OUR SEXUAL JOURNEY AS YOUNG ADULTS

Posted on March 17th, 2009, by admin

Our biggest challenge during adolescence was to develop identities that were uniquely our own. We had to navigate a difficult path from childhood through puberty, accept our changing bodies, and resolve our many emotional issues. As young adults, the changes of puberty are nearly complete, our bodies long for sexual expression, and our struggle for sexual identities may continue. We may have experienced our first sexual relationship, and we may now be beginning to learn more about our sexual likes and dislikes. We are also developing more complex intimate relationships with others and learning more about relationships and commitment.

Physical Changes during Young Adulthood

Our physical journey is at a slower pace now. The rapid changes of puberty are just about over. Young women have probably stopped growing taller. Young men may have a few more inches to grow. But we are now more accustomed to our adult bodies and their rhythms. Our hormones have reached more balanced levels. Most young women have established a menstrual cycle that is more predictable. Young men are probably experiencing fewer spontaneous erections and nocturnal emissions. Physical changes are more subtle as our bodies and faces slowly change into their adult forms.

Elements of similarity in reciprocal relationships

The women and men with whom we are likely to have reciprocal relationships are often similar to us in:

age

outlook on life

moral values

appearance

mental health

physical health

intelligence

competence

geographic location

(Of course, not everyone we like is going to be just like us. That would be rather boring!)