Sexual Response Cycle

The Sexual Response Cycle

Men and women experience many phases during a sexual experience. Some are different, but some are actually the same. Masters and Johnson, (1966) researchers who studied the kinds of changes that occur in the body when it is sexually aroused, used the term sexual response cycle to explain the changes that the body will go through between men and women. They found that the sexual stimulation between male and female are similar. The sexual response cycle consists of four different stages: the excitement phase, plateau, orgasm, and the resolution stage.

Vasocengestion and myotonia characterize the sexual response cycle. Vasocongestion is the swelling of genital tissues with blood in males and swelling of the area around the vaginal opening in females. The testes and the nipples swell as blood vessels dilate in these areas. Also, the earlobes will swell when a person is sexually aroused.

Myotonia is muscle tension that causes spasms in the hands and feet and then the spasms of an orgasm. It also causes facial grimaces.

The excitement stage for men can cause an erection soon after sexual stimulation begins (approximately 3 to 8 seconds). The testes increase in size and become elevated and the scrotal skin also thickens. With women, soon after stimulation (approximately 10 to 30 seconds), the vagina will become moist. Vasocongestion (engorgement of blood vessels with blood, which swells the genitals and breast during sexual arousal) swells the clitoris and spreads and flattens the vaginal lips. The inner part of the vagina expands, the breasts become enlarged and the blood vessels become more noticeable. With both men and women, the nipples will become erect and the heart rate and blood pressure will rise.

The plateau phase is the second phase. During this phase men will show an increase in the head of the penis and the color will change to a reddish purplish color. The testes are completely elevated for...