Sexuality

The term sexuality encompasses a broad range of experiences, including sexual orientation, desire, thoughts, feelings, fantasies, attitudes, and behaviors. Sexual behavior itself includes a range of activities that includes, but is not limited to, kissing, sexual touching, oral sex, penetrative sex (vaginal and anal sex), and masturbation (touching of one’s own genitals for pleasure). Sexuality is an essential part of the human experience that [Page 1984]develops across the life span. It may provide both pleasure and challenges at all phases of life. Children are curious about sexuality at an early age and enjoy learning about their bodies. Puberty is a major transition in adolescence that leads to increased sexual thoughts, feelings, and desires. Partnered sexual behavior tends to begin after puberty and increases through young ...