Module 5

The Sexual Self

GE 005

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

 SAN MATEO MUNICIPAL COLLEGE
General Luna St., Guitnang Bayan I, San Mateo, Rizal
Tel. No. (02) 997-9070
[Link]

MODULE 5: The Sexual Self

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After this module the students are expected to:

 Discuss the sexual development involving the human reproductive system, erogenous zones, sexual behavior
and human sexual response.
 Demonstrate critical and reflective thought in understanding one’s sexuality, chemistry of lust, love and
attachment and psychological aspect of being turned on
 Examine the diversity of human sexuality, sexual health, sexually transmitted diseases and methods of
contraception

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INPUT INFORMATION

PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

According to the famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, children go through a series of psychosexual stages that lead to
the development of the adult personality. Freud's stages of human development, which consisted of five psychosexual
stages of development, described how personality developed over the course of childhood.

While Freud's theory of personality development is well-known in

psychology, it has always been quite controversial, both during Freud's
time and in modern psychology.

One important thing to note is that contemporary psychoanalytic theories of personality development have incorporated
and emphasized ideas about internalized relationships and interactions and the complex ways in which we maintain our
sense of self into the models that began with Freud.

Psychosexual Stages Development of Freud

The Oral Stage
Age Range: Birth to 1 Year
Erogenous Zone: Mouth
During the oral stage, the infant's primary source of interaction occurs through the mouth, so the rooting and
sucking reflex is especially important. The mouth is vital for eating, and the infant derives pleasure from oral stimulation
through gratifying activities such as tasting and sucking.

Because the infant is entirely dependent upon caretakers (who are responsible for feeding the child), the child
also develops a sense of trust and comfort through this oral stimulation.

The primary conflict at this stage is the weaning process--the child must become less dependent upon
caretakers. If fixation occurs at this stage, Freud believed the individual would have issues with dependency or
aggression. Oral fixation can result in problems with drinking, eating, smoking, or nail-biting.

The Anal Stage

Age Range: 1 to 3 years
Erogenous Zone: Bowel and Bladder Control

During the anal stage, Freud believed that the primary focus of the libido was on controlling bladder and bowel
movements. The major conflict at this stage is toilet training—the child has to learn to control their bodily needs.
Developing this control leads to a sense of accomplishment and independence.

According to Freud, success at this stage is dependent upon the way in which parents ​approach toilet training.
Parents who utilize praise and rewards for using the toilet at the appropriate time encourage positive outcomes and help
children feel capable and productive.

Freud believed that positive experiences during the toilet training stage serve
as the basis for people to become competent, productive, and creative adults.

However, not all parents provide the support and encouragement that children need during this stage. Some
parents punish, ridicule, or shame a child for accidents.

According to Freud, inappropriate parental responses can result in negative outcomes. If parents take an
approach that is too lenient, Freud suggested that an anal-expulsive personality could develop in which the individual has
a messy, wasteful, or destructive personality.

If parents are too strict or begin toilet training too early, Freud believed that an anal-retentive personality
develops in which the individual is stringent, orderly, rigid, and obsessive.

The Phallic Stage

Age Range: 3 to 6 Years
Erogenous Zone: Genitals
Freud suggested that during the phallic stage, the primary focus of the libido is on the genitals. At this age,
children also begin to discover the differences between males and females. ​

Freud also believed that boys begin to view their fathers as a rival for the mother’s affection. The Oedipus
complex describes these feelings of wanting to possess the mother and the desire to replace the father. However, the
child also fears that he will be punished by the father for these feelings, a fear Freud termed castration anxiety.

The Latent Period

Age Range: 6 to Puberty
Erogenous Zone: Sexual Feelings Are Inactive
During this stage, the superego continues to develop while the id's energies are suppressed. Children develop
social skills, values, and relationships with peers and adults outside of the family.
 The development of the ego and superego contributes to this period of calm. The stage begins around the time
that children enter school and become more concerned with peer relationships, hobbies, and other interests.

The latent period is a time of exploration in which the sexual energy is repressed or dormant. This energy is still
present, but it is sublimated into other areas such as intellectual pursuits and social interactions. This stage is important in
the development of social and communication skills and self-confidence.

The Genital Stage

Age Range: Puberty to Death
Erogenous Zone: Maturing Sexual Interests
The onset of puberty causes the libido to become active once again. During the final stage of psychosexual
development, the individual develops a strong sexual interest in the opposite sex. This stage begins during puberty but
last throughout the rest of a person's life.

Where in earlier stages the focus was solely on individual needs, interest in the welfare of others grows during this stage.
The goal of this stage is to establish a balance between the various life areas.

Teens in the genital stage of development are able to balance their most basic urges against the need to
conform to the demands of reality and social norms.

THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Human reproductive system is an organ system by which reproduces and bear live offspring. It requires the
union between the male and female reproductive system to which carries out to produce another life form. Provided that
all organs are present, human reproductive system works from the released of egg cell from female reproductive organ, to
the fertilization of sperm cells, to the conception, up to the giving birth of the baby and eventually to the return of the
female physical body to the original state. (Harrison, 2018

Male Reproductive System:

 Testis – is the most important part of male reproductive organ. It is the source of Spermatozoa (male germ cell)
 Scrotum – it is a sac of skin where the two testes are enveloped; directly below and outside of the abdomen.
 Prostate glands – it is a gland that carries out both urine and seminal fluid. It is connected by sperm ducts from
sperm ducts joining into single tube called urethra. Urethra then leads to the outside of the body through penis.
 Penis – it is where the ejaculation occurs by sending sperm cell from testis and secrete out.
 Sperm – It is a male gamete, one that is necessary for the egg to develop and become a baby.

Female Reproductive System:

  Ovary – It is a pair of small, oval organs which produces ova (ovum; female germ cells). Thousands of ova will
mature and will be taken up to the fallopian tube through the uterus by the time of puberty.
 Fallopian Tube – are pair of thin tubes that leads from ovaries to the uterus.
 Uterus – (womb) it is a hollow pear-shaped elastic muscular structure where fertilized ovum (zygote) develops
into a baby.
 Vagina – It is a tube leading to outside of the body through an opening called the vulva.

During the sexual intercourse, the semen from male is discharged in the vagina. The sperms will begin moving
up to the uterus reaching the fallopian tube. During the travel most of the sperms will die while climbing up the fallopian
tube, only one sperm will enter the ovum and can remain alive for only 12 hours. In this time, if it meets ovum which will
lead to fertilization. This zygote (fertilized egg) will form in an embryo from which will enter gestation period. It is around 9
months in time for the woman to give birth.

Erogenous zones

Any part of the body can be an erogenous zone. Erogenous comes from the Greek words “eros” (love) and
“genous” (producing).
An erogenous zone is any area that can produce sexual arousal when stimulated. One theory behind these
sensitive areas is that they have nerve-endings and receptors that are more attuned to light touch or gentle tickling
(Turnbull, 2014).

Female erogenous zones

The main genital erogenous zones for women are the G-spot and the vulva, which includes the clitoris, vaginal
opening, and outer and inner vaginal “lips” or labia (Younis, 2016). Stimulation of these areas through self-touch
(masturbation), a partner’s touch, sex toys, or other means often leads to sexual arousal, which involves increased blood
flow and nerve sensitivity.
Extra genital erogenous zones are parts of the body that elicit a sexual response, outside of the penis and vulva
area. Around a quarter of your total body surface can actually be involved in sexual pleasure, which is why staying
focused on just your partner’s genitals may be a missed opportunity (Nummenmaa, 2016). You can involve these areas
during foreplay, but stimulating these body parts can actually lead to orgasm for some people (Younis, 2016). Some
common extra genital female erogenous zones include (Younis, 2016):
 The breasts, and specifically the nipples
 Mouth and lips
 Nape of the neck
 Buttocks
 Inner thighs
 Lower abdomen/pubic area
 The inner wrist
 Scalp
 The area behind the knees
 The perineum (the space between the anus and vagina)
 The area around and in the anus
 The upper and lower back

Male erogenous zones

While orgasms may be considered more straightforward for men, men have erogenous zones too. The main genital
erogenous zones for men include the penis, especially the glans (the head of the penis) and frenulum (band of skin that
runs from the bottom of the head of the penis or the foreskin to the shaft of the penis). The scrotum, which is the skin
around the testicles, is also very sensitive. Stimulation of these areas, particularly the head of the penis, often leads to
orgasm. However, outside of the genital erogenous zones, men share many of the same erogenous zones as women
(Turnbull, 2014).
Some common extra genital male erogenous zones include (Turnbull, 2014):
 The lips
 Inner thighs and lower abdomen/pubic area
 The nape of the neck
 The nipples
 The perineum (the area between the anus and scrotum)
 Earlobes
 Buttocks

 Scalp
 Abdomen
 Lower and upper back
Phases of Sexual Response

Although, erogenous zone brings us to sexual arousal which is

unique to each individual, people shares same basic aspects
of sexual responsiveness. According to Johnson & Master
(1966), sexual response follows a regular pattern consisting of
four (4) phases: arousal, plateau, orgasm and resolution.

The arousal phase is a subjective sense of sexual pleasure. The physiological sign in males is penile tumescence
(erection) and vasocongestion to female leads to vaginal lubrication and nipple erection.

The plateau phase is a brief period of time before the orgasm. It is the body’s preparation for orgasm.

The orgasm phase is an intense, highly pleasurable experience. When this phase is reached, rhythmic muscular
contractions occur in the genitals. In male, the contractions expel semen, a fluid containing sperm, a process called
ejaculation. For women and men, breathing and heart rates reach maximum.

Last stage of sexual arousal, the resolution stage where the decrease of arousal (particularly in male) happens. Genitals
resume their unaroused state and shape; blood pressure, breathing and heart rate return to normal.

THE CHEMISTRY OF ATTRACTION, LOVE AND ATTACHMENT

Love and mating are the most basic, biologically programmed behaviors humans engage in.
Evolution created life, including human life, as a reproductive machine designed to pass on genes to the next generation.
Think of the last time you ran into someone you find attractive. You may have stammered; your palms may have
sweated; you may have said something incredibly silly and become dreamy. And chances are, your heart was thudding in
your chest. It’s no surprise that, for centuries, people thought love (and most other emotions, for that matter) arose from
the heart. As it turns out, love is all about the brain – which, in turn, makes the rest of your body go haywire.
According to a team of scientists led by Dr. Helen Fisher at Rutgers, romantic love can be broken down into
three categories: lust, attraction, and attachment. Each category is characterized by its own set of hormones stemming
from the brain.
1. Lust is driven by the desire for sexual gratification. The evolutionary basis for this stems from our need to reproduce, a
need shared among all living things. Through reproduction, organisms pass on their genes, and thus contribute to the
perpetuation of their species.
The hypothalamus of the brain plays a big role in this, stimulating the production of the sex hormones
testosterone and estrogen from the testes and ovaries. While these chemicals are often stereotyped as being “male” and
“female,” respectively, both play a role in men and women. As it turns out, testosterone increases libido in just about
everyone. The effects are less pronounced with estrogen, but some women report being more sexually motivated around
the time they ovulate, when estrogen levels are highest.
2. Attraction seems to be a distinct, though closely related, phenomenon. While we can certainly lust for someone we
are attracted to, and vice versa, one can happen without the other. Attraction involves the brain pathways that control
“reward” behavior which partly explains why the first few weeks or months of a relationship can be so exhilarating and
even all-consuming.

Increased dopamine is associated with motivation, reward, and goal-directed behavior—hence the drive to pursue your
loved one or create them in fantasy if you can’t be with them. Dopamine also creates a sense of novelty. Your loved one
seems exciting, special and unique to you; you want to tell the world about his special qualities.

Norepinephrine is responsible for the extra surge of energy and "racing heart" that you feel, as well as the loss of, in
some cases, both your appetite and your desire for sleep. It puts your body into a more alert state in which you are ready

Scientists think serotonin probably decreases at this stage, but more studies need to be done. Low levels of serotonin
are found in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and are thought to cause obsessive thinking. In one Italian study of 60
students, those who were recently in love and those with OCD both had less serotonin transporter protein in their blood
than regular (not recently in love) students.
3. Attachment involves wanting to make a more lasting commitment to your loved one. This is the point at which you may
move in together, get married, and/or have children. After about four years in a relationship, dopamine decreases and
attraction goes down. If things are going well, it gets replaced by the hormones oxytocin (cuddle hormone) and
vasopressin, which create the desire to bond, affiliate with, and nurture your partner. You want to cuddle and be close and
share your deepest secrets with him or her. You plan and dream together.

DIVERSITY OF HUMAN SEXUALITY BEHAVIOR

Diversity is all the ways we’re different from each other. It includes things like race, religion, culture, physical ability,
mental ability, family make-up, socio-economic status and sexual and gender diversity.

Sexuality refers to the sexual feelings and attractions we have towards other people. There are many different types of
sexuality and it can take a while for people to figure out what is right for them. All are perfectly normal and part of the
broad range of human relationships and experiences. A person’s sexuality is a central part of who they are, and can
influence their thoughts, feelings and actions.

Rigid beliefs on sex and gender put people in boxes (or closets), but these beliefs do not reflect realities on human
sexuality, especially how gender roles and expressions, sexual attraction, and sexual behavior influence how a person
views or lives his or her own sexuality. These notions favor male-female distinctions and are biased against those who do
not fit existing stereotypes on sex and gender.

When we talk about sexual and gender diversity, it’s important to understand these terms:
 Sex: Categories (male, female) to which people are typically assigned at birth based on physical characteristics
(e.g. genitals). Some people may be assigned intersex, when their reproductive, sexual or genetic biology
doesn’t fit the traditional definitions of male or female.
 Sexual Orientation: A person’s emotional and sexual attraction to others. It can change and may or may not be
the same as a person’s sexual behavior.
 Gender/Gender Identity: A person’s internal sense of identity as female, male, both or neither, regardless of their
sex.
 Gender Expression: How a person expresses their gender. This can include how they look, the name they
choose, the pronoun they use (e.g., he, she) and their social behavior.
Each person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression are a part of who they are. When talking about
these topics, it is common to see the acronym SOGIE, which stands for Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and (Gender)
Expression.

Terms relating to LGBTQIA*

Ally | A person who is not LGBTQ but shows support for LGBTQ people and promotes equality in a variety of ways.
Androgynous | Identifying and/or presenting as neither distinguishably masculine nor feminine.
Asexual | the lack of a sexual attraction or desire for other people.
Biphobia | Prejudice, fear or hatred directed toward bisexual people.
Bisexual | A person emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender identity
though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.
Cisgender | A term used to describe a person whose gender identity aligns with those typically associated with the sex
assigned to them at birth.
Closeted | Describes an LGBTQ person who has not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Coming out | The process in which a person first acknowledges, accepts and appreciates their sexual orientation or
gender identity and begins to share that with others.
Gay | A person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to members of the same gender.
Gender dysphonia | clinically significant distress caused when a person's assigned birth gender is not the same as the
one with which they identify. According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (DSM), the term - which replaces Gender Identity Disorder - "is intended to better characterize the
experiences of affected children, adolescents, and adults."
Gender-fluid | According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a person who does not identify with a single fixed gender; of or
relating to a person having or expressing a fluid or unfixed gender identity.
Gender non-conforming | A broad term referring to people who do not behave in a way that conforms to the traditional
expectations of their gender, or whose gender expression does not fit neatly into a category.
Genderqueer | Genderqueer people typically reject notions of static categories of gender and embrace a fluidity of
gender identity and often, though not always, sexual orientation. People who identify as "genderqueer" may see
themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor female or as falling completely outside these categories.

Gender transition | the process by which some people strive to more closely align their internal knowledge of gender
with its outward appearance. Some people socially transition, whereby they might begin dressing, using names and
pronouns and/or be socially recognized as another gender. Others undergo physical transitions in which they modify their
bodies through medical interventions.
Homophobia | the fear and hatred of or discomfort with people who are attracted to members of the same sex.
Intersex | an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of natural bodily variations. In some cases, these traits are
visible at birth, and in others, they are not apparent until puberty. Some chromosomal variations of this type may not be
physically apparent at all.
Lesbian | A woman who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to other women.
Living openly | A state in which LGBTQ people are comfortably out about their sexual orientation or gender identity –
where and when it feels appropriate to them.
Non-binary | an adjective describing a person who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. Non-binary people
may identify as being both a man and a woman, somewhere in between, or as falling completely outside these
categories. While many also identify as transgender, not all non-binary people do
Outing | Exposing someone’s lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender identity to others without their permission. Outing
someone can have serious repercussions on employment, economic stability, personal safety or religious or family
situations.
Pansexual | Describes someone who has the potential for emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to people of any
gender though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.
Queer | A term people often use to express fluid identities and orientations. Often used interchangeably with "LGBTQ."
Questioning | A term used to describe people who are in the process of exploring their sexual orientation or gender
identity.
Sex assigned at birth | the sex (male or female) given to a child at birth, most often based on the child's external
anatomy. This is also referred to as "assigned sex at birth."
Transgender | an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural
expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual
orientation. Therefore, transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc.
Transphobia | the fear and hatred of, or discomfort with, transgender people.

SEXUAL HEALTH AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES/ INFECTIONS

Fast Facts:
 Approximately 12 million girls aged 15–19 years and at least 777,000 girls under 15 years give birth each year in
developing regions.
 At least 10 million unintended pregnancies occur each year among adolescent girls aged 15–19 years in the
developing world.
 Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for 15–19-year-old girls globally.
 Of the estimated 5.6 million abortions that occur each year among adolescent girls aged 15–19 years, 3.9 million
are unsafe, contributing to maternal mortality, morbidity and lasting health problems.
 Adolescent mothers (ages 10–19 years) face higher risks of eclampsia, puerperal endometritis, and systemic
infections than women aged 20 to 24 years, and babies of adolescent mothers face higher risks of low birth
weight, preterm delivery and severe neonatal conditions.
Sexually Transmitted Disease
The term sexually transmitted disease (STD) is used to refer to a condition passed from one person to another
through sexual contact. You can contract an STD by having unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has
the STD.
An STD may also be called a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or venereal disease (VD).
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can have a range of signs and symptoms,
including no symptoms. That's why they may go unnoticed until complications occur or a partner is diagnosed. Signs and
symptoms may appear a few days after exposure, or it may take years before you have any noticeable problems,
depending on the organism. Signs and symptoms that might indicate an STI include:
o Sores or bumps on the genitals or in the oral or rectal area
o Painful or burning urination
o Discharge from the penis
o Unusual or odd-smelling vaginal discharge.
o Unusual vaginal bleeding.
o Pain during sex.
o Sore, swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the groin but sometimes more widespread.
o Lower abdominal pain.
o Fever.
o Rash over the trunk, hands or feet
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be caused by:
o Bacteria (gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia)

o Parasites
o Viruses (human papillomavirus, genital herpes, HIV)
Who is most at risk with STI?
o you don’t use condoms during sex or dental dams (a thin latex square held over the vaginal or anal area during
oral sex)
o you have changed sex partners or had more than one sex partner in the last 12 months
o you or your partner share injecting equipment such as a syringes and needles
o you or your sex partner has another STI.

Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancies and teenage motherhood are a cause for concern worldwide. Every year, an estimated 21 million
girls aged 15–19 years in developing regions become pregnant and approximately 12 million of them give
birth. Nowadays, the vast majority of teenage pregnancies occur in low- and middle-income countries characterized by
poor health-care services; therefore, complications during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum phase are the second cause
of death among girls aging between 15 and 19 years worldwide. Additionally, it is estimated that some three million
teenage girls undergo unsafe abortions, which may result in consecutive reproductive problems or even death.

Adolescents who may want to avoid pregnancies may not

be able to do so due to knowledge gaps and
misconceptions on where to obtain contraceptive
methods and how to use them. Adolescents face
barriers to accessing contraception including
restrictive laws and policies regarding provision of
contraceptive based on age or marital status, health
worker bias and/or lack of willingness to
acknowledge adolescents’ sexual health needs, and
adolescents’ own inability to access contraceptives
because of knowledge, transportation, and financial
constraints. Additionally, adolescents may lack the agency
or autonomy to ensure the correct and consistent
use of a contraceptive method. At least 10 million
unintended pregnancies occur each year among
adolescent girls aged 15-19 years in developing regions.

FAMILY PLANNING AND RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD

Family Planning (FP) is having the desired number of children and when you want to have them by using safe
and effective modern methods. Proper birth spacing is having children 3 to 5 years apart, which is best for the health of
the mother, her child, and the family.

Benefits of Family Planning

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.

FAMILY PLANNING METHODS

I. Natural Family Planning (NFP) refers to a variety of methods used to prevent or plan pregnancy, based on identifying
a woman’s fertile days. For all natural methods, abstinence or avoiding unprotected intercourse during the fertile
days is what prevents pregnancy. The effectiveness and advantages of NFP address the needs of diverse populations
with varied religious and ethical beliefs. They also provide an alternative to women who wish to use natural
methods for medical or personal reasons.

NATURAL CONTRACEPTIVES OPTIONS

Abstinence
Refraining from penetrative sex provides 100% protection from pregnancy, and offers effective prevention of
transmission of sexually transmitted infections as well

Withdrawal or Coitus interruptus

The withdrawal method of family planning is unlike other natural methods in that it is male-controlled.
Withdrawal has been used for centuries, following the discovery that ejaculation into the vagina leads to pregnancy; this
method prevents pregnancy by preventing contact between the sperm and the egg

Calendar methods - based on calculations of cycle length

In calendar rhythm method, a woman makes an estimate of the days she is fertile based on past menstrual cycle length.
She does this with the expectation that the length of her current cycle, and thus the time of her fertile phase, will not vary
greatly from previous menstrual cycles.

Methods based on symptoms and signs

Ovulation Method, Billings Method, Cervical Mucus Method
This method is based on the changes in cervical secretions due to the effects of circulating levels of estrogen and
progesterone, as described above. Introduced in the 1960s, this method relies on daily self-examination for the detection
of the quantity and evaluation of the quality of cervical secretions. Women are taught to feel for secretions
throughout their cycles. Couples either abstain from sex or use a barrier method during menstruation and on
alternating days prior to the appearance of cervical mucus. They abstain from unprotected intercourse from the time
that the first sticky mucus appears until four days after the last clear, stretchy, slippery mucus is observed.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Method

Due to the actions of progesterone on the hypothalamus, a woman’s body temperature rises slightly after she ovulates
(0.2 to 0.5 degrees C) and remains elevated until the end of the cycle, until menstruation. Women who use this method
must chart their temperature every day, immediately after waking up and before getting out of bed or drinking any liquids.
Couples relying on this method must abstain from unprotected intercourse between the first days of menstruation until
after the third consecutive day of elevated body temperature, so unprotected sex is limited to the postovulatory infertile
time.

Sympto-Thermal Method
This method combines several techniques to predict ovulation. It typically includes monitoring and charting cervical mucus
and position and temperature changes on a daily basis and may include other signs of ovulation, such as breast
tenderness, back pain, abdominal pain or "heaviness," or light inter menstrual bleeding. To use this method correctly,
couples must abstain from unprotected sex from the first sign or sensation of wet cervical mucus until the woman’s body
temperature has remained elevated for three days after peak day is observed.

II. Artificial Birth Control employs artificial control methods to help prevent unintended pregnancy through the use of
contemporary measures such as contraceptive or birth control pills. Diaphragm, male and female condoms, spermicide,
cervical cap, birth control patch, birth control shot, implants, IUD, tubal ligation, vasectomy and emergency
contraception pill.

Oral Contraceptives
This is a series of pills that a woman takes once each day for
a month. At the end of the month, she starts a new package of pills. The pills
 have hormones much like those a woman's body makes to control her
menstrual cycle. They work by keeping the ovaries from releasing eggs or
by changing the lining of the uterus or the mucus of the cervix.

Depo-Provera

A method of birth control given in the form of a shot. The shot gives
protection for up to 12 weeks. It does not contain estrogen so there
are no side effects from that hormone. It works by keeping the
ovaries from releasing eggs or by changing the lining of the
uterus or the mucus of the cervix.

Contraceptive Patch

A method of birth control that is a small, thin and smooth patch and
is put on a woman's skin. The woman can choose where she wears the
patch: the buttocks, the shoulder, the upper arm, front or back, but not on
the breasts. It releases hormones every day for three weeks so the woman's
ovaries don't produce eggs. It can stay on the body for one week. You
change it once a week and on the fourth week, you don't wear a patch
but you will still be protected. You can swim, bathe, shower and
wear it in warm humid weather.

Contraceptive Ring

A method of birth control in the form of a soft ring that fits deep
inside the vagina. It releases low-dose hormones every day for
three weeks so the woman's ovaries don't produce eggs. It can
stay in the vagina for up to three weeks and provides protection
for one month

Intrauterine Device (IUD)

A small device made of plastic. Some contain copper, or a

hormone. A clinician chooses the right type for a woman, and
inserts it into her uterus. Some can stay there for 4years; copper
IUDs may be left in place up to 8 years. IUDs prevent a woman's
egg from being fertilized by the man's sperm, and change the
lining of her uterus.

Implanon
 Implanon is a small, thin, implantable hormonal
contraceptive that provides effective protection for up to three
years. Implanon must be removed by the end of the third year
and can be replaced by a new Implanon if contraceptive
protection is still needed. This contraceptive method must be
inserted and removed by a trained healthcare provider.

Diaphragm/ Cervical Cap

A soft rubber barrier in a woman's vagina, used with a

contraceptive cream or jelly. The diaphragm or cervical cap is
put into a woman's vagina before intercourse. It covers the
entrance to her uterus, and the cream or jelly stops the
man's sperm from moving. The diaphragm can be put in
the vagina 6 hours ahead of intercourse, and left in or 24 hours.
The cervical cap can be left in her vagina for up to 48 hours.

Male Condoms

It is a sheath of latex that a man can wear

over his penis during intercourse. The condom catches the
semen that comes out of a man's penis before, during and after he
ejaculates. This keeps his sperm from getting into the woman's
vagina. Latex condoms also help protect against some
infections, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Female Condoms

It is a loose-fitting sheath that fits inside the woman's

vagina. It catches the semen that comes out of a
man’s penis when he ejaculates. It covers the
cervix, the opening to the uterus, so sperm can't
get through. It also protects against some infections
including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

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LEARNING RESOURCES

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sexual-self-study-guide/20032966