The Sexual Body in Health and Illness Flashcards
Sexual Health
“A state of well-being in relation to sexuality across the lifespan that involves physical, emotional, mental, and social dimension” (glossary)
Terms of sexuality good health requires us to know and understand what?
Our bodies and to feel comfortable with them.
What does general health affect?
Our sexual function
Eating Disorders
Serious illness that can be fatal and causes disturbance to a person’s eating behaviors.
What does someone with an eating disorder obsess over?
Obsession with food, body weight and shape, compulsive overeating, compulsive over dieting may signal an eating disorder
What traits do most people with eating disorders have?
Traits such as: low self-esteem, perfectionism, difficulty dealing with emotions, unreasonable demands self control, fear of becoming fat
Alcohol, Drugs and Sexuality
Alcohol use and sexual behavior are risk behaviors in adolescent development; it is generally a detrimental to sexual functioning and enjoyment (Ingestion of large amounts of alcohol by males and females can lead to infertility and birth defects) Often a factor in sexual violence of all types
Sexual Disability
Rarely see media depictions of people living with disabilities or chronic illness as having a sex life
What is sexual expression is a component of?
personality, separate from erectile functioning/fertility issue
Spinal Cord Injuries
The effects on sexual response are associated with the degree of location of the injury; Individuals with must overcome previous sexual function expectations and realign them with their actual sexual capacities
Spinal Cord Injury concerns for males
Erection, Ejaculation, Fertility
Spinal Cord Injury concerns for females
Self image, Physical functioning, Sensation and response
Common chronic illnesses:
Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Arthritis
Why must a persons sexuality be adjusted when chronic illness arises?
Because medication or treatments may affect libido, capability, responsiveness, body image
Diabetes in Sexuality
Nerve damage or circulatory problems caused by diabetes can cause problems (males are usually more affected than females)
Effects of diabetes on males
Difficulty achieving erection or orgasms
Effects of diabetes on females
Frequent yeast infections, vaginal dryness
Cardiovascular Disease
Heart attack is a major event in a person’s life person may enter depression after: loss of libido, sleep habits change, loss of appetite fatigue; following a heart attack most people can start having sex again 3-6 weeks after the condition is stable (if physician agrees)
Arthritis
Pain and stiffening that accompanies may may intimacy difficult
Developmental Disorders
Diverse population; Lifelong chronic conditions physical and /or mental; Education is very important
Sexual rights of people with disabilities
Right to sexual expression, Right to privacy, Right to be informed about and have access to needed service (counseling, medical care, contraception), Right to choose one’s marital status, Right to have/not have children, Right to make one’s own decision and develop to full potential