| What are the Phases of Sexual Response Cycle | |
Masters and Johnson first described the sexual response cycle with four stages like, Excitement, Plateau, orgasm and Resolution
Sexual responses being physiological responses, depend grossly thoughts, feelings and sexual involvement of a person, they become identity of a person and cannot be described defined as mechanical process.
Speed, size and strength of sexual responses (erection, vaginal lubrication or muscular responses during orgasm may not correspond to person’s gratification received from love making, or their proficiency or ability in love making,
Degree of gratification depends on person’s perspective, need, want and personal choices.
| | | Phase of Excitement | |
Excitement results from sexual stimulation which may be physical or psychological or combination of both. It may derive from direct contact or by vision, smell, sound, thought, emotion or imagination
Other physiological responses we experience are smell of food leading to salivation, fear inducing sweating, a news may create excitement, an examination or interview may increase heartbeat.
In some, phase of excitement may be rapid and situational, while in some it may be gradual.
There are two basic sexual responses which occur during phase of excitement -
First – Vasocongestion, increased amount of blood concentrated in body tissues in male and female genitals and in breasts of females
Second – increased neuromuscular tension (myotonia) which builds up energy in nerves and muscles. Myotonia occurs throughout body and not restricted to genitals
| | | Phase of Sexual Excitement in Female | |
The first sign of sexual excitement in female is vaginal lubrication which starts 5 to 10 seconds after initiation of sexual stimulation
Because of the vasocongestion (increased flow of blood) in the walls of vagina, the moisture starts seeping from lining of vaginal walls. This process is called transudation.
Beads of vaginal secretion appear initially as droplets which join together to moisten the entire surface of vagina.
In early stages of excitement, the quantity of fluid is so small that woman does not even feel it. But, when the sexual stimulation continues, the fluid inside the vagina increases and flows out to moisten the vaginal opening and inner surface of vaginal lips
Consistency, quantity and odour of vaginal lubrication differ considerably from woman to woman and in the same woman from time to time.
Vaginal lubrication is a physiological process to facilitate easier and smoother insertion of penis into vagina without causing pain or discomfort to woman
When the sexual excitement in a woman is at its peak, the inner two third of the vagina expands upwards pushing the uterus along with cervix upwards and backwards to create space for the hard penis.
The outer lips of the vagina open and flatten, the inner lips of vagina enlarge in diameter and the clitoris increases in size due to vasocongestion (engorgement).
Woman’s nipples become erect as a result of contraction of small (erectile) muscle fibers in them.
In the advanced stage of excitement, size of the breasts increases and their contour changes.
| | | Phase of Sexual Excitement in men | |
More prominent sign of sexual excitement is erection of penis which occurs within few seconds after sexual stimulation
Although it is different from vaginal lubrication, both occur because of vasocongestion
Erection results from the spongy tissues of the penis rapidly filling with blood.
Not certain whether engorgement occurs because the veins which drain the penis cannot keep up with rapid filling of blood; Or special structures in blood vessels of penis called “polsters” limit the blood outflow
In either case, the increase in size and hardness of erect penis is due to increase fluid pressure (hydraulic mechanism)
Despite being a mechanical process, man physically or psychologically aroused will still not have firm erection in situations like stress, fatigue or anxiety.
During sexual excitement, the skin surface of the scrotum smoothens out and testes are drawn / pulled towards the body.
In the later stages of excitement, the testes increase in size slightly.
In some men nipples become erect even though they are tiny as compared to women’s nipples.
Mere sight, thought or touch of a woman is sufficient for penis to get erect.
Even moving a bra strap down or a suggestive sexual movement of a woman can get penis erect.
| | | Phase of Sexual Excitement for men and women | |
Physical changes of sexual excitement are neither constant for men or women
Tempo created during sexual arousal can decrease or disappear by mental or physical distraction.
A knock on the door, a telephone ring, a muscle cramp or even a growling stomach can contribute to distraction.
The manner in which person is stimulated or caressed can increase or reduce the excitement.
In women sudden or excessive groping of breasts or direct pressure in clitoral region can affect excitement.
Most men as well as women experience, sudden drop is sexual responses of excitement like, penis becoming soft or vagina becoming dry, suddenly even after achieving peak of excitement. This is normal in long term marital relationship. In such situations partner’s acceptance is expected and appreciated.
The process or mechanism of vasocongestion fluctuates just like any other biological responses.
The erection may reduce in size or strength, vaginal lubrication may reduce or become dry.
Partners who wish to rekindle their relationship can regain these responses over time with care and understanding of each other.
| | | Phase of Plateau | |
The plateau is the phase where highest level of sexual excitement achieved by sexual stimulation is maintained and intensified. It is a process of setting a stage for orgasm.
The duration of plateau varies widely.
For men who cannot control ejaculation – this phase is very brief
In some women a short plateau may be followed by intense orgasm. She may request for quicker thrusting and immediate ejaculation.
For some women long and leisurely time at plateau is more intimate and erotic and sexually satisfying.
| | | Phase of Plateau in women | |
During plateau phase in women In women, vasocongestion in outer third of vagina causes tissues to swell creating an orgasmic platform which narrows the opening of vagina by 30% or more.
Woman can actually grip the penis of any diameter when plateau is at their peak (orgasmic platform can grip the penis)
This is the reason why size of the penis is not so important for women for physical stimulation during intercourse.
However, some women prefer large penis to get psychological stimulation, whereas, some women claim to receive physical stimulation by a large penis.
Some women also get hurt when the penis is extraordinarily hard or thrust violently, even in case of the same person with whom they have enjoyed intercourse otherwise.
During plateau phase inner two third of vagina expands slightly/even more in size as the uterus gets elevated in a process called tenting.
Production of vaginal lubrication reduces during plateau especially when the plateau phase is prolonged.
The clitoris is pulled back against the pubic bone during plateau. This change, coupled with vasocongestion occurring in the vaginal lips hide the clitoris and protects its head (glans) from direct touch or contact.
There is no loss of clitoral sensation, because pressure on vaginal lips as well as mons pubis will result in clitoral stimulation
Inner lips enlarge dramatically as a result of engorgement with blood, almost doubling or even tripling in its thickness. This pushes outer lips apart, providing more access to opening of vagina for erect penis, even without requiring holding of penis for manipulating its insertion.
Sometimes holding of penis and separating the inner lips apart by man or a woman may be required to guide the insertion of penis, where the flaps of vaginal lips come in the way of insertion of penis.
During this stage inner lips display glowing colours.
In women who have never been pregnant, the colour ranges from pink to red and women who had been pregnant, show bright red to deep wine colour because of increased vascular supply. The colour change in most women precedes orgasm.
The areola of female breasts which swell in late phase of excitement continues to swell during plateau phase often making nipples obscure because of submerging.
Increase in breast size is strikingly prominent (about 20 to 25%) during plateau phase in women who have never breast-fed a child
In women who have previously breast-fed a child this change is not significant because they have developed venous drainage. However, the erotic sensation of their breasts does not reduce by breast feeding.
| | | Sex Flush in women | |
In late phase of excitement and early phase of plateau, body skin colour changes in 50 to 75 % of women and about 25% of men. This is called sex-flush which begins below the breast bone above abdomen and spreads rapidly over breasts, chest and other parts of the body including neck buttocks, back, arms, legs and face.
Sex flush is result of changes in pattern of blood flow below the surface of skin which makes the person warm.
| | | Phase of Plateau in men | |
During male plateau, the diameter of the head near coronal part of penis increases slightly.
This area deepens in colour because of pooling of blood in the area.
Vasocongestion also causes testes to swell and become 50 to 100 % larger than its un-stimulated stage.
A sexual tension mounds towards orgasm, the testes not only continue to elevate but also rotate forward so that their back surface rest firmly in contact with perineum (area between scrotum and anus)
Full elevation of testes indicate that orgasm is imminent.
In men, particularly over 50, the testes elevate partially. This may be the cause of reduction of their ejaculatory pressure.
Small amount of clear fluid appears from the male urethra during plateau phase which is secretion from Cowper’s gland which may occasionally carry sperms
Many men experience internal pressure or warmth during the plateau phase due to vasocongestion in the region of prostate gland and seminal vesicles.
| | | Phase of Plateau in men and women | |
In addition to above, men as well as women experience several changes throughout their bodies during plateau phase.
That includes, generalized increase in neuromuscular tension, particularly in buttocks and thighs. The heart rate increases, sometimes leading to thumping inside the chest.
Breathing becomes faster and blood pressure increases
Ears get blocked which reduce focus on what partner is saying or expressing.
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