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PubMed2000

Self-administered questionnaires versus face-to-face interviews in assessing sexual behavior in young women.

Effects of mode of assessment, person, and situational variables on the accuracy of self-reports of sexual behavior remain uncertain. To evaluate these influences, 190 young women completed measures of erotophilia and social desirability and then monitored their health-related behaviors with a diary for 8 weeks. They returned on two occasions to complete either a face-to-face interview (FTFI) or a self-administered questionnaire (SAQ) regarding their behavior over the same interval. To check the apparent accuracy of participants' retrospective self-reports, a difference score was calculated by subtracting responses obtained on the FTFI or SAQ from the diary card. Results indicated that both modes of assessment were reliable; reliability did not differ as a function of mode of assessment. However, SAQs elicited less discrepant responses for protected vaginal sex; SAQ and FTFI reports for unprotected sexual behaviors were equivalent. Situational and person variables did not predict accuracy scores, which were impaired at higher frequencies of behavior. Results suggest that both modes of assessment were reliable and SAQs may be more accurate for some sexual behaviors.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Sexual behavior and pregnancy among Nigerian students.

The sexual behavior of 539 Nigerian female students comprising 387 adults and 152 teenagers was studied. The overall incidence of sexual activity among the students was 51.2%. The incidence of sexual intercourse was significantly higher among adult students (61.0%) compared with teenagers (26.3%) (p < 0.0005). There was no significant difference in the mean age at sexual debut for the adult students (18.7 +/- 3.2) compared with the teenage population (16.1 +/- 1.7). The frequency of sexual exposure was also not significantly different in the two groups (4.1 +/- 6.1 times per month for the adult students and 3.6 +/- 5.9 times per month for the teenage students). However, pregnancy occurred more often among the adult students (38.1%) than among the teenagers (15.0%) (p < 0.005). This article looks at the psychosocial implications of adolescent sexuality and the overall relevance of adequate reproductive health education in encouraging responsible attitudes regarding sexuality among teenagers.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Effect of vorozole, an aromatase enzyme inhibitor, on sexual behavior, aromatase activity and neural immunoreactivity.

Aromatase enzyme is essential for the expression of normal sexual behavior in many mammals and birds. Here we report that vorozole (R83842), a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor, blocks sexual behavior in the female musk shrew. In addition, vorozole treatment lowers aromatase activity in male and female preoptic area, and reduces plasma estradiol concentrations in females. Our findings confirm and extend results demonstrated in other species, conducted with the active enantiomer (R83842), or the racemic mixture (R76713, racemic vorozole). We also report that vorozole treatment affects the immunocytochemical distribution of aromatase immunoreactivity (AROM-ir) in musk shrew brain. The histological identification of neurons that contain this enzyme has been difficult in mammals. Several aromatase enzyme antisera have been developed and used in brain, and each gives a different pattern of immunoreactivity. Moreover, despite the fact that aromatase activity is very high in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, several amygdala nuclei, the preoptic area and hypothalamus, AROM-ir in these regions has been very limited. The distribution of AROM-ir in female musk shew brain tissues is modified by treatment with vorozole prior to sacrifice. Female musk shrew brains contain aromatase immunoreactive cell bodies, as reported previously, in the central amygdala, lateral septum and to a limited extent in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST). Brains of females treated with vorozole show additional immunoreactivity in the preoptic area, hypothalamus, and medial amygdala, and have a broad distribution of AROM-ir in several subdivisions of the BST. Several sexual dimorphisms are apparent in musk shrews brains after treatment with vorozole. We have quantified this sexual dimorphism in the medial preoptic area (MPO) by counting immunoreactive cells. In both the rostral and caudal portions of the MPO, female brains contain significantly fewer AROM-ir cell bodies than males. These data are in complete agreement with sex differences in biochemical analyses of aromatase activity in the MPO. At this time we do not know if these dimorphisms are the result of differences in circulating levels of steroids in males and females, and/or if the AROM-ir nuclei regulate sexually dimorphic behaviors.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Roles of estrogen receptors alpha and beta in differentiation of mouse sexual behavior.

Sex differences in brain and behavior are ubiquitous in sexually reproducing species. Developmental differences in circulating concentrations of gonadal steroids underlie many sexual dimorphisms. During the late embryonic and early perinatal periods, the testes produce androgens, thus, male brains are exposed to testosterone, and in situ testosterone is aromatized to estradiol. In contrast, females are not exposed to high concentrations of testosterone or estradiol until puberty. In many species, neural sex differences and sexually dimorphic behaviors in adults are initiated primarily by estradiol exposure during early development. In brain, estradiol activates two independent processes: masculinization of neural circuits and networks that are essential for expression of male-typical adult behaviors, and defeminization, the loss of the ability to display adult female-typical behaviors. Here, data for the roles of each of the known estrogen receptors (estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta) in these two processes are reviewed. Based on work done primarily in knockout mouse models, separate roles for the two estrogen receptors are suggested. Estrogen receptor alpha is primarily involved in masculinization, while estrogen receptor beta has a major role in defeminization of sexual behaviors. In sum, estradiol can have selective effects on distinct behavioral processes via selective interactions with its two receptors, estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Subthalamic and mesencephalic locomotor regions: brain damage augments the importance of female movement for the display of sexual behavior in male rats.

Electrical stimulation of parts of the subthalamus and midbrain provokes coordinated locomotion. In this study we contrasted the sexual behavioral effects of electrolytic destruction of the subthalamic and mesencephalic "locomotor" regions in male rats. Bilateral electrolytic lesions of the subthalamic locomotor region (SLR) attenuated, and in some cases eliminated, male sexual behavior. Although some SLR lesioned males appeared to mate normally on some tests, these males did not mount females rendered hypokinetic by an injection of haloperidol. Males with mesencephalic locomotor region lesions mated normally with a normally active female but most, like males with SLR lesions, showed virtually no sexual responses towards hypokinetic females. Locomotor region damage apparently augments the importance of female movement for the display of male sexual behavior, and we suggest this may be related to an effect of brain damage on sexual motivation.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Dopamine receptor antagonists attenuate conditioned place preference following sexual behavior in female Syrian hamsters.

We assessed the effects of the dopamine D2 receptor antagonists, sulpiride and raclopride, on conditioned place preference produced by sexual behavior in female Syrian hamsters. Female hamsters treated with sulpiride or raclopride showed high levels of sexual behavior (lordosis) that were equivalent to control females receiving vehicle injections. The degree of place preference conditioning for sulpiride-treated females was marginally reduced, whereas females treated with raclopride showed no evidence of conditioning. These results indicate that conditioned place preference is a useful means for probing the appetitive components of female sexual behavior, and that dopamine D2 receptors are involved in this appetitive process.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Sex education and premarital sexual behavior among American college students.

The relationship between participation in a sex education course in the public schools and premarital sexual behavior is studied using cross-sectional data from a national probability sample of 1177 male and female American college students interviewed in detail about their sexual behavior and sexual socialization experiences. There was no significant difference between the premarital heterosexual involvement of individuals who had attended a sex education course and those who had not. Furthermore, there were no differences between those who received information on birth control or coitus and those who did not. The implications of these findings for sex education programs are discussed and speculations about successful and unsuccessful programs are made.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

Opioids and sexual behavior in the male rat.

Naloxone in the doses of 4 or 16 mg/kg failed to affect copulatory behavior of testosterone-treated castrated male rats. Morphine 10 mg/kg, administered 60 min before behavioral observation, reduced the proportion of animals displaying sexual behavior. Doses of 2.5 or 5 mg/kg reduced the latency to the second ejaculation, whereas the few animals still copulating after morphine 10 mg/kg showed a reduced latency to the first ejaculation. The same doses of morphine administered 5 min before behavioral observation produced a dose-dependent reduction of mount, intromission and ejaculation percentages. However, those animals that did copulate showed a normal copulatory behavior. D-Ala2-Met5 enkephalinamide (DALA) infused into the left cerebral ventricle in a dose of 5 micrograms 5 or 60 min before tests had no effect. When the peptide was infused 30 sec after the first intromission, the number of intromissions as well as the latency to ejaculation were reduced. Opioids may facilitate ejaculatory mechanisms, perhaps as a consequence of their rewarding properties. Moreover, in animals treated with DALA after the first intromission, the number of intromissions and the latency to ejaculation were similar for the first and second copulatory series, while these parameters were much reduced upon the second ejaculation for control animals. It is possible that liberation of endogenous opioids is the cause of ejaculation-induced facilitation of subsequent sexual behavior.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Reliability and validity of self-report measures of HIV-related sexual behavior: progress since 1990 and recommendations for research and practice.

The trustworthiness of self-reported sexual behavior data has been questioned since Kinsey's pioneering surveys of sexuality in the United States (Kinsey et al., 1948, 1953). In the era of HIV and AIDS, researchers and practitioners have employed a diversity of assessment techniques but they have not escaped the fundamental problem of measurement error. We review the empirical literature produced since Catania et al.'s (1990) review regarding reliability and validity of self-administered and automated questionnaires, face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, and self-monitoring approaches. We also provide specific recommendations for improving sexual behavior assessment. It is imperative that standardized self-report instruments be developed and used for sexual risk-behavior assessment.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Sequence of sexual behavior and its relationship to other problem behaviors in African American and Puerto Rican adolescents.

This study examined the sequence of sexual behavior of 695 African American and 637 Puerto Rican adolescents and the relationship of this sequence to other problem behavior measures. Analyses indicated that adolescents proceed through four stages of sexual behavior: no involvement, then deep kissing, then petting, and, finally, sexual intercourse. The sequence was similar in both ethnic groups and seemed both unidimensional and cumulative. In addition, for both ethnic groups the degree of sexual involvement was significantly related to the level of drug use and to the frequency of delinquent behavior, thereby suggesting an underlying problem behavior syndrome. Directions for future research are suggested.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Perinatal exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin alters activity-dependent expression of BDNF mRNA in the neocortex and male rat sexual behavior in adulthood.

Dioxin and its related compounds are suspected to cause neurological and nueroendocrinological disruption in human and laboratory animal offspring upon in utero and lactational exposure during growth and development. We tested the hypothesis by utilizing Long-Evans Hooded rats that perinatal exposure to dioxins affects the neocortical function and expression of sexual behavior in adulthood. In the sexual behavior test, perinatal exposure to TCDD significantly reduced the number of mounts and intromissions. The mRNA semi-quantification in in situ hybridization showed that the mating stimulus in control males induced c-fos mRNA expression in the preoptic area (POA) and the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA upregulation in the frontal cortex. In contrast, perinatal exposure to TCDD lowered the upregulation of BDNF mRNA in the frontal cortex but not that of c-fos mRNA in the POA. The volume of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA) was not affected. The results suggest that perinatal TCDD affects the neocortical function independently from the brain sexual differentiation and alters the expression of sexual behavior.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Decreased sperm count and sexual behavior in mosquitofish exposed to water from a pesticide-contaminated lake.

A number of reproductive abnormalities have been observed in wildlife living in Lake Apopka, Florida, USA. To test whether these abnormalities can be attributed to compounds in the water, we exposed male mosquitofish from Boulware Spring (Alachua County, Florida) to water from Lake Apopka and two reference sites, Orange Lake and Boulware Spring, for 1 month. Subsequently, sperm counts, sexual behavior, and sex hormones (testosterone and 17beta-estradiol) were measured. A lower sperm count and disrupted sexual behavior were found in fish exposed for 1 month to water from Lake Apopka, compared to those at the reference sites. Furthermore, sexual behavior and whole-body testosterone concentrations were correlated, suggesting androgen influences on the behaviors examined. We hypothesize that the presence of contaminants with antiandrogenic and estrogenic action in the water from Lake Apopka are the likely cause of the observed decrease in sperm count and impaired sexual behavior.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Alcohol consumption, female sexual behavior and contraceptive use.

To examine the effects of alcohol consumption on female sexuality and contraceptive use, 69 sexually active women between the ages of 18 and 34 completed daily logs of their drinking behavior, sexual activity and contraceptive use over three consecutive menstrual cycles. In addition, participants completed a post-study questionnaire that assessed personal beliefs regarding alcohol use and sexual behavior. Although the results from the daily logs failed to show any significant effects of alcohol on subsequent sexual arousal, sexual pleasure or orgasm, female-initiated sexual activity appeared to be inversely related to alcohol use with women initiating significantly fewer sexual activities following the consumption of alcohol. On the contrary, the retrospective questionnaire data indicated that women believed alcohol enhanced sexual desire, enjoyment and activity. The findings further indicated that alcohol consumption immediately prior to sexual intercourse did not significantly alter the use of coitus-dependent contraceptives. These data suggest that women view alcohol as an aphrodisiac despite their physiological and reported behavioral responses.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Situating unusual child and adolescent sexual behavior in context.

There is a lack of scientific knowledge concerning what constitutes normal versus unusual sexual behaviors among minors. Clinical judgements in these cases often are clouded by unfounded sociocultural assumptions, personal biases, legal issues, and moral considerations. Current diagnostic nomenclature that is used commonly for adult sexual activities is inappropriately applied to minors. Considerations about unusual sexual interests (ie, frequency of sexual behaviors, difficulties controlling sexual expression,consent, nonheterosexual interests, much older or younger partners, atypical sexual stimuli, number of partners, and sexual abuse) are explored to provide perspective for evaluation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Critical exposure time for androgen activation of male sexual behavior in rats.

We determined the minimum number of hours per day of testosterone (T) exposure required to activate male sexual behavior, and correlated these changes with the temporal parameters of androgen receptor occupation. For the first part of the study, castrated Long-Evans male rats received two 10 mm T-filled Silastic capsules in open flank pouches for 4, 8, 12, 16, 18, 21, or 24 hours per day over a 10 day period. Tests for male sexual behavior were conducted on days 2-3, 4-5, 7-8, and 9-10 of T treatment. A significantly higher proportion of males receiving 21 or 24 hr of daily T exposure mounted, intromitted and ejaculated compared to groups with daily T exposures of 18 hr or less. In the second part of this study we assessed whether it was necessary to maintain high levels of androgen receptor occupation during the 21-24 hr exposure period in order to activate male sexual behavior. Cell nuclear androgen receptor occupation was measured in HPAS (combined hypothalamus, preoptic area, amygdala and septum) of rats receiving 12, 21, or 24 hr of T exposure. In all three groups, nuclear androgen receptor occupation was high at the time of capsule removal, and fell significantly by 3 hr following T capsule removal. By 6 hr after T capsule removal, androgen receptor binding had fallen to castrate levels. These results demonstrate that, although relatively brief (less than or equal to 18 hr/day) exposures to testosterone can activate mounts and intromissions, significantly more responses are found in males receiving at least 21 hr of T exposure per day.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amygdala↗

PubMed1999

Sexual behavior and AIDS-related knowledge among community college students in Orange County, California.

Whereas college students are not identified as a high-risk group for acquiring the HIV infection, they exhibit high-risk behaviors consistent with their age group, including multiple sexual partners and high rates of unprotected intercourse. This study was conducted to determine levels of HIV-related sexual behavior, along with knowledge and attitudes among students attending community colleges in a relatively affluent multiethnic community. This study used a random sample survey (N = 319) of students attending selected classes at four community colleges in Orange County, California, to assess HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and patterns of past and present sexual behavior. The level of student knowledge concerning HIV disease was found to be relatively high, and pronounced differences in knowledge and sexual permissiveness were identified as a function of ethnicity and religion, with Asians showing lower knowledge and lower concern about HIV, and religion/religiosity related to these variables and also to levels of sexual permissiveness. Respondents' comfort in asking a partner about his/her sexual history was positively associated with their level of self-esteem, and negatively related to peer pressure in this population. As in previous studies of college populations, HIV knowledge per se does not confer a protective effect against high-risk behavior. However, knowledge was found to be an enabling factor with regard to students' comfort levels in asking about their partner's sexual histories, and in requesting that partners take an AIDS test.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1982

Development of feminine sexual behavior in the rat: androgenic and temporal influences.

The contributions of prenatal and postnatal androgen exposure upon the development of sexual behavior in rats were examined by prenatal treatment of pups with an androgen antagonist (flutamide) and postnatal androgenization or castration. Male and female rats were exposed to the androgen receptor-blocker flutamide (FLU) in utero via prenatal injections to the mother on Days 10 through 22 of gestation. At birth (Day 1) males were castrated. Both males and females were injected with either 100 micrograms testosterone propionate (TP) or oil on Day 1. In adulthood all gonadectomized animals were tested for the display of feminine sexual behavior (lordosis) in response to a range of estrogen dosages. Prenatal exposure to FLU enhanced lordosis in both sexes when compared to vehicle-treated controls. Postnatal TP treatment decreased lordotic potential as expected. However, in animals given TP postnatally, those receiving prenatal flutamide had higher lordosis quotients than animals receiving vehicle treatment. These data confirm (1) that the development of feminine sexual behavior is inhibited by androgen exposure, (2) that such exposure occurs prenatally, (3) that the potential for feminine behavioral differentiation occurs prenatally as well as postnatally, and (4) that androgen acts perinatally to affect estrogen sensitivity in adulthood.

Aging↗

PubMed1975

On the role of sexual behavior in the spread of hepatitis B infection.

There is a significant excess of serologic evidence of hepatitis type B infection in two high-promiscuity populations: patients with venereal diseases and their unrelated sexual contacts (15% to 18%) and male, but not female, homosexuals (37% to 51%). Spouses of asymptomatic chronic carriers of antigen had a higher prevalence (26% to 28%) than spouses of noncarriers (10% to 11%); however, the prevalence in the former is relatively low when compared with rates seen in other relatives of carriers. Persons who had a higher-than-average probability of exposure to potentially infective partners or whose patterns of sexual behavior made such exposure more likely (large numbers of sexual partners, long duration of homosexuality, involvement in predominantly anal intercourse) were found to have serologic evidence of hepatitis B more frequently than those with other patterns of sexual behavior. This study showed a strong association between serologic evidence of type B hepatitis and patterns of sexual behavior. However, whether or not transmission of hepatitis type B virus occurs through vaginal intercourse could not be ascertained.

Adult↗