THE SEXUAL SELF

“Self-love is about respecting and appreciating every single part of who you
are, and being proud to be you.”
―Miya Yamanouchi, Embrace Your Sexual Self: A Practical Guide for Women

Activity 2
BODY MAPPING
Procedures:
1. The class will be divided into five groups.
2. Each group will bring either manila paper or cartolina and a pentel pen.
3. Each group will think of a slogan or title for its drawing/illustration.
4. Each group will draw either a male or a female figure by including the important body
parts.
5. The members of each group should be ready with their oral presentation to familiarize
themselves with their body parts without any malice.

Development of Secondary Sex Characteristics

and the Human Reproductive System

Soon after the fertilization of an egg, the development of the reproductive system
begins. For example, approximately one month after conception, primordial gonads also
begin to develop. Rapid reproductive development happens inside the mother’s womb;
but when the child is born until he/she reaches puberty, there is little change in the
reproductive system.

Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus

The female sex is considered the “fundamental” sex because if a particular chemical
prompting is absent, all fertilized eggs will develop into females. For a fertilized egg to
become male, a cascade of chemical reactions must be present initiated by a single gene in
the male Y chromosome called the SRY (Sex-determining Region of the Y chromosome).
Females do not have any Y chromosome; hence, they do not have the SRY gene (Lumen
Learning Courses, WEB).
Both the male and female embryos have the same group of cells that will potentially
develop into male or female gonads or sex glands. However, the presence of the SRY
gene initiates the development of the testes while suppressing the vital genes for female
development.

A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self 67

 PRACTICE QUESTION
A baby’s gender is determined at conception, and the different genitalia of male
and female fetuses develop from the same tissues in the embryo.

Note: Before you allow your students to watch the short video, make sure to explain
it in a scientific way.

View this animation to see a comparison of the development of structures

of the female and male reproductive systems in a growing fetus. (https://
www.babycenter.com/2_inside-pregnancy-girl-or-boy_10313041.bc#videoplaylist)

Where are the testes located for most of the gestational time?

Show Answer
The testes are located in the abdomen.

Further Sexual Development Occurs at Puberty

Puberty is the stage of development at which individuals become sexually mature.

The outcome of puberty is different for boys and girls, but the hormonal process is similar.
Moreover, though the timing of these changes varies for every individual, the sequence
of changes for boys and girls is predictable, resulting in adult physical characteristics
and the capacity to reproduce.
Puberty can be separated into five stages. The characteristics for each stage vary for
girls and boys.

STAGES PUBERTY STAGES IN GIRLS PUBERTY STAGES IN BOYS

1 Approximately between the ages of 8 Approximately between ages 9 and 12:
and 11:

The ovaries enlarge and hormone No visible signs of development occur;

production starts, but external but internally, male hormones become
development is not yet visible. a lot more active. Sometimes a growth
spurt begins at this time.

68 A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self

STAGES PUBERTY STAGES IN GIRLS PUBERTY STAGES IN BOYS
2 Approximately between the ages of 8 Approximately between ages 9 to 15:
and 14:

The first external sign of puberty is Height increases, and the shape of the
usually breast development. body changes.

At first breast buds develop. The nipples Muscle tissue and fat develop at this
will be tender and elevated. time.

The area around the nipple (the aureole) The aureole, the dark skin around the
will increase in size. nipple, darkens and increases in size.

The first stage of pubic hair may also be The testicles and scrotum grow, but the
present at this time. It may be coarse penis probably does not.
and curly or fine and straight.

Height and weight increase at this time. A little bit of pubic hair begins to grow at
The body gets rounder and curvier. the base of the penis.
3 Approximately between the ages of 9 Approximately between ages 11 and 16
and 15:

Breast growth continues, and pubic hair The penis starts to grow during this
gets coarser and darker. stage. It tends to grow in length rather
than width.

During this stage, whitish discharge Pubic hair is getting darker and coarser
from the vagina may be present. and spreading to where the legs meet
the torso.
For some girls, the first menstrual period Also, boys continue to grow in height,
begins at this time. and even their faces begin to appear
more mature.

The shoulders broaden, making the hips

look smaller.

Muscle tissue increases, and the voice

starts to change and deepen.

Finally, facial hair begins to develop on

the upper lip.

A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self 69

 STAGES PUBERTY STAGES IN GIRLS PUBERTY STAGES IN BOYS
4 Approximately from ages 10 to 16: Approximately 11 to 17:

Some girls notice that their aureoles At this time, the penis starts to grow in
get even darker and separate into a width, too.
little mound rising above the rest of the
breast. The testicles and scrotum also continue
to grow. Hair may begin to grow on the
Pubic hair may begin to have a more anus.
adult triangular pattern of growth.
The texture of the penis becomes more
If it did not happen in Stage Three, adult-looking. Underarm and facial hair
menarche (first menstruation) should increases as well.
start now.
The first fertile ejaculations typically
Ovulation may start now, too. But it will appear at approximately 15 years of
not necessarily occur on a regular basis. age, but this age can vary widely across
(It is possible to have regular periods individual boys.
even if ovulation does not occur every
month.) Skin gets oilier, and the voice continues
to deepen.
5 Approximately between ages 12 and 19: Approximately 14 to 18:

This is the final stage of development. Boys reach their full adult height.
Full height is reached, and young
women are ovulating regularly. Pubic hair and the genitals look like an
adult man's do.
Pubic hair is filled in, and the breasts are
developed fully for the body. At this point, too, shaving is a necessity.

Some young men continue to grow past

this point, even into their twenties.

http://www.healthofchildren.com/P/Puberty.html

What are the erogenous zones of the body?

The term erogenous zones was popularized in the 1960s and 1970s to describe
areas of the body that are highly sensitive to stimuli and are often (but not always)
sexually exciting. In this context, “highly sensitive” means these areas of the body have a
high number of sensory receptors or nerve endings that react to stimuli. These are places
where a person is generally more sensitive to both pain and pleasure than in other areas
of the body. Professionals usually discuss sensuality in terms of the complex stimuli and
associations that give rise to an appreciative response.

70 A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self

The skin
The skin serves as the primary erotic stimulus. Two types of erogenous zones exist
in the skin (Winkelmann, 2004):
1. Nonspecific type
a. It is similar to any other portion of the usual haired skin.
b. The nerves supplying it are composed of the usual density of dermal-nerve
networks and hair-follicle networks.
c. The learned and anticipated pleasurable sensations when a stimulus is
presented in these regions produce the amplified sensation.
d. The pleasurable sensation felt from these regions is simply an exaggerated
form of tickle.
e. Examples of this type of skin are the sides and back of the neck, the axilla
(armpit, underarm) and the sides of the thorax (chest).

2. Specific type
a. It is found in the mucocutaneous regions of the body or those regions made
both of mucous membrane and of cutaneous skin.
b. These regions favor acute perception.
c. These specific sites of acute sensation are the genital regions, including the
prepuce, penis, the female external genitalia (vulva),the perianal skin, lips, and
nipples.

The prepuce is the retractable fold of skin covering the tip of the penis. Nontechnical
name: foreskin. It is also a similar fold of skin covering the tip of the clitoris (Collins
English Dictionary).
The penis is a male erectile organ of copulation by which urine and semen are
discharged from the body (Splendorio & Reichel, 2014).
Female external genitalia (vulva) include:
• The mons pubis.
• The clitoris. A female sexual organ that is small, sensitive, and located in front of the
opening of the vagina.
• The labia majora and labia minora. The labia majora are fleshy lips around the vagina.
These are larger outer folds of the vulva. The labia minora also known as the inner
labia, inner lips, vaginal lips or nymphae are two flaps of skin on either side of the
human vaginal opening in the vulva situated between the labia majora.
• Vaginal introitus is the opening that leads to the vaginal canal.
• The hymen is a membrane that surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal
opening.
(Human Reproductive Biology, 2012)

A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self 71

 Perianal skin refers to the area of the body surrounding the anus, and in particular,
the skin. The perianal skin is very sensitive. It is also susceptible to injury and damage.
The lips are soft, movable, and serve as the opening for food intake and in the
articulation of sound and speech. Human lips are designed to be perceived by touch, and
can be an erogenous zone when used in kissing and any other acts of intimacy.
Nipples are the raised region of tissue on the surface of the breast. A recent study
found that the sensation from the nipples travels to the same part of the brain as
sensations from the vagina, clitoris, and cervix (Pappas, 2011).
Bear in mind though that not only is individual sensitivity different (what feels great
for you or one person does not mean others will like it, too) but how your brain interprets
what is happening with the given part of the body influences your sexual response as
well. For example, even if a particular part of the body is packed with sensory nerve
receptors, stimulation of this part may feel unpleasant if you had negative experiences
or you have negative ideas about that given part of the body.

Understanding the Human Sexual Response

What is the sexual response cycle? The sexual response cycle refers to the sequence
of physical and emotional occurrences when the person is participating in a sexually
stimulating activity, such as intercourse or masturbation (Cleveland Clinic, WEB).
Knowing how the body responds during each phase of the cycle can help enhance a
couple’s sexual relationship, and it can also help address the cause of sexual dysfunction.
In general, both men and women experience these phases. However, they do not
experience it at the same time. For example, it is unlikely that a couple will orgasm
simultaneously. Moreover, the intensity of the sensation and the time spent in each
phase also vary from person to person.
In the late 1950s, William Masters and Virginia Johnson pioneered research
to understand human sexual response, dysfunction, and disorders. Masters and
Johnson have been widely recognized for their contributions to sexual, psychological,
and psychiatric research, particularly for their theory of a four-stage model of sexual
response (also known as the human sexual response cycle).

Four phases of the human sexual response cycle:

1. Excitement
2. Plateau
3. Orgasm
4. Resolution

72 A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self

 PHASES GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Phase 1: • Muscle tension increases.
Excitement • Heart rate quickens, and breathing is accelerated.
• Skin may become flushed (blotches of redness appear on the chest and
back).
• Nipples become hardened or erect.
• Blood flow to the genitals increases, resulting in swelling of the woman’s
clitoris and labia minora (inner lips), and erection of the man’s penis.
• Vaginal lubrication begins.
• The woman’s breasts become fuller and the vaginal walls begin to swell.
• The man’s testicles swell, his scrotum tightens, and he begins secreting a
lubricating liquid.
Phase 2: • The changes begun in phase 1 are intensified.
Plateau • The vagina continues to swell from increased blood flow, and the vaginal
walls turn a dark purple.
• The woman’s clitoris becomes highly sensitive (may even be painful to
touch) and retracts under the clitoral hood to avoid direct stimulation
from the penis.
• The man’s testicles are withdrawn up into the scrotum.
• Breathing, heart rate and blood pressure continue to increase.
• Muscle spasms may begin in the feet, face, and hands.
• Tension in the muscles increases.
Phase 3: This phase is the climax of the sexual response cycle. It is the shortest of
Orgasm the phases and generally lasts only a few seconds. General characteristics of
this phase include the following:
• Involuntary muscle contractions begin.
• Blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing are at their highest rates,
with a rapid intake of oxygen.
• Muscles in the feet spasm.
• There is a sudden, forceful release of sexual tension.
• In women, the muscles of the vagina contract. The uterus also
undergoes rhythmic contractions.
• In men, rhythmic contractions of the muscles at the base of the penis
result in the ejaculation of semen.
• A rash or "sex flush" may appear over the entire body.
Phase 4: During this phase, the body slowly returns to its normal functioning
Resolution level. The swelled and erect body parts return to their previous size and
color. This phase is marked by a general sense of well-being; intimacy is
enhanced; and often, fatigue sets in.
With further sexual stimulation, some women can return to the orgasm
phase. This allows them to experience multiple orgasms. Men, on the other
hand, need recovery time after orgasm. This is called the refractory period.
How long a man needs a refractory period varies among men and his age.

Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/the-sexual-response-cycle

A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self 73

 Sex and the Brain. What parts are involved?

Primarily, sex is the process of combining male and female genes to form an offspring.
However, complex systems of behavior have evolved the sexual process from its primary
purpose of reproduction to motivation and rewards circuit that root sexual behaviors.
Ultimately, the largest sex organ controlling the biological urges, mental processes,
as well as the emotional and physical responses to sex, is the brain.

Roles of the brain in sexual activity:

1. The brain is responsible for translating the nerve impulses sensed by the skin
into pleasurable sensations.
2. It controls the nerves and muscles used in sexual activities.
3. Sexual thoughts and fantasies are theorized to lie in the cerebral cortex, the same
area used for thinking and reasoning.
4. Emotions and feelings (which are important for sexual behavior) are believed to
originate in the limbic system.
5. The brain releases the hormones considered as the physiological origin of sexual
desire.

Roles of hormones in sexual activity:

The hypothalamus is the most important part of the brain for sexual functioning.
This small area at the base of the brain has several groups of nerve-cell bodies that
receive input from the limbic system. One reason the hypothalamus is important in
human sexual activity is its relation to the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland secretes
the hormones produced in the hypothalamus.
1. Oxytocin
It is also known as the “love hormone” and believed to be involved in our
desire to maintain close relationships. It is released during sexual intercourse
when orgasm is achieved.
2. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
It is responsible for ovulation in females. The National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences in Durham, N.C., discovered that sexual activity
was more frequent during a woman’s fertile time.
3. Luteinizing hormone (LH)
The LH is crucial in regulating the testes in men and ovaries in women.
In men, the LH stimulates the testes to produce testosterone. In males,
testosterone appears to be a major contributing factor to sexual motivation.

74 A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self

 4. Vasopressin
Vasopressin is involved in the male arousal phase. The increase of vasopressin
during erectile response is believed to be directly associated with increased
motivation to engage in sexual behavior.
5. Estrogen and progesterone
Estrogen and progesterone typically regulate motivation to engage in sexual
behavior for females, with estrogen increasing motivation and progesterone
decreasing it.
(Boundless Psychology, courses.lumenlearning.com)

Understanding the Chemistry of Lust, Love, and Attachment

Falling in love can be a beautifully wild experience. It is a rush of longing, passion,
and euphoria. Fast forward a few years, and the excitement would have died down
(though the levels vary for every couple). For couples who remain together through the
years, the rush would have been replaced by a warm, comfortable, and nurturing feeling.
Each stage of this cycle can actually be explained by your brain chemistry—the
neurotransmitters that get stimulated to release hormones throughout your body.
Anthropologist Helen Fisher of Rutgers University proposed three stages of falling
in love; and for each stage, a different set of chemicals run the show.
The three stages of falling in love are:
1. Lust (erotic passion);
2. Attraction (romantic passion); and
3. Attachment (commitment).

Lust
This stage is marked by physical attraction. You want to seduce and be seduced by
your object of affection. Lust is driven by testosterone in men and estrogen in women.
Lust, however, will not guarantee that the couple will fall in love in any lasting way.

Attraction
At this stage, you begin to crave for your partner’s presence. You feel excitement
and energetic as you fantasize about the things you could do together as a couple. Three
chemicals trigger this feeling: norepinephrine, dopamine,and serotonin.
Norepinephrine – responsible for the extra surge of energy and triggers
increased heart rate, loss of appetite, as well as the desire to sleep. Your body is in a
more alert state and is ready for action.

A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self 75

 Dopamine – associated with motivation and goal-directed behavior. It makes
you pursue your object of affection. It creates a sense of novelty, where the person
seems exciting, special, or unique that you want to tell the world about his or her
admirable qualities.
Serotonin – thought to cause obsessive thinking. Low levels of serotonin are
said to be present in people with obsessive-compulsive behavior (OCD). Meanwhile,
a study found that those who expressed they were in love and people with OCD both
had less serotonin transporter in their blood compared to those who did not express
they were in love and do not have OCD as well.

Attachment
Attachment involves the desire to have lasting commitment with your significant
other. At this point, you may want to get married and/or have children.
(Psychology Today, 2017)

Psychological aspect of sexual desire

Sexual desire is typically viewed as an interest in sexual objects or activities.
More precisely, it is the subjective feeling of wanting to engage in sex. Sexual desire
is sometimes, but not always, accompanied by genital arousal (penile erection in men
and vaginal lubrication in women). Sexual desire can be triggered by a large variety of
cues and situations, including private thoughts, feelings, and fantasies, erotic materials
(such as books, movies, photographs), and a variety of erotic environments, situations,
or social interactions.
Sexual desire is often confused with sex drive,but these are fundamentally different
constructs. Sex drive represents a basic, biologically mediated motivation to seek sexual
activity or sexual gratification. In contrast, sexual desire represents a more complex
psychological experience that is not dependent on hormonal factors.
However, developmental research suggested that the capacity to experience sexual
desire though not hormone-dependent, are probably still facilitated by hormones. For
example, because of adrenal gland development and the subsequent secretion of adrenal
hormones, some 9-year-old children may experience sexual desires. Researchers noted
that despite this development, children who experienced such desires generally are not
motivated to seek sexual gratification or activity. Such motivation typically develops
after 12 years old when puberty produces notable surges in levels of gonadal hormones.
Thus, physiological arousal is not a necessary element of sexual desire and should not be
considered a more valid marker of sexual desire than individual self-reported feelings.

76 A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self

Gender differences on sexual desire
Factors that influence the notable gender difference on sexual desire include:
• Culture;
• Social environment; and even
• Political situations.
One of the most notable gender differences on sexual desire is that women place
great emphasis on interpersonal relationships as part of the experience. Males, on the
other hand, enjoy a more casual sexual behavior.
Alternatively, some researchers attributed that because of the different evolutionary
pressures men and women face through time, early human females practiced selective
mating with carefully chosen males to achieve maximum reproductive success, while
no such pressure was evident on men. This may have favored the evolution of stronger
sexual desires in men than in women.
(psychology.iresearchnet.com,©2017)

Physiological mechanisms of sexual behavior motivation

Much of what we know about the physiological mechanisms that underlie sexual
behavior and motivation comes from animal research. The hypothalamus plays an
important role in motivated behaviors, and sex is no exception. Laboratory rats that
were physiologically incapable of coupling were observed to nevertheless seek receptive
females. This finding suggested that the ability to engage in sexual behavior and the
motivation to do so may be mediated by different systems in the brain.
Animal research suggests that limbic
system structures, such as the amygdala and
nucleus accumbens, are especially important
for sexual motivation.
Amygdala is the integrative center
for emotions, emotional behavior, and
motivation.
Nucleus accumbens (also referred to as the
pleasure center) plays a role in motivation
and cognitive processing of aversion. It has
a significant role in response to reward and
reinforcing effects, translating emotional
https://www.quizover.com/course/section/ stimulus into behaviors.
physiological-mechanisms-of-sexual-
behavior-and-motivation-by-openstax

A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self 77

 The Diversity of Sexual Behavior

Like food, sex is an important part of our lives. From an evolutionary perspective,
the reason is obvious—perpetuation of the species. Sexual behavior in humans, however,
involves much more than reproduction.
Sexual orientation is defined as an individual’s general sexual disposition toward
partners of the same sex, the opposite sex, or both sexes. There has been much interest
in sexual desire as an index of sexual orientation. Historically, the most important
indicator of same-sex (i.e., gay, lesbian, or bisexual) orientation was same-sex sexual
desire. Contemporary scientific studies, however, found that same-sex desire and sexual
orientation are more complicated than previously thought.
Past studies thought that gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals were the only people
who ever experienced same-sex sexual desires. It was found though that completely
heterosexual persons periodically experience same-sex sexual desires, even if they
have little motivation to act on those desires. It also did not appear to indicate that
a completely heterosexual individual will eventually want to pursue same-sex sexual
behavior or will eventually consider himself or herself lesbian, gay, or bisexual.
Thus, researchers now generally believe that lesbian, gay, and bisexual orientations
are characterized by persistent and intense experiences of same-sex desire that are
stable over time.

Gender Identity

Many people fuse sexual orientation with gender identity into one group because of
stereotypical attitudes that exist about homosexuality. In reality, although these two are
related, they are actually different issues. Sexual orientation is a person’s emotional
and erotic attraction toward another individual. On the other hand, gender identity
refers to one’s sense of being male or female. Generally, our gender identities correspond
to our chromosomal and phenotypic sex, but this is not always the case.

What is LGBTQ+?
LGBTQ+ is an umbrella term for a wide spectrum of gender identities, sexual
orientations, and romantic orientations.
• L stands for lesbian. These are females who are exclusively attracted to women.
• G stands for gay. This can refer to males who are exclusively attracted to any other
males. It can also refer to anyone who is attracted to his or her same gender.
• B stands for bisexual or someone who is sexually/romantically attracted to both men
and women.

78 A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self

 • T or Trans*/Transgender is an umbrella term for people who do not identify with the
gender assigned to them at birth. Trans woman is an identity label adapted by male
to female trans people to signify that they identify themselves as women. A trans
man is an identity label adapted by female to male trans people to signify that they
identify themselves as men.
• Q stands for queer. It is a useful term for those who are questioning their identities
and are unsure about using more specific terms, or those who simply do not wish to
label themselves and prefer to use a broader umbrella term.
• +The plus is there to signify that many identities are not explicitly represented by
the letters. This includes (but is not limited to) intersex or people who are born
with a mix of male and female biological traits that can make it hard for doctors to
assign them a male or female sex; and asexual or a person who is not interested in
or does not desire sexual activity.

Regardless of how sexual orientation is determined, there is preliminary empirical

research that strongly suggests sexual orientation is not a choice. Rather, it is a relatively
stable characteristic of a person that cannot be changed. Just as the majority of the
heterosexual people do not choose to be attracted to the opposite sex, the large majority
of the LGBTQ+ people also do not choose theirs. The only real choice that the LGBTQ+
community has to deal with is whether to be open about their orientation.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues

There’s a lot more to being male, female, or any gender than the sex assigned at
birth. Your biological or assigned sex does not always tell your complete story.
Sex is a label — male or female — that you’re assigned by a doctor at birth based
on the genitals you’re born with and the chromosomes you have. It goes on your birth
certificate.
Gender is defined by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as
“the relations between men and women, both perceptual and material. Gender is not
determined biologically, as a result of sexual characteristics of either women or men,
but is constructed socially. It is a central organizing principle of societies, and often
governs the processes of production and reproduction, consumption and distribution”
(FAO, 1997).
According to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, gender identity
is one’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how
individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One’s gender identity
can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth. On the other hand, sexual
orientation is an inherent or immutable enduring emotional, romantic or sexual
attraction to some other people. This attraction can be for someone from the same sex
or someone from the opposite sex.

A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self 79

 Sociocultural Factors
Sociocultural factors influence the various issues related to sexual orientation and
gender identity. For example, the Philippines and most of its Southeast Asian neighbors
view heterosexuality as the norm. However, there are countries that are culturally not
as restrictive with their human sexual/romantic relationship attitudes. For example, in
New Guinea, young boys are expected to engage in sexual behavior with any other boys
for a given period because it is believed that doing so is necessary for these boys to become
men (Baldwin & Baldwin, 1989). In the Philippines, an individual is classified as either
male or female only. However, Thailand recognizes more than two categories – male,
female, and kathoey. A kathoey is an individual who would be described as transgender in
western cultures (Tangmunkongvorakul, Banwell, Carmichael, Utomo, & Sleigh, 2010).

Family Influences
There are also studies that asserted how children’s upbringing and social
environment influences their developing gender identities. In summary, this work found
that children’s interests, preferences, behaviors, and overall self-concept are strongly
influenced by parental and authority figure teachings regarding sexual stereotypes.
Thus, children whose parents adhere to strict gender-stereotyped roles are, in general,
more likely to take on those roles themselves as adults than are peers whose parents
provided less stereotyped, more neutral models for behaving.

Urban Setting
Another research also discovered that homosexuality positively correlated with
urbanization. The correlation though was more substantial in men than in women. The
study surmised that large cities seem to provide a friendlier environment for same-
gender interest to develop and be expressed (Laumann, et al., 1994) than in rural areas.
These cities host venues or areas where people with specific sexual orientations socialize
and become a support group. The number of gays and lesbians residing in large cities
may function protectively to generate resiliency among the LGBTQ+ community in the
face of stigmatization, discrimination, and harassment, thus, potentially resulting in
positive consequences for their well-being.
On the other hand, existing literature highlighted that the challenges of rural living
for LGBTQ+ people are:
• High levels of intolerance;
• Limited social and institutional supports; and
• Higher incidence of social isolation.
There are studies that also countered the popular notion of urban versus rural living
for the LGBTQ+ —that is, rural life is actually more beneficial to their well-being than
urban life. However, these studies are newer and less supported than existing literature
on LGBTQ+ life, challenges, and issues.

80 A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self

 History of Sexual Abuse

Previous published studies claimed that abused adolescents, particularly those

victimized by males, are more likely to become homosexual or bisexual in adulthood.
These studies were criticized for being non-clinical and unreliable. Some other findings
suggested no significant relationship that child abuse is a cause of same-sex sexual
orientation in adulthood (Wilson and Wisdom, 2009).

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s)

What are STD’s? STD stands for sexually transmitted diseases. It is also known as
STI or sexually transmitted infection. In general, STD is a disease or infection acquired
through sexual contact where the organisms that cause STD are passed on from person
to person in blood, semen, and vaginal or any other bodily fluids.
STD can also be transmitted non-sexually such as:
• Mother to infant during pregnancy;
• Blood transfusion; and
• People sharing needles for injection.
It is possible to contract sexually transmitted diseases from people who seem perfectly
healthy, and who may not even be aware of the infection. STDs do not always cause
symptoms, which is one of the reasons experts prefer the term “sexually transmitted
infections” to “sexually transmitted diseases.”

The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012

RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACT

OF 2012
An Act providing for a national policy on Responsible Parenthood
and Reproductive Health
Citation Republic Act No. 10354
Enacted by House of Representatives of the Philippines
Date enacted December 19, 2012
Enacted by Senate of the Philippines
Date enacted December 19, 2012
Date signed December 21, 2012
Signed by Miriam Defensor Santiago
Date commenced January 17, 2013

A Holistic Approach In Understanding The Self 81

 The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (Republic Act No.
10354), informally known as the Reproductive Health Law or RH Law, is a law in the
Philippines that guarantees access to contraceptive methods, such as fertility control,
sexual education, and maternal care. Passage of the legislation was controversial and
highly divisive. Experts, academics, religious institutions, and major political figures
declared support or opposition while it was just a bill. After the (then) RH Bill was passed
into law, the Supreme Court delayed its implementation in response to challenges. On
April 8, 2014, the Court ruled that the law was “not unconstitutional” but struck down
eight provisions partially or in full.

Goals, Objectives, and Strategies of Reproductive Health Law

Specific objectives:
• Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio.
• Reduce by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate.
• To have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse, the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Regional objectives:
• Improve access to the full range of affordable, equitable, and high-quality family planning
and reproductive health services to increase contraceptive use rate and reduce unwanted
pregnancies and abortions.
• Make pregnancy safer.
• Support countries and areas in developing evidence-based policies and strategies for the
reduction of maternal and newborn mortality.
• Improve access to the full range of affordable, equitable, and high-quality family planning
and reproductive health services to increase contraceptive use rate and reduce unwanted
pregnancies.
• Improve the health and nutrition status of women of all ages, especially pregnant and
nursing women.
• Gender, women and health:
• Integrate gender and rights considerations into health policy and programs, especially
into reproductive health and maternal health care.
• Improve the health and nutrition status of women of all ages,
(WHO Western Pacific Region, WPRO, 2017)

Advantages and Disadvantages of Family Planning

Family planning allows both men and women to make informed choices on when
and if they decide to have children. Knowing both the advantages and disadvantages of
family planning methods may help you decide what option is right for you.

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Methods of contraception:
• Long-acting reversible contraception, such as the implant or intra uterine device (IUD)
• Hormonal contraception, such as the birth control pill and the birth control injection
• Barrier methods, such as condoms
• Emergency contraception
• Fertility awareness
• Permanent contraception, such as vasectomy and tubal ligation

Benefits of family planning / contraception according to the WHO

• Prevent pregnancy-related health risks in women
• Reduce infant mortality
• Help prevent HIV/AIDS
• Empower people and enhance education
• Reduce adolescent pregnancies
• Slow population growth
(WHO Western Pacific Region, WPRO©2017)

Benefits of Using Family Planning According to DOH

Family planning provides many benefits to mother, children, father, and the family.

Mother
• Enables her to regain her health after delivery
• Gives enough time and opportunity to love and provide attention to her husband and
children
• Gives more time for her family and own personal advancement
• When suffering from an illness, gives enough time for treatment and recovery

Children
• Healthy mothers produce healthy children
• Will get all the attention, security, love, and care they deserve

Father
• Lightens the burden and responsibility in supporting his family
• Enables him to give his children their basic needs (food, shelter, education, and better
future)
• Gives him time for his family and own personal advancement
• When suffering from an illness, gives enough time for treatment and recovery

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Disadvantages
• Birth control health risks
Some forms of birth control pose health concerns for women and men, such as
allergies to spermicides or latex. For some women, oral contraceptives can lead to hair
loss and weight gain, and the use of diaphragms can lead to urinary tract infections.
• Possibility of pregnancy
Family planning methods are not one hundred percent reliable. Other than
abstinence, there is no birth control method (including the natural rhythm method)
that is completely effective. Couples who are engaging in sexual activity should always
consider the possibility of an unexpected pregnancy.
• Pregnancy after birth control
All bodies are different. There is no way to know how long it will take a woman
to conceive, and that is true whether you have been using birth control or not. It is
possible to get pregnant almost right away after stopping hormonal contraceptives,
such as birth control pills or after having the IUD removed. On the other hand, it
might take months for ovulation and the menstrual period to return to normal. How
long the menstrual period takes to return to its normal cycle is entirely individual,
and has nothing to do with how long the woman has been using birth control. The
most important thing to know about stopping your preferred method of birth control
is that ovulation can return immediately. Hence, a woman can get pregnant right
away.

The Natural Family Planning Method

Natural family planning (NFP) is the method that uses the body’s natural physiological
changes and symptoms to identify the fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual cycle.
Such methods are also known as fertility-based awareness methods.
Once a month an egg is released from one of a woman’s ovaries (ovulation). It can stay
alive in the uterus for about 24 hours. Men can always produce sperm cells, and these
can stay alive in the female reproductive system for about two to five days after being
deposited in the vagina during sexual intercourse. This means women have certain time
during their cycle when they are unlikely to conceive, whereas men have no “safe period.”
Natural family planning methods are generally the preferred contraceptive method
for women who do not wish to use artificial methods of contraception for reasons of
religion, or who, due to rumors and myths, fear other methods.
However, natural family planning methods are unreliable in preventing unwanted
pregnancy. It also takes time to practice and use NFP properly; and this adds to its
unreliability. Moreover, natural family planning methods do not protect a person
against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including the human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV).

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 The effectiveness of any method of natural family planning varies from couple to
couple. All these methods become less effective if couples do not follow the method
carefully.

Types of natural family planning methods

1. Periodic abstinence (fertility awareness) method
2. Use of breastfeeding or lactationalamenorrhoea method (LAM)
3. Coitus interruptus (withdrawal or pulling out) method

Periodic Abstinence (Fertility Awareness) Methods

During the menstrual cycle, the female hormones estrogen and progesterone cause
some observable effects. Observation of these changes provides a basis for periodic
abstinence methods. There are three common techniques used in periodic abstinence
methods, namely:
a. Rhythm (calendar) method;
b. Basal body temperature (BBT) monitoring; and
c. Cervical mucus (ovulation) method.
With rhythm (calendar) method, the couple tracks the woman’s menstrual history
to predict when she will ovulate. This helps the couple determine when they will most
likely conceive. Basal body temperature monitoring is a contraceptive method that
relies on monitoring a woman’s basal body temperature on a daily basis. A woman’s body
temperature changes throughout the menstrual cycle, and changes in body temperature
coincide with hormonal changes. This indicates fertile and non-fertile stages of the
cycle. By monitoring temperature every day, a woman can determine the periods of her
menstrual cycle when she is,or is not, fertile. The cervical mucus (ovulation) method,
also called the Billing’s method as this was devised by John and Evelyn Billings in the
1960s, involves examining the color and viscosity of the cervical mucus to discover when
ovulation is occurring.

Lactation Amenorrhea Method

Through exclusive breastfeeding, the woman is able to suppress ovulation. This

method is called lactation amenorrhea method. However, if the infant were not
exclusively breastfed, this method would not be an effective birth control method.
Generally, after three months of exclusive breastfeeding, a woman must choose another
method of contraception.

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 Coitus Interruptus

This is one of the oldest methods of contraception. The couple proceeds with
coitus; however, the man must release his sperm outside of the vagina. Hence, he must
withdraw his penis the moment he ejaculates. This method is only 75% effective because
pre-ejaculation fluid that contains a few spermatozoa may cause fertilization.

Hormonal Contraception/Artificial Family Planning

Hormonal contraceptives are an effective family planning method that manipulates

the hormones that directly affect the normal menstrual cycle so that ovulation will not
occur.

Oral Contraceptives

It is also known as the pill. Oral contraceptives contain synthetic estrogen

and progesterone. Estrogen suppresses ovulation while progesterone decreases the
permeability of the cervical mucus to limit the sperm’s access to the ova.

Transdermal Contraceptive Patch

A transdermal patch is a medicated adhesive patch that is placed on the skin to deliver
a specific dose of medication through the skin and into the bloodstream. In this case, a
transdermal contraceptive patch has a combination of both estrogen and progesterone
released into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy.

Vaginal Ring

It is a birth control ring inserted into the vagina and slowly releases hormones
through the vaginal wall into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy.

Subdermal Implants

Subdermal contraceptive implants involve the delivery of a steroid progestin from

polymer capsules or rods placed under the skin. The hormone diffuses out slowly at a
stable rate, providing contraceptive effectiveness for 1-5 years.

Hormonal Injections

It is a contraceptive injection given once every three months. It typically suppresses

ovulation, keeping the ovaries from releasing an egg. Hormonal Injections also thickens
cervical mucus to keep the sperm from reaching the egg.

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 Intrauterine Device

An IUD is a small, T-shaped plastic device wrapped in copper or contains hormones. A

doctor inserts the IUD into the uterus. IUD prevents fertilization of the egg by damaging
or killing sperm. It makes the mucus in the cervix thick and sticky, so sperm cannot get
through to the uterus. It also keeps the lining of the uterus (endometrium) from growing
very thick making the lining a poor place for a fertilized egg to implant and grow.

Chemical Barriers

Chemical barriers, such as spermicides, vaginal gels and creams, and glycerin
films are also used to cause the death of sperms before they can enter the cervix. It
lowers the pH level of the vagina, so it will not become conducive for the sperm. However,
these chemical barriers cannot prevent sexually transmitted infections.

Diaphragm

Diaphragms are dome-shaped barrier methods of contraception that block sperms

from entering the uterus. They are made of latex (rubber) and formed like a shallow cup.
It is filled with spermicide and fitted over the uterine cervix.

Cervical Cap

A cervical cap is a silicone cup inserted in the vagina to cover the cervix and keep
sperm out of the uterus. Spermicide is added to the cervical cap to kill any sperm that
may get inside the protective barrier. However, this is not a widely used method and few
health care providers recommend this type of contraception. The most common side
effect from using a cervical cap is vaginal irritation. Some women also experience an
increase in the number of bladder infections.

Male Condoms

The male condom is a latex or synthetic rubber sheath placed on the erect penis
before vaginal penetration to trap the sperm during ejaculation. Condoms can prevent
STDs.

Female Condoms

It is a thin pouch inserted into the vagina before sex serving as protective barrier to
prevent pregnancy and protection from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
Female condoms create a barrier that prevents bodily fluids and semen from entering
the vagina.

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 Surgical Methods

One of the most effective birth control methods is the surgical method. This method
ensures conception is inhibited permanently after the surgery.
Two kinds of surgical methods:
• Vasectomy
A surgical operation wherein the tube that carries the sperm to a man’s penis
is cut. It is a permanent male contraception method. This procedure preserves
ejaculation and does not cause impotence or erectile dysfunction since the
vasectomy does not involve anything in the production of testosterone.
• Tubal Ligation
It is a surgical procedure for female sterilization involving severing and tying
the fallopian tubes. A tubal ligation disrupts the movement of the egg to the
uterus for fertilization and blocks sperm from traveling up the fallopian tubes
to the egg. A tubal ligation does not affect a woman’s menstrual cycle. A tubal
ligation can be done at any time, including after normal childbirth or a C-section.
It is possible to reverse a tubal ligation — but reversal requires major surgery and
is not always effective.

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