Psycho-biological Factors in Human Sexuality and their Relevance to Research

John Bancroft MD

Importance of Knowledge to Public & Private Health

Normal sexual development

Sex education

Sexuality in marriage

Problems Related to Sex and to Public & Private Health

Sexually transmitted diseases
Unplanned pregnancies

Sexual assaults and rape

Child sexual abuse

Sexual dysfunctions

Why is this so difficult?

Because sex is unique in the link between behavior and physiological response Our behavior is influenced by the physiological state we call sexual arousal Problems result because: People get sexually aroused when they shouldnt or They dont get sexually aroused when they should

Important research questions

Why do some people take sexual risks?
Most of us manage to avoid them most of the time

Why do some people develop sexual interests which get them (and others) into trouble
E.g. sexually assaulting adults, or abusing children?

Why problems with sexual response?

Why are some people more vulnerable to such problems?

Other Important research questions

How can we help people to manage their sexual lives more sensibly? How can we reduce the likelihood of unacceptable sexual behavior? How can we help with problems of sexual response?

What is sex research?

Mostly asking people questions about

their sexual lives

- face-to-face interviews - questionnaires -computerized methods

The psycho-biological

approach William Masters and Virginia

Johnson were pioneers in the 1960s

The Hannover Group, West

Germany

Kruger and colleagues (1998-)

Biochemical and hormonal changes
during sexual arousal and following

orgasm

Increase in prolactin after orgasm

(ten minute intervals)

The Rigiscan

Response

No Response

What about genital

response in women?

Vaginal Photoplethysmography

Vaginal Photoplethysmography

Examples of application of these measures:

Normal and abnormal sexual physiology Basis of sexual response in women Hormone deficiency and replacement Drug treatment for sexual dysfunction Assessment of sexual offenders -risk of re-offending Comparison of high and low sexual risktakers

Studying the brain

using functional brain Imaging

e.g., PET and

fMRI scanning

Paris group -INSERM

Stoleru and colleagues e.g. comparison of men with and

without low sexual desire

disorder (2003)

What about the use of

pornography in this research?

1. Choose the images carefully to:

a) Suit the specific research objective

b) Be appropriate for the subject (e.g. women v men) 3. Insure the subject is fully informed

4. Protect privacy of the research subject as far as possible (for both ethical and scientific reasons)

Scientific research into the

psycho-biology of human

sexuality is important for

public and private health