The Sexual Response Cycle - Essay Example

Additionally, sexual response is likewise largely a product of our society's values and traditions as well as personal and individual preferences. Religion, morality, folklore and also traditions intrude into how people view and engage in sex (Nevid & Rathus, 2007, p. 432). In most societies, there are incest taboos. Sex is a very natural act or function but often, religion imposes many restrictions on various sexual practices (Thelos, 2003, p. 9). Discussion People anywhere in the world have the same biological and anatomical features.

In the society we live in today, people have different attitudes towards sex due to the various types of influences mentioned earlier. In this brief paper, discussion is focused on the human sexual response cycle and the many similarities between male and female human sexual responses. It might be a shocker to many people who generally believe that men and women have different types of responses to sex. This paper likewise discusses in detail the phases of the human sex response cycle for both males and females.

Finally, sexual dysfunctions are also discussed and the more common methods of dealing or treating these dysfunctions or ailments. This sections talks on the different phases of the human sexual response cycle for the male as well as the female. . The erection is due to the flow of blood to the mainly erectile tissues in the penis. Plateau – this is the so-called stable phase in which excitement is further intensified and sexual interest is maintained further by physiological, physical and psychological stimuli (Heffner & Schust, 2010, p. 40). The breathing becomes rapid, the heartbeat increases and blood pressure continues to rise from all the excitement.

Orgasm – this counterpart in the male orgasm phase is called ejaculation and consists of two distinct stages of muscular contractions. The first stage happens when the semen is pushed out from the testes towards the base of the penis and then the internal sphincter muscle of the urinary bladder will contract to prevent urine from being mixed with the semen. In the second stage, the semen (ejaculate) will be propelled out of the body by strong contractions. A pleasure sensation ensues, depending on the strength of the contractions (at 5 contractions for every 4 seconds or 0.

8 contractions/second) and the amount of seminal fluid being expelled. Resolution – the male body returns to its normal or unaroused state in which blood pressure returns to normal levels, the erection disappears as blood flow to the penis is now reversed and the testes also return to their more normal sizes. Refractory Period – this is the phase in between the orgasm and resolution phases that is unique only to the males in which further erection is almost impossible. This means that any further stimulation will not produce an erection, orgasm or ejaculation.

Female Human Sexual Response (4 Phases) Excitement – this phase is characterized by vaginal lubrication due to the