Development of Human Sexuality
Development of Human Sexuality
Development of Human Sexuality
Adolescence
Adolescence represents acceleration in terms of biological changes and psychosocial and sexual development. Biologically, puberty begins for the female adolescent with breast enlargement, widening of the hips, and growth of pubic and ancillary hair. The onset of menstruation usually occurs between the ages of 11 and 13 years.
In male adolescent, growth of pubic hair and enlargement of the testicles begin at 12 to 16 years of age. Penile growth and the ability to ejaculate usually occur from the ages of 13 to 17. There is a marked growth of the body between ages 11 and 17, accompanied by the growth of body and facial hair, increased muscle mass, and a deeper voice. Sexuality is slower to develop in the female than in the male adolescent. Women show steady increases in sexual responsiveness that peak in their middle 20s or early 30s.Sexualmaturity for men is usually reached in the late teens, but their sexual drive remains high through young adulthood. Masturbation is a common sexual activity among male and female adolescents. Adulthood This period of the life cycle begins at approximately 20 years of age and continues to age 65. Marital Sex Choosing a marital partner or developing a sexual relationship with another individual is one of the major tasks in the early years of this life-cycle stage. Intimacy in marriage is one of the most common forms of sexual expression for adults. The couples have coitus about two or three times on an average per week when they are in their 20s, with the frequency gradually declining to about once weekly for those 45 years of age and over. Many adults continue to masturbate even though they are married and have ready access to heterosexual sex. Extramarital Sex The estimates are that about a quarter to a half of married men and women have engaged in extramarital sex at some time during their marriages.
intercourse painful. Other symptoms may include insomnia, "hot flashes," headaches, heart palpitations, and depression. Women stabilize at the same level of sexual activity as at the previous stage in the life cycle and often have a greater capacity for orgasm in middle adulthood than in young adulthood With the decrease of androgen production during these years, men also experience sexual changes. The amount of ejaculate may decrease, and ejaculation may be less forceful. The testes decrease in size, and erections may be less frequent and less rigid. By age 50, the refractory period increases, and men may require 8 to 24 hours after orgasm before another erection can be achieved. Biological drives decrease, and interest in sexual activity may decrease during these "middle" years. Although men need longer stimulation to reach orgasm and intensity of pleasure may decrease.