Shankara20
Well, that is lovely
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2005
- Posts
- 58,546
While reviewing the stages of sexual response (see below) for a presentation I'm about to make it looks to me like some things are missing or just incorrect.
Stage 1 - should it not be called "being alive"?
Stage 2 - where is the heightened sense of small and the desire to bite skin?
Stage 3 - where is the hair on my head catching fire part?
Stage 4 - where is the licking up my jizz, rolling over and going to sleep part?
What else is missing?
The Stages of Sexual Response
STAGE 1: Desire
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. Societal and cultural values influence the range of stimuli that provoke sexual desire, and ideals about the stimuli considered “sexual” or “attractive” can vary greatly between cultures and among subsets of a single culture. In addition, each individual reacts to sets of stimuli that are idiosyncratic—based on his or her own thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Indications of Desire. Desire is a prelude to sexual excitement and sexual activity—it occurs in the mind rather than the body and may not progress to sexual excitement without further physical or mental stimulation. Desire may be communicated between potential sexual partners either verbally or through body language and behavior (for example, through “flirting”). This communication, which is shaped by sociocultural factors, may be subtle and easily misread. In different cultures, behaviors meant to communicate desire may vary greatly along gender lines; for example, in some cultures, women are expected not to express overt, verbal communication of their sexual desire, whereas such communication from men is expected.
STAGE 2: Excitement (arousal)
Excitement is the body’s physical response to desire. (A person who manifests the physical indications of excitement is termed to be “aroused” or “excited.”) The progression from desire to excitement depends on a wide variety of factors—it may be brought on by sensory stimulation, thoughts, fantasy, or even the suggestion that desire may be reciprocated. For some persons (particularly for some adolescents), the excitement stage may be achieved with very little physical or mental stimulation, whereas for others, significant intimacy, physical stimulation, or fantasy may be required. It generally takes longer for women to achieve full arousal than for men to do so. Excitement may lead to intimacy and sexual activity, but this is not inevitable: for both sexes, initial physical excitement may be lost and regained many times without progression to the next stage.
Indications of Excitement. 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.
STAGE 3: Plateau
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.
Indications of the Plateau Stage. The plateau stage can be communicated between partners verbally, through body language, through behavior, or through any of the following physiological changes:
• 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 Bartholin’s glands lubricate, the areolae around the nipples become larger, the labia continue to swell, the uterus tips to stand high in the abdomen, and the “orgasmic platform” develops (that is, the lower vagina swells, narrows, and tightens).
• For men: The ridge of the glans penis becomes more prominent, the Cowper’s glands secrete preejaculatory fluid, and the testes rise closer to the body.
STAGE 4: Orgasm
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, and the body releases chemicals called endorphins, which cause a sense of well-being. Orgasm can be achieved through mental stimulation and fantasy alone, but more commonly is a result of direct physical stimulation or sexual intercourse (although many women report difficulty in achieving orgasm through vaginal intercourse alone). Women are capable of multiple orgasms (moving immediately from orgasm back into the plateau stage and to orgasm again), whereas men must pass through the resolution stage before another orgasm can be achieved.
Indications of Orgasm. The intensity of orgasm can vary among individuals and can vary for an individual from one sexual experience to another. Orgasm may involve intense spasm and loss of awareness, or it may be signaled by as little as a sigh or subtle relaxation. Orgasm can be communicated between partners verbally, through body language, through behavior, or through any of the following physiological changes:
• For both sexes: Heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure reach their highest peak, sexual flush spreads over the body, and there is a loss of muscle control (spasms).
• For women: The uterus, vagina, anus, and muscles of the pelvic floor contract five to 12 times at 0.8-second intervals.
• For men: Ejaculation (contractions of the ejaculatory duct in the prostate gland cause semen to be ejected through the urethra and penis) occurs, and the urethra, anus, and muscles of the pelvic floor contract three to six times at 0.8-second intervals.
STAGE 5: Resolution
Resolution is the period following orgasm, during which muscles relax and the body begins to return to its preexcitement state. Immediately following orgasm, men experience a refractory period, during which erection cannot be achieved (the duration of this period varies among individuals and increases with age). Women experience no refractory period—they can either enter the resolution stage or return to the excitement or plateau stage immediately following orgasm.
Indications of Resolution. Resolution 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 dip below normal, returning to normal soon afterward; the whole body (including the palms of hands and soles of feet) sweats; there is a loss of muscle tension, increased relaxation, and drowsiness.
• For women: Blood vessels dilate to drain the pelvic tissues and decrease engorgement; the breasts and areolae decrease in size; nipples lose their erection; the clitoris resumes its prearousal position and shrinks slightly; the labia return to normal size and position; the vagina relaxes; the cervix opens to help semen travel up into the uterus (closing 20–30 minutes after orgasm); and the uterus lowers into the upper vagina (location of semen after male orgasm during penile-vaginal intercourse).
• For men: Nipples lose their erection; the penis lightens in color and becomes softer and smaller; the scrotum relaxes, and the testes drop farther away from the body. Depending on a number of factors (including age), the refractory period in men may last anywhere from five minutes to 24 hours or more.
Stage 1 - should it not be called "being alive"?
Stage 2 - where is the heightened sense of small and the desire to bite skin?
Stage 3 - where is the hair on my head catching fire part?
Stage 4 - where is the licking up my jizz, rolling over and going to sleep part?
What else is missing?
The Stages of Sexual Response
STAGE 1: Desire
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. Societal and cultural values influence the range of stimuli that provoke sexual desire, and ideals about the stimuli considered “sexual” or “attractive” can vary greatly between cultures and among subsets of a single culture. In addition, each individual reacts to sets of stimuli that are idiosyncratic—based on his or her own thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Indications of Desire. Desire is a prelude to sexual excitement and sexual activity—it occurs in the mind rather than the body and may not progress to sexual excitement without further physical or mental stimulation. Desire may be communicated between potential sexual partners either verbally or through body language and behavior (for example, through “flirting”). This communication, which is shaped by sociocultural factors, may be subtle and easily misread. In different cultures, behaviors meant to communicate desire may vary greatly along gender lines; for example, in some cultures, women are expected not to express overt, verbal communication of their sexual desire, whereas such communication from men is expected.
STAGE 2: Excitement (arousal)
Excitement is the body’s physical response to desire. (A person who manifests the physical indications of excitement is termed to be “aroused” or “excited.”) The progression from desire to excitement depends on a wide variety of factors—it may be brought on by sensory stimulation, thoughts, fantasy, or even the suggestion that desire may be reciprocated. For some persons (particularly for some adolescents), the excitement stage may be achieved with very little physical or mental stimulation, whereas for others, significant intimacy, physical stimulation, or fantasy may be required. It generally takes longer for women to achieve full arousal than for men to do so. Excitement may lead to intimacy and sexual activity, but this is not inevitable: for both sexes, initial physical excitement may be lost and regained many times without progression to the next stage.
Indications of Excitement. 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.
STAGE 3: Plateau
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.
Indications of the Plateau Stage. The plateau stage can be communicated between partners verbally, through body language, through behavior, or through any of the following physiological changes:
• 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 Bartholin’s glands lubricate, the areolae around the nipples become larger, the labia continue to swell, the uterus tips to stand high in the abdomen, and the “orgasmic platform” develops (that is, the lower vagina swells, narrows, and tightens).
• For men: The ridge of the glans penis becomes more prominent, the Cowper’s glands secrete preejaculatory fluid, and the testes rise closer to the body.
STAGE 4: Orgasm
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, and the body releases chemicals called endorphins, which cause a sense of well-being. Orgasm can be achieved through mental stimulation and fantasy alone, but more commonly is a result of direct physical stimulation or sexual intercourse (although many women report difficulty in achieving orgasm through vaginal intercourse alone). Women are capable of multiple orgasms (moving immediately from orgasm back into the plateau stage and to orgasm again), whereas men must pass through the resolution stage before another orgasm can be achieved.
Indications of Orgasm. The intensity of orgasm can vary among individuals and can vary for an individual from one sexual experience to another. Orgasm may involve intense spasm and loss of awareness, or it may be signaled by as little as a sigh or subtle relaxation. Orgasm can be communicated between partners verbally, through body language, through behavior, or through any of the following physiological changes:
• For both sexes: Heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure reach their highest peak, sexual flush spreads over the body, and there is a loss of muscle control (spasms).
• For women: The uterus, vagina, anus, and muscles of the pelvic floor contract five to 12 times at 0.8-second intervals.
• For men: Ejaculation (contractions of the ejaculatory duct in the prostate gland cause semen to be ejected through the urethra and penis) occurs, and the urethra, anus, and muscles of the pelvic floor contract three to six times at 0.8-second intervals.
STAGE 5: Resolution
Resolution is the period following orgasm, during which muscles relax and the body begins to return to its preexcitement state. Immediately following orgasm, men experience a refractory period, during which erection cannot be achieved (the duration of this period varies among individuals and increases with age). Women experience no refractory period—they can either enter the resolution stage or return to the excitement or plateau stage immediately following orgasm.
Indications of Resolution. Resolution 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 dip below normal, returning to normal soon afterward; the whole body (including the palms of hands and soles of feet) sweats; there is a loss of muscle tension, increased relaxation, and drowsiness.
• For women: Blood vessels dilate to drain the pelvic tissues and decrease engorgement; the breasts and areolae decrease in size; nipples lose their erection; the clitoris resumes its prearousal position and shrinks slightly; the labia return to normal size and position; the vagina relaxes; the cervix opens to help semen travel up into the uterus (closing 20–30 minutes after orgasm); and the uterus lowers into the upper vagina (location of semen after male orgasm during penile-vaginal intercourse).
• For men: Nipples lose their erection; the penis lightens in color and becomes softer and smaller; the scrotum relaxes, and the testes drop farther away from the body. Depending on a number of factors (including age), the refractory period in men may last anywhere from five minutes to 24 hours or more.
