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The inner sides of the [[thighs]] are also a common erogenous zone for most women. They are very sensitive to touch and touching and kissing this area increases the degree of arousal in a woman. The feet are sensitive to touches and kisses and they constitute an erogenous zone for a big part of the women.
The inner sides of the [[thighs]] are also a common erogenous zone for most women. They are very sensitive to touch and touching and kissing this area increases the degree of arousal in a woman. The feet are sensitive to touches and kisses and they constitute an erogenous zone for a big part of the women.

==Male sexual arousal==

It is normal to correlate the [[erection]] of the [[penis]] with [[male]] sexual arousal. Physical or psychological stimulation, or both, leads to [[vasodilation]] and the increased blood flow engorges the three spongy areas that run along the length of the penis (the two [[corpora cavernosa]] and the [[corpus spongiosum]]). The penis grows enlarged and firm, the skin of the [[scrotum]] is pulled tighter, and the [[testes]] are pulled up against the body.<ref name="NHS">{{cite web|title=Sexual arousal in men|url=http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodsex/Pages/Malesexualarousal.aspx|work=NHS Direct|publisher=[[National Health Service]]}}</ref> However the relationship between erection and arousal is not one-to-one. After their mid-forties, some men report that they do not always have an erection when they are sexually aroused.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Janssen|first=Erick|coauthors=Kimberly R. McBride, William Yarber, Brandon J. Hill and Scott M. Butler|title=Factors that Influence Sexual Arousal in Men: A Focus Group Study|journal=ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR|year=2008|month=April|volume=37|issue=2|doi=10.1007/s10508-007-9245-5|url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/q633659n8255h5jh/}}</ref> Equally, a male erection can occur during sleep ([[nocturnal penile tumescence]]) or at any time simply due to a full [[urinary bladder|bladder]]. A younger man can experience enough sexual arousal to create an erection from a passing thought or just the sight of a passer by. Once erect, his penis may gain enough stimulation from contact with the inside of his clothing to maintain and encourage it for some time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Embarrassing erections|url=http://www.thesite.org/sexandrelationships/sexuality/exploration/embarrassingerections|work=TheSite.org|publisher=YouthNet UK|accessdate=10 August 2010}}</ref>

As sexual arousal and stimulation continues, it is likely that the [[Glans penis|glans]] or head of the erect penis will swell wider and, as the genitals become further engorged with blood, their colour deepens and the testicles can grow up to 50% larger. As the testicles continue to rise, a feeling of warmth may develops around them and the [[perineum]]. With further sexual stimulation, the heart rate increases, blood pressure rises and breathing becomes quicker.<ref name="NHS"/> The increase in blood flow in the genital and other regions may lead to a [[Flushing (physiology)#Sex flush|sex flush]] sometimes, in some men.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kennard|first=Jerry|title=Sexual Arousal|url=http://menshealth.about.com/od/sexualhealth/a/sexual_arousal.htm|work=Men's health|publisher=About.com|date=2006}}</ref>

As sexual stimulation continues, the muscles of the [[pelvic floor]], the [[vas deferens]] (between the testicles and the prostate), the [[seminal vesicle]]s and the [[prostate gland]] itself may begin to contract in a way that forces sperm and semen into the [[urethra]] inside the penis. This is the onset of orgasm and it is likely, once this has started, that the man will continue to [[ejaculate]] and orgasm fully, with or without further stimulation.

Equally, if sexual stimulation stops before orgasm, the physical effects of the stimulation, including the [[vasocongestion]], will subside in a short time. Repeated or prolonged stimulation without orgasm and ejaculation can lead to a mild discomfort in the testes that is sometimes erroneously called '[[blue balls]]'.

After orgasm and ejaculation, men, like women, usually experience a [[refractory period]] characterised by loss of erection, a subsidence in any sex flush, less interest in sex, and a feeling of relaxation that can be attributed to the [[neurohormone]]s [[oxytocin]] and [[prolactin]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Exton MS, Krüger TH, Koch M, ''et al.'' |title=Coitus-induced orgasm stimulates prolactin secretion in healthy subjects |journal=Psychoneuroendocrinology |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=287–94 |year=2001 |month=April |pmid=11166491 |doi=10.1016/S0306-4530(00)00053-6}}</ref> The intensity and duration of the refractory period can be very short in a highly aroused young man in what he sees as a highly arousing situation, perhaps without even a noticeable loss of erection. It can be as long as a few hours or days in mid-life and older men.<ref name="NHS"/>


==Sexual arousal disorders==
==Sexual arousal disorders==

Revision as of 16:25, 10 August 2010

"Turn-on" redirects here. For other uses, see Turn On (disambiguation).

Sexual arousal, or sexual excitement, is the arousal of sexual desire, during or in anticipation of sexual activity. Things that precipitate human sexual arousal are colloquially known as turn-ons. There are many potential stimuli, both physical or mental, which can cause a person to become sexually aroused. Sexual arousal usually leads to physiological changes in the aroused person, some of which are pronounced while others are more subtle.

Sexual arousal may not lead to an actual sexual activity, beyond a mental arousal and the physiological changes that accompany it. Given sufficient stimulation, sexual arousal in humans will typically end in an orgasm; but may be pursued for its own sake, even in the absence of an orgasm.

Human sexual arousal

Depending on a situation, a person can be sexually aroused by a variety of factors, both physical or mental. A person may be sexually aroused by another person or by particular aspects of that person, or by a non-human object. A physical stimulation of an erogenous zone or acts of foreplay can result in arousal, especially if it is accompanied with the anticipation of imminent sexual activity. Sexual arousal may be assisted by a romantic setting, music or other soothing situation. The potential stimuli to sexual arousal vary from person to person, and from one time to another, as does the level of arousal. Stimuli are generally classified according to the sense involved: somatosensory (touch), visual, and olfactory (scent). Auditory stimuli are also possible, though they are generally considered secondary in role to the above-stated three. Many people may find nudity, erotica or pornography sexually arousing.[1]

When a person is sexually aroused by another person, it may be seen as an indicator of that person's sexual orientation.[citation needed] When sexual arousal is achieved by or dependent on the use of objects, it is referred to as sexual fetishism, or in some instances, a paraphilia. A person can take an active part in a sexual activity without sexual arousal.

Unlike many other animals, human beings of both sexes are potentially capable of sexual arousal throughout the year; therefore, there is no human mating season.

Female sexual arousal

Female sexual pleasure

Foreplay can lead to women feeling sexually aroused. During foreplay the woman becomes mentally and physically prepared for sexual intercourse. In order to achieve sexual pleasure and orgasms, stimulation during foreplay must be gradually intensified. This means that female orgasms are more likely to occur if the touching of their genital area is delayed.[2]

The ultimate female sexual pleasure is the orgasm. However, women find it harder than men to experience orgasms due to the increased level of stimulation that they need.[citation needed] Any kind of stimulation makes a difference when it comes to female pleasure and orgasms.

It used to be thought that the female orgasms may be clitoral or vaginal but sexologists nowadays agree that an orgasm is an orgasm, no matter the zone that is being stimulated.[3] Even though most of the women need more than just one type of stimulation in order to achieve orgasms, the very important parts to take into consideration are the clitoris and the vagina. Most women experience orgasms due to intense clitoral stimulation. One of the reasons why orgasms are easier to achieve when the clitoris is stimulated is that the clitoris has 8,000 nerve fibers, the highest concentration of nerve fibers found in the body.[4] The clitoris has an internal structure and tissues that engorge with blood when a woman is aroused.[5] There is some evidence that there is a pleasurably sensitive area or areas inside the vagina, one of which is popularly known as the G-Spot.[6] From the first research on the g-spot by Grafenberg, most concede that this area is nearest the backside of the clitoris, if not the root of the clitoris itself.[7][8][9]

The intensity and duration of an orgasm is different with every woman. Women are sometimes able to experience multiple orgasms where a second and perhaps other orgasms follow the first, after further stimulation.[10]

Female erogenous zones

The female erogenous zones are areas with nerve endings that increase the sensitivity and their stimulation results in sexual response.[11] The aim of exploring the female erogenous areas is to prepare the woman for sexual intercourse by increasing her level of arousal in order to enjoy the act and potentially reach an orgasm. The erogenous zones are different from woman to woman and it is also likely that the stimulation of the erogenous areas that some women find pleasant and exciting may be impossible to bear for others.

However, there are certain spots that most of the women enjoy being touched on or kissed. One of them is the ear. Stimulation of this erogenous area is more intense if made with the lips or tongue. The gentle touch of the ear can be very exciting for some women. For others, the lips are a sensitive spot that when it is touched produces wonderful sensations. Most of the women enjoy being kissed with passion on the lips and also, French kissing. Kissing on any of its forms may constitute the beginning of the foreplay.

The neck is one of the most sensitive parts of a woman's body. Most of the women get shivers only by feeling the partner's warm breath, fingertips or kisses. Biting is another way to stimulate the sensitive nerves. On the other hand, the undersides of the breasts and the nipples are very rich in nerve endings so women may get aroused by the simple gentle touch of the breasts. They can be stimulated manually or orally, using the lips and tongue.

The inner sides of the thighs are also a common erogenous zone for most women. They are very sensitive to touch and touching and kissing this area increases the degree of arousal in a woman. The feet are sensitive to touches and kisses and they constitute an erogenous zone for a big part of the women.

Male sexual arousal

It is normal to correlate the erection of the penis with male sexual arousal. Physical or psychological stimulation, or both, leads to vasodilation and the increased blood flow engorges the three spongy areas that run along the length of the penis (the two corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum). The penis grows enlarged and firm, the skin of the scrotum is pulled tighter, and the testes are pulled up against the body.[12] However the relationship between erection and arousal is not one-to-one. After their mid-forties, some men report that they do not always have an erection when they are sexually aroused.[13] Equally, a male erection can occur during sleep (nocturnal penile tumescence) or at any time simply due to a full bladder. A younger man can experience enough sexual arousal to create an erection from a passing thought or just the sight of a passer by. Once erect, his penis may gain enough stimulation from contact with the inside of his clothing to maintain and encourage it for some time.[14]

As sexual arousal and stimulation continues, it is likely that the glans or head of the erect penis will swell wider and, as the genitals become further engorged with blood, their colour deepens and the testicles can grow up to 50% larger. As the testicles continue to rise, a feeling of warmth may develops around them and the perineum. With further sexual stimulation, the heart rate increases, blood pressure rises and breathing becomes quicker.[12] The increase in blood flow in the genital and other regions may lead to a sex flush sometimes, in some men.[15]

As sexual stimulation continues, the muscles of the pelvic floor, the vas deferens (between the testicles and the prostate), the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland itself may begin to contract in a way that forces sperm and semen into the urethra inside the penis. This is the onset of orgasm and it is likely, once this has started, that the man will continue to ejaculate and orgasm fully, with or without further stimulation.

Equally, if sexual stimulation stops before orgasm, the physical effects of the stimulation, including the vasocongestion, will subside in a short time. Repeated or prolonged stimulation without orgasm and ejaculation can lead to a mild discomfort in the testes that is sometimes erroneously called 'blue balls'.

After orgasm and ejaculation, men, like women, usually experience a refractory period characterised by loss of erection, a subsidence in any sex flush, less interest in sex, and a feeling of relaxation that can be attributed to the neurohormones oxytocin and prolactin.[16] The intensity and duration of the refractory period can be very short in a highly aroused young man in what he sees as a highly arousing situation, perhaps without even a noticeable loss of erection. It can be as long as a few hours or days in mid-life and older men.[12]

Sexual arousal disorders

Some people may experience a sexual arousal disorder. This may be characterized as a lack or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity in a situation that would normally produce arousal. This may be caused by a mental disorder, such as depression, drug use, or some other medical condition, or some form of malnourishment in the person's diet. The lack of sexual arousal may be due to a general lack of sexual desire or due to a lack of sexual desire for the current partner. A person may always have had no or low sexual desire or the lack of desire may have been acquired during the person's life.

Physiological changes

Sexual arousal causes different physical changes, most significantly in the sex organs. Sexual arousal for a man is usually indicated by the swelling and erection of the penis when blood fills the corpus cavernosum. This is usually the most prominent and reliable sign of sexual arousal in males. In a woman, sexual arousal usually leads to vaginal lubrication in anticipation of sexual intercourse.

In females:

In males:

Female sexual arousal. In the left image female genitalia are in normal state. In the right image the female is sexually aroused, the vulva is wet and the labia are slightly engorged.

Male sexual arousal.

Models of human sexual response

Human sexual response cycle

Main article: Human sexual response cycle

During the 1950s and 1960s, William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson conducted many important studies into human sexuality. In 1966, they released Human Sexual Response, detailing four stages of physiological changes in humans during sexual stimulation: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution.[17]

Other models

The effect of sexual response is thought to be a plastic positive reinforcement behavior modifier associated with the Baldwin Effect. The end result of these sorts of things can be very novel structures such as the Pseudo-penis of the female spotted hyena.[18] The display of secondary sex characteristics in humans such as a penis-like enlarged clitoris in females during arousal and gynecomastia in males are thought to have once been objects of mate selection in human evolution because of the persistence of the phenomenon of these features invoking sexual arousal for potential mates in cross-cultural studies.[19] A dramatic example of this is the high rates of secondary sex characteristic dimorphism in some Southeast Asia human populations.[20]

Singer's model of sexual arousal

Singer[21] presents a model of the process of sexual arousal, in which he conceptualized human sexual response to be composed of three independent but generally sequential components. The first stage, aesthetic response, is an emotional reaction to noticing an attractive face or figure. This emotional reaction produces an increase in attention toward the object of attraction, typically involving head and eye movements toward the attractive object. The second stage, approach response, progresses from the first and involves bodily movements towards the object. The final genital response stage recognizes that with both attention and closer proximity, physical reactions result in genital tumescence. Singer also notes that there is an array of other autonomic responses, but acknowledges that the research literature suggests that the genital response is the most reliable and convenient to measure in males.

Duration of sexual intercourse

Intercourse often ends when the man has ejaculated. Thus the woman might not have time to reach orgasm. In addition, many men suffer from premature ejaculation. Conversely, many women require a substantially longer duration of stimulation than men before reaching an orgasm.[22]

In spite of the common belief that women need more time to get aroused, recent scientific research showed that there is no considerable difference for the time men and women require to become fully aroused. Scientists from McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada used the method of thermal imaging to record baseline temperature change in genital area to define the time necessary for sexual arousal. Researchers studied the time required for an individual to reach the peak of sexual arousal while watching sexually explicit movies or pictures and came to the conclusion that on average women and men took almost the same time for sexual arousal - around 10 minutes.[23] The time needed for foreplay is very individualistic and varies from one time to the next depending on many circumstances.[23]

According to a Kinsey study, just under half of men reported a time to ejaculation from intromission of five minutes or less.[citation needed] About a fifth claimed that coitus lasted 10 minutes or longer. Others may have taken over one hour.

A survey[24] of Canadian and American sex therapists said that the average time for intromission was 7 minutes and that 1 to 2 minutes was too short, 3 to 7 minutes was adequate and 7 to 13 minutes desirable, while 10 to 30 minutes was too long.[25][26]

Sexual arousal in animals

While human sexuality is well understood, scientists do not completely grasp how other animals relate sexually. However, current research studies suggest that many animals, like humans, enjoy sexual relations that are not limited to reproduction. Dolphins and bonobos, for example, are both well known to use sex as a "social tool to strengthen and maintain bonds."[27] Ethologists have long documented the exchanges of sex to promote group cohesion in social animals. Cementing social bondage is one of the most prominent theorized selective advantages of group selection theory. Experts in the evolution of sex such as John Maynard Smith advocate for the idea that the exchange of sexual favors helps congeal and localize the assortment of alleles in isolated population and therefore is potentially a very strong force in evolution. Maynard Smith also has written extensively on the "seminal fluid swapping theory" logistic application of the assortment of alleles as a more accurate synthetic depiction of the Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium in cases of severely interbreeding populations.

See also

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References

  1. ^ DeVita-Raeburn, Elizabeth. "Lust For The Long Haul ". Psychology Today. 2008-12-26 http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=20051209-000001&page=4.
  2. ^ "How To Pleasure Women". Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  3. ^ "Understanding The Female Orgasm". Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  4. ^ Angier, Natalie (1999). Woman : an intimate geography. Houghton Mifflin Co. p.63. ISBN 0-385-49841-1.
  5. ^ the Federation of Feminist Women’s Health Centers (1991). "A New View of a Woman’s body", pp.46-47. Feminist Health Press. ISBN 0-9629945-0-2 Pbk.
  6. ^ Delvin, David; Christine Webber (May 2008). "The G-Spot". Healthy Living. NetDoctor.co.uk. http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthyliving/gspot.htm. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  7. ^ Ernest Gräfenberg (1950). "The role of urethra in female orgasm". International Journal of Sexology 3 (3): 145–148. http://www.landman psychology.com/284/sexuality/grafenberg-gspot.htm.
  8. ^ "BBC NEWS | Health | Female G spot 'can be detected'". html. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7254523.stm. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  9. ^ Angier, Natalie (1999). Woman : an intimate geography. Houghton Mifflin Co. p.83. ISBN 0-385-49841-1.
  10. ^ O'Rourke, Theresa. "Orgasms Unlimited". Cosmopolitan. Hearst Communications. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  11. ^ "Her Erogenous Zones". Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  12. ^ a b c "Sexual arousal in men". NHS Direct. National Health Service.
  13. ^ Janssen, Erick (2008). "Factors that Influence Sexual Arousal in Men: A Focus Group Study". ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR. 37 (2). doi:10.1007/s10508-007-9245-5. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  14. ^ "Embarrassing erections". TheSite.org. YouthNet UK. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  15. ^ Kennard, Jerry (2006). "Sexual Arousal". Men's health. About.com.
  16. ^ Exton MS, Krüger TH, Koch M; et al. (2001). "Coitus-induced orgasm stimulates prolactin secretion in healthy subjects". Psychoneuroendocrinology. 26 (3): 287–94. doi:10.1016/S0306-4530(00)00053-6. PMID 11166491. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "The Sexual Response Cycle". SexInfo. University of California, Santa Barbara. Retrieved 2007-04-24. Masters and Johnson's Four-Phase Model: The sexual responses of men and women have many similarities....
  18. ^ Carey, Bjorn Painful realities of Hyena sex http://www.livescience.com/animals/060426_hyena_cubs.html
  19. ^ Miller, Geoffrey A Review of Sexual Selection and Human Evolution http://cas.bellarmine.edu/tietjen/Human%20Nature%20S%201999/SexualSelection/sex%5B1%5D.pdf
  20. ^ Harpending, Henry "Human Diversity and its History" (Bibliographic Guide to East Asian Studies, by Gale Group, Gale Group, 2001, ISBN 0783892195, 9780783892191)
  21. ^ Singer, B. Conceptualizing sexual arousal and attraction. The Journal of Sex Research. 1984; 20, 230-240
  22. ^ "Premature ejaculation". Retrieved 2007-03-02.
  23. ^ a b "Your introduction to foreplay". Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  24. ^ Corty, E., & Guardiani, J. (2008) Canadian and American Sex Therapists' Perceptions of Normal and Abnormal Ejaculatory Latencies: How Long Should Intercourse Last?. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5(5), 1251-1256. DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.00797.x
  25. ^ Sex therapists: Best sex is 7 to 13 min.
  26. ^ Sexy time
  27. ^ McCarey, Kevin (writer) (1999). Dolphins: The wild side (Documentary). USA: National Geographic Adventure. Retrieved 2007-04-24. "Like humans and some chimpanzees, dolphins use sex for reasons other than procreation. Sex is as frequent as it is casual, a social tool used to strengthen and maintain bonds." 'Dolphins: The wild side' at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
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