Human Sexuality and Adolescence

Abstract

Human sexuality involve sexual attraction to another person, which for the most part is to the opposite sex (heterosexuality), some to the same sex (homosexuality), or some having both (bisexuality) or not being attracted to anyone in a sexual manner (asexuality). Human sexuality is determined by many factors, like cultural, political, legal, and philosophical aspects of life, but also morality, ethics, theology, spirituality, and religion. Sexuality is as old as mankind and interest in sexual activity is very much related to the onset of puberty and the period of schooling. Primary care physicians see children and adolescents with a wide variety of gynecologic and sexual needs, though they often have limited training and limited available educational materials to help them. We therefore published a small handbook on pediatric and adolescent gynecology with information for the primary care clinician (1), but in this book we have gathered papers from around the world in order to discuss issues of sexuality from an international perspective. Children and adolescents must successfully traverse various stages of pubertal and sexual development in order to become well-adjusted adults with established sexual identity, functioning, and ability. Concerns with breast development and menstrual function are common issues with adolescent females. The clinician may be presented with children who have pediatric gynecologic complaints (i.e., vulvar bleeding, itching, or a mass) or an adolescent who needs contraception or pregnancy counseling.