To help ourselves understand our own sexuality, we

should ask ourselves WHY study human sexuality? To understand, examine, explore, and analyze one's sexuality will enable you to have a better sense of yourself as an individual. Understanding who we are today requires us to review the history of human sexual behavior, cross-cultural approaches to human sexuality, and the scientific approach to understanding human sexuality.

 Effective communication is an essential component in

all aspects of life, but of extreme importance in a relationship and discovering one's own sexuality. To feel comfortable in asking such questions as "would you touch me softly here?," "could we try this position the next time we make love?," or simply explaining to your partner that you would like to make love to them for the first time, effective communication skills are essential.

 Interpersonal relationships are mutually satisfying for

men and women. Emotional relationships are rewarding, and sexual relationships often strengthen our emotional relationships. However, not all sexual relationships have the emotional dimension to them. Liking, intimacy, loving, infatuation, and destructive relationships are topics examined.

 To fully understand one's own sexuality and the

sexuality of their partner it is important to have factual understanding of sexual biology--whether male or female. Understanding your sexual anatomy will increase your comfort level with your sexuality and partner's sexuality. Information about your sexual biology will allow you (and your partner) to feel more comfortable with self-examinations which play a major role in the prevention of illnesses.

 To fully understand one's self (and your partner) it is

important to have factual knowledge and understanding of sexual biology -- whether male or female. Often we tend to think we know everything there is to know about ourselves, including our sexual anatomy and physiology. We tend to think, we know everything about sex and sexuality. However, we are really pretending to know all there is to know about our sexual selves. Factual information about your sexual biology will allow you to feel more comfortable in communicating to your partner and asking questions.

 With the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases

increasing it is imperative to understand herpes, gonorrhea, genital warts, and other STIs. To fully understand these diseases one must have a good understanding of male and female anatomy, and the disease process. STIs can be an emotional topic; however, it is extremely important we understand the diseases, their symptoms, their treatments, and most importantly how we can prevent contracting sexually transmitted diseases.