Circle of Sexuality: Sexual Health and Reproduction
Factual information about reproduction
Is necessary to understand how male and female reproductive systems function and how conception and/or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occur. Young adults sometimes have inadequate information about their own and/or their partner's body. Accurate reproductive and sexual health information is necessary so they can make informed decisions about sexual expression and protect their health.
Feelings and attitudes
Are wide-ranging when it comes to sexual expression and reproduction and to sexual health-related topics such as STI infection, HIV and AIDS, contraceptive use, abortion, pregnancy, and childbirth. Increasing self-awareness also helps in making healthy and positive health decisions.
Sexual intercourse
Is one of the most common behaviors among humans. Sexual intercourse is a behavior that may produce sexual pleasure that often culminates in orgasm in females and in males. Sexual intercourse may also result in pregnancy and/or STIs. Discussion of sexual intercourse is often limited to the bare mention of male-female (penile-vaginal) intercourse. However, a more comprehensive discussion about sexual intercourse will include information about vaginal, oral, and anal intercourse.
Reproductive and sexual anatomy
The male and female body and the ways in which they actually function is a part of sexual health. Protecting reproductive and sexual health means having information about all the effective methods of contraception currently available, how they work, where to obtain them, their effectiveness, and their side effects. Individuals also need to know how to use latex condoms to prevent STIs and how to turn a condom into a dental dam if one is needed for oral-genital or oral-anal contact.
Sexual reproduction
The actual processes of conception, pregnancy, delivery, and recovery following childbirth are important parts of sexuality. Youth need information about sexual reproduction—the process whereby two different individuals each contribute half of the genetic material to their child. The child is, therefore, not identical to either parent. [Asexual reproduction is a process whereby simple one-celled organisms reproduce by splitting, creating two separate one-celled organisms identical to the original [female] organism before it split.]
Additional Resources
- Resource Library
The Resource Library at Health Services is available to all UNH students, faculty and staff. The library is packed with books and videos on sexual health. - Sexual Health at UNH
Learn more about being sexually healthy at UNH. Great resources on safer sex, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual pleasure, abstinence, and more!
Additional Circles of Sexuality
Material adapted from: Life Planning Education, a comprehensive sex education curriculum. Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth in press.
