The Sexual Response Cycle

 


Many people engage in sexual activity in today’s world. It is not seen as it was centuries ago, as something taboo or something that women can not enjoy. The sexual response cycle is a part of everyone’s life that participates in sexually stimulating behavior. This cycle is how a body responds both physically and emotionally to sexual activity.   The cycle has four different phases which are the excitement phase, the plateau phase, the orgasmic phase, and the resolution phase. People may experience these phases differently, the length and intensity of each varies from person to person. There are also dysfunctions that can occur that will hinder the sexual response cycle from taking place.
The Sexual Response cycle
The excitement phase is what happens when someone first gets aroused. This can start as quickly as three to eight seconds after the first stimulation begins, lasting anywhere from seconds to hours. This starts the blood flow to the genitals, which causes an erection in men and the swelling of the clitoris and inner lips in women.   This stage also causes flushed skin, heightened heart rate and blood pressure, nipples becoming hard, and lubrication in both females and males. The man’s testicles will swell as well as the skin around them thickening, and the women’s breasts will become fuller.
The next stage is the plateau stage, where the characteristics from the excitement stage are intensified. The vagina continues to swell and the vaginal opening constricts, getting ready to grasp the penis. The clitoris becomes very sensitive and draws under the hood. The man’s penis shows an increase of circumference at the head and the testes become higher and in position for ejaculation.   This stage brings people to the brink of orgasm.

The climax occurs during the next stage of the cycle, the orgasmic phase. This stage is generally the shortest in the sexual response cycle, but may be the most intense and pleasurable of all the stages. General... [continues]

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