The Sexual Response Cycle Human sexual behavior or human sexual practice refers to the manner in which humans experience and express their sexuality. It encompass a wide range of activities such as strategies to find or attract partners (mating and display behavior), interactions between individuals, physical or emotional intimacy, and sexual contact. Our minds and bodies can respond sexually to a variety of stimuli—including sight, sound, smell, touch, taste, movement, fantasy, and memory.
These stimuli can create sexual desire—a strong wanting for sexual stimulation (either by oneself or with another person) or sexual intimacy that may cause one to seek sexual satisfaction. In adults, sexual response follows generally predictable patterns that have been documented by a number of researchers. However, there is some variation in the ways in which these patterns have been formalized. The sexual response cycle that I will try to describe has been modified by Masters and Johnson (1966).They divided the sexual response cycle into four phases: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution.
Although both men and women experience the same general stages of response, the amount of time needed to achieve each stage and the progression between stages may vary. In addition, psychological and emotional responses may vary greatly from person to person. Progression from one stage to the next is not inevitable: several of the stages can be achieved, lost, and regained many times without progression. Excitement PhaseThis is the first phase of the sexual response cycle; excitement can be communicated between partners verbally, through body language, through behavior, or through any of the following body changes: •For both sexes: Heart rate and blood pressure increase, body muscles tense, sexual flush occurs, nipples become erect, genital and pelvic blood vessels become engorged, and involuntary and voluntary muscles contract. •For women: The vagina lengthens and widens, the clitoris swells and enlarges, breasts increase in size, the labia swell and separate, the vagina becomes lubricated, and the uterus rises slightly.Vaginal lubrication is the key indicator of sexual excitement.
•For men: The penis becomes erect, the scrotum thickens, and the testes rise closer to the body. Erection of the penis is the key indicator of sexual excitement. Plateau Phase If physical or mental stimulation (especially stroking and rubbing of erogenous zones or sexual intercourse) continues during full arousal, the plateau stage may be achieved. This stage, the highest moment of sexual excitement before orgasm, may be achieved, lost, and regained several times without the occurrence of orgasm.
The level of sexual arousal remains somewhat stable at this phase. •For both sexes: Breathing rate, heart rate, and blood pressure further increase, sexual flush deepens, and muscle tension increases. There is a sense of impending orgasm. •For women: The clitoris withdraws, the areola around the nipples become larger, the labia continue to swell, the uterus tips to stand high in the abdomen, the lower vagina swells, narrows, and tightens it’s vaginal opening, preparing itself for grasping the penis. For men: The ridge of the glans penis becomes more prominent and shows an increase in the circumference of the head of the penis.
While the testes rise closer to the body,increase in size and take the position for ejaculation. Orgasmic Phase Orgasm occurs at the peak of the plateau phase. At the moment of orgasm, the sexual tension that has been building throughout the body is released. Orgasm can be achieved through mental stimulation and fantasy alone, but more commonly is a result of direct physical stimulation or sexual intercourse.
