Sexual Sphere Research Articles

Sexual experience under the influence of alcohol and cannabis consumption.

Substance use affects different areas of life, including the sexual sphere. Drugs and specifically the use of alcohol and cannabis, can influence sexual experience. However, there has been little research and to date none has been carried out in Spain that compares the effect of alcohol and cannabis consumption in the same people on their sexual experience. Therefore, the objective of the study was to analyze and compare the effect of alcohol and cannabis in the same people on their sexual experience. The sample consisted of 483 people who had ever consumed alcohol and cannabis. Participants answered an online questionnaire about alcohol and cannabis use and sexual experience. The results show that despite the fact that when people consume alcohol, they feel more attractive, they feel more attraction towards other people, they are more extroverted, their desire increases and they have longer sexual relations than when they consume cannabis, people who frequently consume when consume cannabis, they have more sensitivity and they are more sexually satisfied than when they consume alcohol. Regarding the sexual experience, although they prefer not to use drugs when they have sex, people who frequently consume prefer to consume more cannabis than alcohol. Therefore, it is concluded that, although alcohol facilitates the sexual encounter, with cannabis people feel more sexually satisfied.

1870: Sexual sphere in gynaecologic cancer survivors: a Spanish survey (on behalf of GINECOR/SEOR)

1870: Sexual sphere in gynaecologic cancer survivors: a Spanish survey (on behalf of GINECOR/SEOR)

The Sex Worker That She Is Not: Suggestion, Risk and Public Femininity in Contemporary Hindi Cinema

This paper argues for the significance of sex work as a figurative and affective reference point in the production of ideas of romance, risk and respectability in public culture through a reading of contemporary Hindi cinema. Reading the films Jab We Met (2007) and Pink (2016), I ask what the sex worker does in the films’ narratives when she herself is absented from it but brought up suggestively. I propose suggestion as a figurative technique deployed in the films to mediate a tension about knowing and identifying sex work as well as to produce an ideology of romance, personhood and injury, critical to assemblages of femininity in these films. This paper argues that such a reading of films that privileges the figuration of sex work through what may otherwise be seen as a minor invocation, presents the opportunity to critically examine naturalised ideas of romance, risk and respectability that find expression in them. It makes the case for the figure of the sex worker as an important node of affective intensification in the larger sphere of public sexuality.

The state of the reproductive system of adolescent girls after vaccination against human papillomavirus using a quadrivalent vaccine

Background. Currently, oncological diseases and their possible prevention are being actively studied. Cancer mortality remains high. A national project “Healthcare” has been started in Russia, including the Federal projects “Fighting Cancer” and “Development of Children’s Health Care, including the creation of a modern infrastructure for providing medical care to children”. In a number of regions, girls can be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV). The main reason for refusing HPV vaccination is an unfounded fear of negatively affecting the fertility and other bad data. The aim of the study is an investigation of the reproductive system of adolescent girls with completed course of vaccination against HPV using quadrivalent vaccine. Methods. We selected 65 schoolgirls in Moscow by analyzing medical documentation data. All of them were vaccinated against HPV and examined by a gynecologist. The state of their reproductive system was assessed. Results. Most girls received the vaccine at the age of 12–13, according to the regional vaccination calendar of the city of Moscow. They were vaccinated with the quadrivalent vaccine twice with an interval of 6 months; no adverse event was noted. The mean period of time since vaccination was 2.7 ± 1.1 years. The mean age of menarche, mean menstrual cycle length, and mean bleeding time were normal in girls vaccinated against HPV. Among menstrual disorders, dysmenorrhea and oligomenorrhea were most often observed, but the data did not differ from the population average. The incidence of abnormal uterine bleeding and breast pathology was lower. No papillomas were detected. Pubertal development corresponded to age of all girls. Conclusion. It has been established that vaccination against the human papillomavirus does not have a negative impact on the reproductive system of teenage girls. However, additional dynamic studies are needed at different age periods of girls and women vaccinated against HPV to confirm the positive effect on the sexual sphere and formation of strong adherence to vaccination.

Descriptive study on substance uses and risk of sexually transmitted infections in the practice of Chemsex in Spain.

In recent years, there has been an increasing use of sex-related substances (known as "Chemsex") to facilitate, intensify, and prolong the sexual experience of men who have sex with men. This phenomenon poses a public health problem, increasing the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and mental disorders. The primary aim of this study was to delve into the correlation between substance use and sexual health, specifically examining the association between different substances used and the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the context of Chemsex in Spain. An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 563 Spanish participants between January and April 2023. Non-probabilistic purposive sampling was used by the investigators. The researchers administered a questionnaire to men who have sex with men who use substances, especially in the sexual sphere, in all the autonomous communities of Spain. 14.7% reported having practiced slamsex in the last year, and 17.94% were diagnosed with a Sexually Transmitted Infection in the previous 6 months. Of these, 21% were on PREP treatment, with the main STIs being gonorrhea (p < 0.001), chlamydia (p < 0.001), genital herpes (p = 0.020), and syphilis (p < 0.001). The 63.7% used methamphetamines as the main drug in the practice of chemsex. Chemsex in Spain is linked to a high prevalence of STIs, especially gonorrhea and chlamydia, even among those on PrEP treatment. The use of various drugs during chemsex, such as amyl nitrite, GHB, ecstasy, and others, correlates with higher rates of STIs, highlighting the need for interventions to reduce risk and harm. The drugs most associated with slamsex include ketamine, mephedrone, and methamphetamine, underscoring the importance of addressing the risk behaviors associated with this activity. This study shows that chemsex appears to be associated with a high prevalence among men who have sex with men. Who use multiple substances in a sexual context, and are particularly exposed to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), indicating a particular need for STI prevention and care in this group.

Pawłowa zachęta do życia poddanego Duchowi Świętemu

The aim of this article is to show the specificity of Christian life as explained by St. Paul in the Letter to the Galatians (5:13–26). The first stage of the exegetical analysis is to determine the literary context of the pericope, allowing the fundamental reason for the difference in the lives of believers to be shown, namely, the gift of salvation. The second part of the article explains the relationship between the gift of freedom and the ability to live in love. The apostle points out that failure to accept the gift of salvation manifests itself in disorder in the sexual sphere, in lack of respect and forgiveness for other people, and even a broken relationship with God. The third part concerns the fruit of the believer’s docility to the Holy Spirit, which is a life in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self–control. Attention to His guidance makes believers capable of overcoming selfish tendencies.

Sexual Constitution and Sexual Biography

Sexual constitution is one of the main factors that determines the severity of sexual desire. According to the definition of G. S. Vasilchenko (1977), “... the sexual constitution is a set of stable biological properties which are formed under the influence of hereditary factors and developmental conditions in the prenatal period and the period of early ontogenesis. Sexual constitution limits the range of individual needs at a certain level of sexual activity and characterizes individual resistance to pathogenic factors, which are characterized by selectivity to the sexual sphere”. The concept of “sexual constitution” has gained considerable popularity in specialized literature. To determine the sexual constitution of men, G. S. Vasilchenko developed and tested for the first time a scale for its vector definition, which takes into account seven indicators, namely: I vector – age of sexual libido awakening, II vector – age of first ejaculation, III vector – trochanteric index, IV vector – pattern of hair growth pubic area, V vector – maximum excess, VI vector – time between marriage and entry into the zone of conditional physiological rhythm (CPR), which is equal to two to three sexual acts per week, VII vector – the age of the man at which he switched to CPR. The first four vectors (I–IV) are closely related to the human genotype. They are used to determine the genotypic index of sexual constitution – Kg, which is the arithmetic mean of these vectors. V-VII vectors are used to determine the constitutionally modeled index of sexual activity (Ka). The arithmetic average of all seven vectors (I–VII) is called the phenotypic index of sexual constitution (Kf). After determining the values of all sexual constitution vectors, the Ka/Kg index is also determined, which makes possible to find how much a man’s sexual activity corresponds to his constitutional capabilities. Thus, this indicator in the group of persons “conditional norm” was 1.18. The article presents data on the female sexual constitution and the scale of its vector definition, which was developed and tested by I. L. Botneva (1983). Recommendations for determining the sexual constitution of a person are offered. In addition, the article provides clinical observations of the author, which testify to the influence of sexual biography on sexual activity in order to take it into account when determining this constitution.

Maternal history in preterm newborns: pathogenetic features and nosological structure

Of particular clinical importance at present is a detailed study of perinatal history, since the pathological obstetric-gynecological, infectious and somatic status of the mother causes dysfunctions in the fetoplacental complex, increases the risk of premature birth, disrupts the vital functions of the fetus and reduces the reserve capabilities of all organ systems in the newborn. Purpose. Analyze obstetric-gynecological, infectious and somatic status of mothers in premature babies, to optimize postnatal observation tactics. Materials and methods. The study included 60 children born prematurely with the determination of the features of obstetric-gynecological, infectious and somatic history of their mothers by retrospective analysis. Depending on gestational age (GV), children were divided into 3 groups: 1 group - GV 34.1-36.9 weeks (20 children); Group 2 - GV 30.1-34 weeks (21 children); Group 3 - GV 26-30 weeks (19 children). Results. The most pronounced burden of obstetric-gynecological and somatic history occurred in mothers in the 2nd and 3rd groups, where the birth of premature babies was significantly more common (23.8%; 31.6%) and abortion (28.6%; 57.9%) in the history. Antenatal fetal death occurred only in mothers in the 2nd and 3rd groups (4.8%; 10,5%). The maximum burden for inflammatory diseases of the sexual sphere occurred in the 3rd group. Infectious pathology of other organ systems, represented by acute gestational or chronic pyelonephritis in the stage of exacerbation, tonsillitis, bronchitis, was significantly more common in patients in the 3rd group (52.6%, 47.4%, 21.1%). Operative delivery in the study groups was quite frequent: 45% in group 1, 47.6% in group 2, 31.6% in group 3, in general - 41.7% of the total number of mothers (including 16% indication for caesarean section had premature placental detachment). Conclusion. Thus, the study of perinatal history revealed the presence of a wide range of pathological factors that aggressively act on the fetus, having both a direct damaging effect on the tissue and disrupting the functional activity of various organ systems.

Заимствования из русского языка в тувинской речи как способ эвфемизации

The paper considers Russian loanwords in Tuvan speech, the ones that are used as euphemisms. The analysis was conducted by utilizing recordings of speech in the Tuvan language collected from the Internet, social networks, and instant messengers, as well as through observations of the daily speech of contemporary speakers of the Tuvan language. The borrowings identified as euphemisms can be divided into five groups: (1) denoting various diseases and related phenomena, (2) related to the physiological, anatomical, and sexual spheres, (3) associated with the concept of death, (4) associated with the designation of undesirable social phenomena, and (5) associated with the ethical and aesthetic perception of a person. The first group comprises borrowed names of diseases and related concepts. Native speakers tend to regard medical terms as uncomfortable and rude. The second group encompasses words perceived as unpleasant, disgusting, and shameful, such as words and phrases related to human physiology and the sexual sphere. The absence of these lexemes in Tuvan language dictionaries serves as evidence of their exclusive usage in colloquial discourse. The third group represents the means of euphemistic portrayal of death, which is a common characteristic found in all cultures. The fourth group includes euphemisms linked to societal challenges and undesirable social phenomena. The fifth comprises euphemisms that reflect the evolving perceptions of individuals in contemporary Tuvan society, with transformations caused by the modern level and life expectancy, changing social roles, and changing aesthetic ideas.

Sexual health in female under treatment for opiate dependence using diacetylmorphine

Sexual health is a key element to the well-being and quality of life of individuals. However, it is rarely incorporated into care delivery for women with an addictive condition. Female with severe dependence to opiate have their medical and social conditions improved by diacetylmorphine treatment. Which allows them to escape situations of high-risk of sexual violence. However, this pharmacotherapy can also induce adverse effects on the sexual sphere. This paper describes the relevance of integrating psycho-socio-sexological counselling into the care provision for the opiate dependence. The counselling should be oriented to respond to the specific relational and sexual issues faced by these female patients and empowering them on their lives and in recovering a better quality of life.

Effects of Physical Activity on Fertility Parameters: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Augmented adiposity may negatively impact sexual sphere through its metabolic effects and its detrimental impact on reproductive hormones. Moreover, a dysregulated metabolic pathway may promote apoptosis among spermatogenic cells. Based on these premises, a relation between weights loss and ameliorate semen parameters seems beneficial. To investigate if physical activity may affect semen parameters and fertility rate, a systematic literature search on major dataset has been performed. The search terms included: "Assisted reproduction therapies," "fertility," "semen parameters," "sperm parameters," and "physical activity." This analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines and it was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023384471). A total of 47 studies have been identified; 1 reference has been eliminated after duplication check. After preliminary screening 32 papers have been excluded. Considering the exclusion criteria, 15 full-text articles were evaluated for eligibility. After a full-text review, six studies published during a span of eight years (2014-2022) have been included in the meta-analysis. Semen parameters, pregnancy and birth rates were investigated. The revised Cochrane risk of bias tool (Rob2) has been used to check the risk of bias. The number of patients enrolled in studies ranges from 17 to 521; in the end, a total of 1,637 patients have been enrolled in the study. Fertility parameters investigated were semen quality parameters and pregnancy rates and live births. A statistically significant relationship between physical exercise and sperm concentration (p=0.02), total sperm motility (p<0.01), total sperm count (p<0.01), normal morphology (p<0.01) has been established. Moreover, the study registered a statistically significant association within physical activity and total pregnancy rate (p<0.01) and live birth rate (p<0.01). We demonstrated that physical activity is significantly associated with amelioration of semen parameters and may be crucial in improving or even reverting male infertility.

Mpox: "the stigma is as dangerous as the virus". Historical, social, ethical issues and future forthcoming.

The authors aim to show the possibility of stigma that hits affected Mpox patients because of the statements of society involving their sexual sphere. 23 July 2022, the Director-General of the WHO, Thedos Ghebreyesus, issued an international public health alert regarding cases of Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox). Although Mpox has been present in an endemic form for years in some Central African countries, the spread of the disease outside Africa has aroused considerable alarm in populations already sorely afflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Aside from the data, what is striking is that Mpox, like other infectious diseases, seems to have become a problem only when it began to cross the borders of Africa. Some may justify this attitude simply by ascribing it to the fear of an epidemic outside the areas where the virus is endemic. However, in such cases, and especially after the COVID-19 experience, other factors are also involved: lack of information and, even more so, the human capacity to utilise diseases to reinforce arguments against the tendencies, inclinations, orientations and behaviours of some social groups. Such information, albeit basically correct, is nevertheless incomplete. Moreover, it tends to prompt a view of this disease that may give rise to highly dangerous and embarrassing situations, engendering the risk of repeating the error that was made about AIDS. Mpox is the latest in a series of epidemics that have struck humanity in the space of very few years. Setting and partecipants: people and social groups who, due to sexual orientations and behaviours, are considered to be at risk of being infected with Mpox. Main outcomes measures: - outcomes directly related to mental health of Mpox patients: anxiety, fear and depression, emotional difficulties, feelings of loneliness and isolation; - well-being outcomes of people with Mpox; - risk of not being able to reduce the epidemic among those groups don't feel as though they belong to LGBTQ and therefore do not implement any kind of prevention. Limit the contagion from Mpox through specific health and communication campaigns. Remove any stigma related to Mpox disease. In the face of this disease, it is absolutely essential that we do not needlessly isolate groups of people by feeding stigma, prejudice and discrimination, which can have devastating effects not only on individuals but also on society as a whole. As the full inclusion of persons of LGBTQ community is probably still a long way off, we must surely wonder when we will be ready enough to achieve the important objective of equality for all.

Quality of life after prophylactic surgery for colorectal adenomatous polyposis.

Colorectal adenomatous polyposis is characterized by the onset of tens to thousands of adenomas in the colorectal epithelium and, if not treated, leads to a lifetime increased risk of developing colorectal cancer compared to the general population. Thus, prophylactic surgery is recommended. This study aims to investigate the quality of life of colorectal adenomatous polyposis patients following prophylactic surgery and indirectly compares these findings with those of healthy adults of the normative sample. All patients who underwent prophylactic surgery for polyposis and were in follow-up at the hereditary digestive tract tumors outpatient department of our institute were eligible for the study. The Short Form-36 questionnaire and 21 ad hoc items were used at the time of clinical evaluation. A total of 102 patients were enrolled. For the SF-36 domains, mean values ranged from 64.18 for vitality to 88.49 for physical functioning, with the highest variability for role-physical limitations; the minimum value of functioning was reached for role-physical limitations, role-emotional limitations, and social functioning. The maximum value of functioning was reached for role-emotional limitations (73.96%) and role-physical limitations (60.42%). In total, 48.96% and 90.63% of patients reported no fecal or urinary incontinence episodes, respectively; 69.79% of patients did not have problems in work/school resumption or the personal sexual sphere. Quality of life following prophylactic surgery for these patients seems to be good when indirectly compared to HP-normative samples'. Young adult patients appear to quickly manage and adapt to changes in bowel functioning. A minority of patients may experience social and sexual issues.

Ferdinand Grimms Geschichte Der Burgherr im Kontext der Homosozialität

The present analysis focuses on the relationship between two knights described in the text Der Burgherr, which could be an extrapolation of Ferdinand Grimm's alleged homoerotic desire. However, the article proves that the thesis of his homoerotic desire formulated in 2020 by Heiner Boehnke and Hans Sarkowicz is unlikely and that the relationship of male heroes/knights in the text Der Burgherr corresponds to a patriarchal culture already characteristic of the Middle Ages. The concept of homosociality, as described by Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, provides the interpretive framework here in the context of her thesis that in men's alliances there are highly emotional relationships between the same sexes that go far beyond the sexual sphere. In the paternalistic culture of the Middle Ages, this does not necessarily mean hiding one's homoeroticism and expressing the ‘male homosexual panic’ defined by her, as the potential sexual component, which is by no means obvious, is effectively concealed or repressed in favour of an idealised patriarchal order. Related to this is the author's polemical stance against the thesis of male-male desire in both Grimm's life and his text. Instead, the author focuses on the internalised symbolism of inter-male alliances in Grimm's text in a homosocial context and critically points out textual consequences of such possible analogy to Ferdinand Grimm's life situation.

Knowledge of professionals about sexuality of the ostomyzed.

An ostomy significantly influences a person's life, altering their biopsychosocial and sexual sphere and affecting their interpersonal relationships. Through an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study, with a questionnaire aimed at professionals from a health area in Madrid, we analyzed: sociodemographic variables, knowledge of the professionals on the subject, referral of the patient according to the professional's assessment and feelings that the subject under study produces in the patient and in professionals. 49% claimed to have no knowledge about sexuality of the ostomyzed patients. 55.9% of those surveyed consider that the healthcare provider is the one who should introduce the topic of sexuality during the clinical interview. 48.5 and 85.2% are unaware of treatments for male and female sexual dysfunction, respectively. The data show that the training provided in the university centers is insufficient to deal effectively with this issue in the medical consultation. The participants manifest null or minimal knowledge about the sexual sphere in ostomized patients. Knowledge deficiencies are detected in relation to the sexuality of the ostomized patient, difficulty in talking about sex with these patients, and the importance that sanitary professionals give to the patient's sexual sphere, among others.

The “Mesmerised States” of Becoming-Woman in D. H. Lawrence’s The Virgin and The Gipsy

D. H. Lawrence introduces a new ontological dimension into his writing, emphasising the primacy of unbounded desire over oedipal structures situated in the social, political and sexual spheres. His writing often seeks to formulate unstructured, non-oedipalised, and non- binary relations to liberate life from its congealments and established boundaries, and to articulate it in its immanence. These new relations suggest a shift from “being” to "Deleuzian" becomings. The Virgin and the Gipsy (1930) is one of Lawrence’s novels in which characters are transposed into such becomings primarily in the form of becoming-woman. Becoming- woman in the novel calls for new modes of relationality going beyond the molar paradigms of sexual and religious identity imposed within the striated space of the Rectory house, and promises "mesmerised states" of transgression. This paper aims to investigate this affective trajectory of becoming-woman in Lawrence’ The Virgin and the Gipsy in the light of Deleuze and Guattari’s theories. Keywords: Oedipalisation, Becoming-Woman, Lawrence, Deleuze and Guattari, Affect.

The Personalist Basis of the Church's Teaching on Human Sexuality and the Natural Law in the Work of John Paul II. Part II.

Responding to Pope John Paul II's call to give the "ethical grounds and personalistic reasons" behind the Church's teaching on sexual morality, this reflection written over the span of two articles analyzes the norms of the natural law related to human sexuality from a personalist perspective. The key ideas of this study are drawn from two passages: one from Gaudium et spes which states that "The sexual characteristics of man and the human faculty of reproduction wonderfully exceed the dispositions of lower forms of life", the other from Humanae vitae stating that "Conjugal love reveals its true nature and nobility when it is considered in its supreme origin, God, who is love … and it is of supreme importance to have an exact idea of these." (9) Drawing on the analysis of parts I and II shows, first, that the spousal act is in its original structure an "embodying act" intrinsically fashioned to embody spousal love: the self-donation, the intimacy, and the fruitfulness proper to the spirit's act of love animates the bodily act of sex from within, so that the spirit and the body form "one thing" in the spousal act. Secondly, this truth about the spousal act as structured by spousal love will mean that the norms governing human sexuality are not based on biological laws, but on the laws of love. Finally, Part II culminates in a reflection on the individual norms of sexual morality, showing how each of them follows the nature of spousal love. The precepts of the natural law are our guides to properly reverencing the sacred sphere of human sexuality, which is a condition for our flourishing as human persons.

Dealing with the Sexual Component of Women's Life Script Through a Fairy Tale Metaphor

This article discusses the basic components of a life script in relation to the sexual sphere of life and proposes an algorithm for writing a fairy tale that reflects a female sexual script, and also pays attention to the most important points for understanding a sexual script when analyzing a client's fairy tale metaphor. Taking into account the specifics of the topic, the author suggests an approach that allows bypassing the client's resistance: integration of art-therapeutic technigues (fairy tale therapy, work with metaphorical associative cards) and transactional-analytical structure. The article offers reflections on working with the sexual sphere through exploring images, as well as on the formation of a fairy-tale metaphor, and provides an algorithm for writing a fairy tale reflecting a female sexual life script, and also pays attention to the most important points for understanding the sexual life script when analyzing a client's fairy-tale metaphor

Family matters: same‐sex relations and kinship practices in Kenya

AbstractGuided by social justice and sexual health concerns, scholars of same‐sex sexualities in Africa have mainly examined related conflicts and inequities, generating an unbalanced emphasis on homophobia. Following Stella Nyanzi's plea for a broader exploration of queer sexuality in Africa, we move beyond the strictly sexual sphere to study the kinship arrangements of same‐sex couples in Kenya. These couples rely on the different possibilities afforded by kinship – in both its inclusive and exclusive capacities – to create accommodation and acceptance. Capturing the complexities and paradoxes of social life, the ethnographic study of kinship practices in everyday life shows how homophobia and accommodation can co‐exist. Furthermore, the embeddedness of same‐sex relationships in kinship structures and the subscription of same‐sex couples to the same norms held by cross‐sex couples clearly indicates the difficulty of construing these forms of relatedness as essentially different from other kinship formations. Thus ‘queering queer Africa’ requires not only taking a broader perspective and looking beyond what is usually classified as ‘queer’ but also un‐queering what at first appears as queer and thus ‘queerying’ the barriers and the range of possibilities that characterize the lives and subjectivities of people with same‐sex desires.

EPILEPSY IN WOMEN OF FERTILE AGE

Epilepsy in women is caused by the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian system, and women with epilepsy have a higher incidence of disorders such as menstrual irregularities, polycystic ovary syndrome, and infertility. The incidence of sexual dysfunction in the group of women with epilepsy ranges from 14 to 50%. It was found that epileptic seizures and long-term use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) lead to reproductive disorders of the female body, affecting the endocrine, hormonal, and sexual spheres of the female body.