. 306). McGraw-Hill Higher Education. ...
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