Human sexuality is the expression of sexual feelings.

Human sexuality can be influenced by hormonal changes in the development of the fetus during pregnancy. Some claim its manner of expression is largely due to genetic predisposition. Others say it is due to one's own personal experimentation in early life, and thus the establishment of preferences. A less divisive approach recognises that both factors may have a mutual role to play.

Human sexuality can also be understood as part of the social life of humans, governed by implied rules of behavior and the status quo. Thus, it is claimed, sexuality influences social norms and society in turn influences the manner in which sexuality can be expressed. Since the invention of the mass media, sexuality has further molded the environments in which we live; it comes to be distilled (often into stereotypes) and then repeatedly expressed in commercialized forms such as print, audio and film.

Human sexuality is distinguished from gender identity. Gender identity is a more expansive set of roles than sexual identity. Gender can usually be molded by the social environment to which one is exposed as a child, e.g. an authority figure giving a little boy a toy truck to play with, and a girl a doll. Human physiology and gender molding thus makes certain forms of sexual expression possible or even likely, but it does not predict that future sexual behavior will be regarded as 'gender appropriate'.

Human sexual choices are usually made using current cultural norms. For example; some may choose to abstain from sex before marriage because their religion forbids such actions. In some cultures it may be acceptable for a man to have many wives, while in others bigamy or polygamy is frowned upon.

Those who wish to express a dissident sexuality often form sub-cultures, within the main culture.

Topics in human sexuality

• Sexual development
  • Child sexuality
  • Puberty
  • Sexuality in older age
  • Physical attractiveness

• Sexual orientation
  • Bisexuality
  • Heterosexuality
  • Homosexuality
  • Asexuality
  • Pederasty
  • Paedophilia
  • Celibacy

• Sexual acts & practices
  • Opposite-Gender sexual practices
  • Same-Gender sexual practices
  • Sexual arousal
  • Flirting
  • Kissing
  • Masturbation
  • Sexual intercourse
  • Oral sex
  • Anal sex
  • Anal masturbation
  • Group sex
  • Cyber sex
  • S&M
  • Erotic spanking
  • Bondage
  • Swinging
  • Fisting and handballing
  • Exhibitionism and Voyeurism
  • Frottage
  • Tribadism
  • Dirty Talk

• Socio-cultural aspects.
  • Erotica
  • Pornography
  • Prostitution
  • Sex in Advertising
  • Sexual morality
  • Stereotypes

• Sexology (the study of sex)
  • Homophobia
  • Homosexuality and psychology
  • Eroticism
  • Paraphilias and fetishes (Some may be considered sex crimes in various jurisdictions).

• Sex crimes
  • Rape or sexual assault
  • Sexual harassment
  • Sexual abuse or molestation
  • Various paraphilias/fetishes (legality varying by jurisdiction)
  • Pornography (legality varying by jurisdiction and type and audience)
  • Incest
  • Bestiality

• Sexually transmitted diseases
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome(AIDS) — Caused by HIV
  • Herpes
  • Syphilis
  • Gonorrhea
  • Genital warts

• Sex organs
  • Male -- Penis (notably the foreskin and glans), Testicles, Prostate
  • Female -- Vulva (notably the Clitoris), Vagina (notably the Cervix), Uterus, Fallopian tubes, Ovaries

• Male reproductive physiology:
  • Spermatogenesis
  • Erection
  • Ejaculation

• Female reproductive physiology:
  • Menstruation
  • Pregnancy
  • Childbirth
  • Lactation

• Genital modification and mutilation
  • Castration
  • Male circumcision
  • Female circumcision
  • Foreskin restoration

• Related medical fields
  • Andrology
  • Endocrinology
  • Gynaecology
  • Obstetrics
  • Urology

• Other related issues
  • abortion
  • age of consent
  • Beauty
  • Birth control
  • Contraception
  • Feminism
  • gender and sexuality studies
  • gender paradigm
  • marriage
  • love
  • psychoanalysis
  • Safer sex
  • sexism
  • Sex education

External links

• A History of Western Love and Sex From 1300 B.C. to the Twentieth Century (http://www.neo-tech.com/pleasures/history.html)
• History Of Sexuality (http://www.historyofsexuality.com)
• Adolescent Sexuality Guide (http://www.adolescentsexuality.com)
• Sexuality Guide (http://www.sexuall.org)
• Woman Sexuality (http://www.femalesexual.com)
• Sexual Aspect of Love (http://swami-center.org/en/chpt/ecology/page_16.shtml)