Range of Sexual Expression

Range of Sexual Expression


Every person in a college age population has a sexual identity and is a sexual being. This fact is obvious, but unclear. Some people feel very comfortable displaying their sexual identities; others do their best to deny that they are sexual in any way. However obvious these sexual identities may or may not be, there are as many of them as there are people. Along these lines, there is a range of sexual expression.

Some behaviors within the range:

• Holding hands
• Solo masturbation
• Massage
• Oral-genital sex
• Oral-anal sex
• Fantasy
• Watching porn or erotic movies
• Reading erotic novels, stories
• Penile-vaginal intercourse
• Anal intercourse
• Mutual masturbation
• Kissing
  

Becoming comfortable with sexual identity is challenging for some people. Counseling And Psychological Services (CAPS) at Vaden offers both individual and couples counseling for students. SHRPC peer counselors are not sex therapists and are not trained to spruce up your love life. The SHPRC does however have a decent selection of books in our lending library on sexual expression and technique.

The range of sexual expression is limited only by the extent of human creativity. Some of these behaviors carry with them a level of risk, and so warrant a discussion of appropriate protective and contraceptive strategies. It is important to understand that individual behaviors can be risky, but no sexual identity is inherently more risky than another.

The SHPRC advises and suggests ways of limiting risk, but does not endorse or discourage particular behaviors. An SHPRC counselor should always be non-judgmental with regard to personal sexual decisions. It is our goal to give realistic advice on risk prevention, but never to be prescriptive.

Making educated evaluations of risk for particular activities is difficult. The SHPRC offers specific information on staying not pregnant and on prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. In terms of preventing sexually transmitted infections, there are three general principles referred to as Safer Choices to help guide people who wish to be safe and responsible in their sexual expression.

Safer Choices

• Don’t engage in sexual activity with anyone except yourself. Employing this strategy alone carries the least risk, but is impractical for many people.
• Have only one sexual partner, and get tested for sexually transmitted infections together before engaging in sexual activity.
• Use barrier methods (condoms, dental dams) to prevent fluids (semen, vaginal fluid, blood) from contacting each other. These strategies can be used together for even greater levels of protection, or employed individually depending on the situation. These are “safer” choices because they aren’t risk free. HPV, herpes, and other STDs can be transmitted from skin-to-skin contact, at times even when they are asymptomatic. For more information please refer to specific STD fact sheets, or ask an SHPRC counselor.