Sexual Response Cycle

When men and women become sexual aroused there are changes that occur within the body. Masters and Johnson described these changes with the sexual response cycle. The sexual response cycle of both men and women are very similar. There are four phases of the sexual response cycle: excitement phase, plateau phase, orgasmic phase and resolution phase. Vasocongestion and myotonia also characterize the sexual response cycle. “Vasocongestion is the swelling of the genital tissues with blood.” (Nevid & Rathus, 2005, p. 445). When vasocongestion occurs in men it causes an erection of the penis; in women it causes the breasts and the area surrounding the vaginal opening and to swell. “Myotonia is muscle tension.” (Nevid & Rathus, 2005, p. 445). When myotonia occurs it will cause men and women to have facial grimaces, spasms in the hands and feet and finally orgasm spasms.

The excitement phase in the sexual response cycle is the first phase. In this phase men and women experience some of the same effects from excitement. In both men and women increases in blood pressure and heart rate will occur. They may experience a rosy sex flush of the skin. The rosy sex flush of the skin is usually more prominent in women. During the excitement phase for women lubrication of the vagina occurs. This begins within 10 to 30 seconds after sexual stimulation. Vasocongestion causes the clitoris to swell, enlargement of the breast and the vaginal lips will become flatter and spread apart. During the excitement phase for men vasocongestion will cause the penis to become erect. This will occur 3 to 8 seconds after sexual stimulation. In this phase men will also experience thickening of the scrotal, elevation and increased size of the testes.

The second phase of the sexual response cycle is the plateau phase. Men and women experience some of the same effects of arousal also. According to Nevid and Rathus (2005) Breathing will become more rapid, heart rate will increase to 100 to...