Sexuality and Sexual Health Canadian generic pharmacy
Development of sexuality and sexual identity
After falling for more than a century, the age at which puberty occurs has levelled off in many developed countries, both for boys and girls. Puberty in girls starts slowly with changes in body shape, but is usually marked by the onset of menstruation any time between the ages of 8 and 17, with the median age between 12 and 13. Boys start puberty slightly later than girls – at any time between 10 and 16 – but their body changes continue longer, until late teens or early twenties. While children with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and/or serious health conditions usually enter puberty at a similar age to their peers, they may have delayed emotional and social development that results in a need for extra help in understanding the changes they are experiencing.
The physical changes at puberty can bring changes in patterns of mood and emotions; for example, intense emotional attractions can be felt to adults of the same or opposite sex, such as pop stars, sporting stars and respected adults like teachers. This is part of the preparation for sexual relationships as sexual orientation becomes clearer. Sexual orientation is broader than whether we are attracted to males or females or both. It also covers other aspects of what we find attractive, including physical appearance and personality type, as well as any tendency for disordered attractions, such as towards children.
The average age of first sexual intercourse has gone down in many developed countries over recent years: in the UK the mean age is around 16 to 17 for both boys and girls. The age varies considerably between different groups in society, and those that start youngest are least likely to use contraception or safer sex the first time. There is much less information available about the age at which young people start to experiment with sexual activity other than intercourse, including with partners of the same sex, and it must be presumed that some of this will start earlier than intercourse.
Sexual health
Sexual health was defined by Mace, Bannerman and Burton as: a capacity to enjoy and control sexual and reproductive behaviour in accordance with social and personal ethics; freedom from fear, shame, guilt, false beliefs and other psychological factors inhibiting sexual response and impairing relationships; freedom from organic disorders, diseases and deficiencies that interfere with sexual and reproductive functions.
While other definitions have been explored since then, this one remains useful and comprehensive: it starts with the positive, then indicates factors that can damage sexual health buy Viagra Generic unless preventive or remedial action is taken. Some examples of these factors are considered below.
