Identification of chancroid and the Mysteries of Sexual Arousal and Sex Hormones
**II.** Soft **Channel** **Infantile**
Chancroid is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Haemophilus ducreyi through sexual intercourse. Clinically, it is characterized by multiple, painful genital ulcers, accompanied by swollen, suppurating, and ruptured inguinal lymph nodes. Due to the widespread use of antibiotics, this disease is now less common, but it has been found in Guangxi and Sichuan provinces of my country in recent years.
1. Differentiation between chancroid and syphilis is based on a history of unprotected sex, the presence of one or more painful ulcers on the external genitalia, a painful transverse lesion in the unilateral groin that forms a "fish mouth" after rupture; Gram-stained smears of ulcer secretions or inguinal lymph node aspirates can detect Gram-negative short rod-shaped streptococci, and tests for Treponema pallidum and syphilis serological reactions are negative, which can lead to a diagnosis. Bacterial culture can be performed if necessary.
2. For the treatment of chancroid, sulfonamides are the first choice. You can take 4 tablets of compound sulfamethoxazole twice a day for at least 7 days; or erythromycin 0.5g four times a day for 7 days; or tetracycline 0.5g four times a day for 10-20 days.
The Mystery of Sex
The great ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius said, "Food and sex are the greatest desires of humankind!" Mencius also said something similar: "Food and sex are human nature." These are probably familiar to everyone! It means that eating and sex are fundamental human needs. Having discussed so much about food, shouldn't we talk about sex? Although social customs are becoming more open, when it comes to sex, many people still feel shy and hesitant. On the other hand, the prevalence of pornography and erotic jokes means the sex industry is like a persistent weed that keeps growing back. Furthermore, some people suffer greatly due to a severe lack of proper sex education, leading to numerous life tragedies. Therefore, this article will briefly introduce some health knowledge related to sex, hoping to provide readers with some benefits for their physical and mental health.
**Section 1** **Sexual Impulse and Sex Hormones**
**I. Sexual impulse is a human survival instinct.**
Human puberty sexual development is accompanied by significant psychological and behavioral changes, most notably an inescapable interest in the opposite sex, a feeling of love, longing, and closeness, sometimes accompanied by sexual urges. However, this feeling is usually not directed indiscriminately at any member of the opposite sex, but rather more readily drawn to peers with whom one finds satisfactory. Biologically, these sexually related psychological activities and behaviors reflect the maturation of sex organs, indicating the imminent attainment of reproductive capacity. This is commonly referred to as an unconscious human survival instinct.
Survival instinct is an innate ability shared by humans and animals, essential for survival. For example, the act of eating is a survival instinct; appetite is the psychological motivator that drives animals to eat. Without appetite, animals would not have the motivation or behavior to eat. Driven by sexual desire, animals approach and pursue mates, obtaining sexual satisfaction through sexual behavior, thus fulfilling their survival activity of reproduction. Therefore, sexual behavior is essentially a survival instinct for reproduction; without this instinct, animals would become extinct. Mutual attraction, closeness, and even sexual urges between members of the opposite sex are, in fact, manifestations driven by the reproductive instinct.
Because reproduction is essential for human survival, sexual desire is often stronger than other physiological desires. Through natural selection and the survival of the fittest, organisms have developed an instinct driven by strong sexual urges to reproduce. Sexual psychology and behavior are concrete manifestations of this survival instinct; while we cannot resist it, we can control it. Recognizing this allows for a clearer understanding of the reasons behind our sexually related psychological activities, leading to more conscious and rational behavior in this area.
**Part Two:** Sex Hormones: The Masterminds Behind Sexual Impulses
What exactly controls and promotes the innate sexual impulses of humans? Modern research suggests that sex hormones are the main behind-the-scenes directors of this life drama. From birth, humans secrete small amounts of sex hormones. During puberty, the secretion of sex hormones suddenly increases dramatically, resulting in the awareness of the existence of the opposite sex that was previously unnoticed, triggering restless sexual impulses.
The human body secretes various hormones, each with different functions. Scientists collectively refer to hormones primarily secreted by the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, gonads, and adrenal cortex, which affect reproduction, sexual function, and sexual desire, as sex hormones. The main types include: male hormones, such as androgens; and female hormones, such as estrogens and progesterone. The secretion of these hormones varies with the body's rhythms, causing human sexual desire to fluctuate between highs and lows.
Male hormones are secreted by the testes and are composed of various substances, with testosterone being the most potent. Male hormones play a crucial role in the process of differentiation into a male fetus in the mother's womb and during puberty. During puberty, the secretion of male hormones promotes the development and strengthening of muscles and reproductive organs, resulting in male characteristics. The strength of sexual desire is directly related to testosterone levels. In animal experiments, animals injected with testosterone exhibited significantly greater aggressive and competitive tendencies than those that did not receive the injection.
Estrogen and progesterone are produced by a woman's ovaries. Estrogen promotes female development, especially during puberty, with its numerous physical changes and increased libido. Estrogen's effect on libido comes from stimulating the hypothalamus of the brain, exciting the sexual center.