Introduction
A person's sexuality is significantly affected by age and related physical concerns. Men and women of different ages face different concerns. However, a person's sexuality is influenced by several other circumstances instead of only due to biological factors. This article provides all the age-related aspects of sexual pattern changes through different life stages.
What Are the Different Changes in the Sexual Pattern Through Different Life Stages?
Sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm represent an essential component of a person's sexual pattern, but little is known about the exact effect of age on sexual desire. This article provides details for both differences and similarities between the sexual pattern of men and women corresponding to the effect of different life stages such as before puberty, after puberty in adults, and at old age.
What Is the Common Sexual Pattern in Childhood?
Just like all other development processes, sexual development also begins at birth. Sexual pattern development in children includes physical changes as they grow and sexual beliefs and knowledge they come to observe and learn. Any given child’s sexual behavior and knowledge; are influenced by the following factors;
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Age of the child.
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Observation of sexual behavior of family and friends.
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The teaching the child receives includes cultural and religious beliefs regarding sexuality and physical boundaries.
1. Less Than Four Years (Preschool Children):
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Touching and exploring private parts in public or private.
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Rub private parts with hands or any other objects.
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Showing off private parts to others.
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Trying to touch another woman or mother's breast.
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Removing clothes to wanting to become naked.
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Attempting to watch other people naked or undressing in the bathroom.
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Curiosity and asking questions about body parts and functions.
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Talking to peers about bodily functions such as pooping and peeing.
2. Four to Six Years of Age (Young Children):
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Touching private parts, occasionally in front of others.
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Attempting to see other people getting naked and undressing.
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Mimicking adult dating behavior such as kissing, holding hands, and hugging.
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Talking about the private part and using naughty words even if they don't understand it.
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Exploring and displaying private parts with peers and playing games such as playing doctor; will show my private parts if you show your game.
3. Seven to 12 Years of Age (School-Aged Children):
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Purposefully touching the private parts, usually in private.
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Play games with peer children that involve sexual behaviors such as boyfriend/girlfriend, family games, and truth or dare.
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Curiosity and attempting to see other people naked and undressing.
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Looking at naked or partially naked people.
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Listening and watching sexual content in magazines, television, or the internet.
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Wanting more privacy, such as not wanting to undress in front of others.
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Resisting from talking about sexual issues with adults.
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Begins to gain sexual attraction towards other people, such as peers.
Although parents often become alarmed when a child shows a sexual pattern, which is uncommon in developing children, the most sexual play expresses a child's natural curiosity. It should not become a cause for concern. However, if children's sexual pattern expands more than some harmless curiosity per their age, it can signify sexual behavior problems.
What Is the Sexual Pattern in Adolescence (13 to 19 Years)?
During this phase, pubertal development happens for most youth. Physical growth is complete by this stage, which includes physical changes and the establishment of oneself as a sexual being. Adolescents are increasingly aware of sexual attraction and interests, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
1. Early Adolescence (10 to 13 Years):
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First, feelings of sexual attraction may occur.
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The onset of sexual fantasies.
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The onset of an increase in the level of sex hormones induces a feeling of sexual arousal.
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In girls, the onset of menstruation may occur.
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In boys, the onset of nocturnal emissions (sleep orgasm and ejaculation) may occur.
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Self-focused sexual activity.
2. Middle Adolescence (14 to 17 Years):
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Frequency of sexual activity increases.
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Physical changes of puberty are almost complete.
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Sexual thoughts, feelings, and behavior further expand.
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The onset of self-exploration and masturbation.
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Sexual relationships with emotional intimacy.
3. Late Adolescence (17 to 19 Years):
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Significant increase in sexual thoughts, feelings, and activities.
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Relationships with sexual intimacy may happen.
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Significant socio-emotional and Intellectual growth influences healthy sexual patterns.
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Casual sexual encounters may become more common.
It is also important to consider the tremendous variation in adolescent developmental milestones. There may be a mismatch in the rate of development. For example, a girl may have the onset of menstruation at nine but may lack the higher cognitive skills required for managing social and sexual situations that she may face. Thus age is not always the best indicator of social and sexual maturity and good judgment.
What Are the Sexual Patterns in Adults (20 to 44 Years) And Middle-Aged (45 to 59 Years)?
From this life stage, age is typically negatively related to sexual functions.
1. In Men: Sexual functions and activity peak in early adulthood and gradually tapers off with growing age in men due to the decline of testosterone hormones, significantly deriving male sexual behavior. These hormones peak in early adulthood and gradually decrease throughout age.
2. In Females: High and low fluctuations can be observed in the case of females. A woman's sex hormones undergo great changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal phase. However, sex hormones tend to lower in a woman after 35 to 40 years, after completion of reproductive age.
What Is the Sexual Pattern in Old Age (60 and Above)?
Physical changes during this time may interfere with sexual functions in both females and males. Moreover, the presence of physical illness worsens sexual function and activity.
1. In Males:
The study shows a significant reduction in the parameters such as;
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Quality of erection.
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Ejaculation volume.
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Orgasmic pleasure and overall sexual functioning.
2. In Females:
The physical changes are attributed to old age and menopause. A female can undergo the following old age-related changes;
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The vagina can become short and narrow,
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The vaginal wall can become thinner.
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Vaginal dryness because of a significant reduction in vaginal lubrication
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The time required for the vagina to lubricate itself increases.
In both males and females in old age, a significant quantity of time is required for sexual arousal.
Conclusion
The sexual pattern in a person's life begins at birth and, after that, slowly builds up and gains a peak in early adulthood. After adulthood, on average, men's and women's sexual functioning tapers down with some fluctuations associated with general physical, psychological, and socio-economic conditions. However, average levels of sexual desire were generally higher in males than females.
