Louisville Medicine Volume 64, Issue 5 | Page 11

REFLECTIONS SEX, A POLITE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION? Teresita Bacani-Oropilla, MD I had been told that in polite company, certain topics were taboo, namely politics and religion. These, perchance, might ignite one’s deepest beliefs and lead to heated and emotional exchanges. Through the years however, one’s individual experiences can either contest or attest to the veracity of this premise. In retrospect, another topic that is rich fodder for thought and discussion is “sex.” At the annual fall meeting of the CATO Society, composed of retired and venerable elder physicians of our community, the topic was “Sexuality in Seniors.” A young urologist, Dr. Ganesh Kartha, discussed the medical and psychological aspects of aging, how these affect sexual expression, and suggestions on how these can be ameliorated. Could he have opened the topic of sex in polite company? In the early 1970’s, a pediatrician teaching fifth graders about sex and the anticipated changes during puberty, noted that the 10 and 11-year-olds were curious about how to handle their body changes and had fears about menarche and the mood changes that some of their friends were going through. Some parents objected to the idea that someone outside of their families was shattering the “innocence” of their children. After some of these sat through the classes, and proclaimed them “safe,” the parents gave permission for their kids to continue attending them. Times have changed. Many children at this age have been exposed to knowledge about sex from various sources and for their safety have to be warned and protected from false information. Once this was considered private information in a one-on-one discussion with their physicians. Older generations have been appalled by advertisements for tampons, vaginal creams and erection-enhancing pills shown on TV for all to see. These ads may need further explanations for younger uninitiated audiences, children who might worry that the advertised side effects of these medicines may affect the beloved older members of their families. They may also wonder if it’s appropriate for them to start using such things themselves! Attitudes about sexual freedom, competition among adolescents for partners, fidelity, pregnancy, the spread of STDs, and how sex can affects one’s future, need to be addressed among our adolescents. Vulnerable members of a growing group of an older and lonely generation who may decide to join the fray could use a review of some of these topics themselves. Many people among us were raised and are proponents of the belief that at birth, one is endowed with the gifts of health, beauty, intelligence, sex and character; that these gifts must be nurtured to blossom into fruition. To misuse, abuse, or ignore these gifts is thus an omission of one’s duty in life. This is a tall order indeed. We recognize the importance of the topic of sex in our social lives, the joys of love and sharing, of selection of future mates, of celebrating the rituals of engagement, marriage, anniversaries and arrival of progeny. Yet we have contentious opinions on same sex marriages, LGBT rights, bathroom privileges, military equality, the right to succession, abortion rights, pornography and prostitution. These cause headlines and even continue to clog our court systems. Can we say more? It is evident that indeed there are many aspects related to sex that can be discussed. After all, sex is part of the core of our being. Can we therefore discuss it reasonably in polite society, or should we relegate it to the realm of the taboo? Dr. Oropilla is a retired psychiatrist. OCTOBER 2016 9