Human Sexual Response

STAGE 2: During the Plateau Phase, the penis undergoes further vasocongestion and becomes bigger. The glans penis turns reddish purple in color in white males but this is not noticeable in dark skins.

STAGE 3 is the Orgasmic Phase when the ejaculation takes place. It results from contractions of the various muscles in the perineal region, the urethra, and the bulbospongiosus. The corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum are hollow cylinders which contain no muscles, but merely fill up with blood to permit erection of the penis. The base of the penis is securely anchored into the pelvic bone by strong muscles, the ischio-cavernosus and the bulbospongiosus, whose contractions permit the ejaculation of semen. During these contractions, the semen is forced out from the prostatic, membranous and penile urethra. (For easy identification the portion of the urethra which passes through the prostate is called prostatic urethra, the succeeding portion is membranous and the segment through the penis is called the Penile urethra.) The contractions of the penis during ejaculation resemble the contractions of the female during orgasm.

STAGE 4 OR RESOLUTION: The penis after ejaculation soon resumes its flaccid state. Unlike the female who can respond immediately if restimulated during the Plateau Phase, the male has a refractory period which varies from individual to individual during which time he does not get an erection.

GENERAL RESPONSES: The general body response is characterized by increased muscle tension due to contraction of the muscles and vasocongestion (increased blood supply). The response is identical in males and females. The breathing is faster, the heart rate increases as the tension rises and so does the blood pressure. Dr. Masters observed in his study that the systolic blood pressure was elevated 40 to 100 millimeters of mercury (mm. of Hg.) and the diastolic 20 to 50 mm. of Hg. To illustrate, if the systolic blood pressure is 130 mm. of Hg., it can shoot up before ejaculation to over 230 mm. of Hg. and if the diastolic is 80, it can rise to 130 mm. of Hg. A skin rash, noticed in white skins, and sweating are additional features of the general response during sexual stimulation.

The Male Response Cycle is simple and straightforward compared to the intricate and innumerable changes that take place in the female genital organs during arousal.

Female Sexual Response

The female, like the male, when sexually aroused goes through four stages: (1) Excitement Phase, (2) Plateau Phase, (3) Orgasmic Phase, and (4) Resolution Phase.

STAGE 1 is the onset of sexual excitement. The first sign of sexual arousal in the female is the secretion of the lubricating fluid by the vagina. The vaginal lubrication occurs within 10 to 30 seconds after sexual stimulation in normal women. (The first sign of arousal in the male is erection of the penis.) Dr. Masters calls it 'the sweating reaction of the vagina'. Just as beads of perspiration appear on the face, in the same way beads of moisture appear on the inner vaginal wall and coalesce (unite) to form the lubricating fluid. However, if the sexual stimulation by the male is not of the right kind, the vagina remains dry and the usual moistening is absent. Innumerable impatient males try to enter a woman's dry vagina. Not only is such an entry difficult for him but it causes the woman intense physical pain and emotional disturbances. It is essential for the male to stimulate her mons area with the finger until she is moist before he enters her.

The clitoris is the master key to unlock the female orgasm. The male partner must be well aware of its location and thoroughly familiar with its anatomy. It is situated just above the vaginal opening and below the mons area and consists of a body and the glans. The smaller than pea size glans is packed with nerves and is so highly sensitive that most women can not bear it being touched directly by the finger.

The two small lips unite above to form a hood or prepuce to cover the glans. During the Excitement Phase, the first change is enlargement of the clitoris and swelling of the clitoral glans due to engorgement of blood vessels inside it; in some women it doubles in size. The size of the clitoral glans like that of the penis bears no relationship to orgasmic responsiveness. The clitoral response during the Excitement Phase is prompt if the area around the mons and the clitoral shaft are directly tickled with the finger. The response takes longer if only kissing or caressing of the breasts is resorted to.Changes in the breast: Masters and Johnson describe a series of changes in the female breasts. According to them, the first sign during sexual excitement is erection of the nipples. Erection usually does not occur simultaneously in both breasts one nipple may become erect and tumescent, while the other may take a little longer. In right-handed male partners, the females (from a sample survey) reported that they usually responded with erection of their left nipple first. The nipples may increase in size from 0.5 to I centimeter. With increased blood supply, the veins on the surface of the breasts become dilated and the breasts become bigger. Erection of the nipples is a tell tale, easily visible sign that the female is responding to sexual stimulation.

STAGE 2 is the Plateau Phase. The normal vagina is potential space but during Stage 2, the upper two thirds balloons out and forms a cavity to accommodate the erect penis. The lower one third is narrowed because of vasocongestion and grips the penis firmly. The uterus also enlarges during this stage, and a remarkable yet consistent change takes place in the clitoris. The whole clitoris retracts upwards in front of the symphysis pubic bone, while the glans is withdrawn beneath the foreskin. It is not easy to locate the body and the glans of the retracted clitoris with the finger and inexperienced males often fumble searching for it.

The clitoral body retraction is a sure sign that the female is about to reach her orgasm if stimulation is continued, otherwise the clitoral body and glans promptly return to their original overhanging position. In white women, the inner lips (labia minora) become congested and appear bright red in color. The color change is not so prominent in dark complexioned women. The Plateau Phase may last from 30 seconds to a few minutes before culminating in an orgasm. If the orgasm does not take place, pelvic congestion may persist for a few hours and may lead to tension and frustration.

STAGE 3: The Plateau Phase culminates in the climax or orgasm which is characterized by sudden peaking followed by a release of sexual tension. The responding woman may feel the muscular contractions in her vagina, rectum and the pelvic muscles as well as in the arms, legs and back of the neck. A sense of fulfillment and contentment permeates her whole body as she floats into a different world. The orgasm lasts for 10 to 15 seconds.

STAGE 4 is called the Resolution Phase, when the response cycle moves backward through the Plateau and Excitement Phases to the passive' unstimulated state. After climbing the sexual peak, the female returns to the plains. The pulse and blood pressure return to normal. The muscle tension and the vasocongestion also disappear.

The two basic changes which all the organs undergo to return to normal are: (1) release of muscular tension in the body, and (2) return of the blood to the heart from the congested blood vessels. The heart rate, blood pressure and respiration return to normal within minutes. If a woman has had a sex flush of her skin during the Plateau Phase, it will rapidly disappear; she may also have a thin layer of perspiration on her body.

The congested areolas around the nipples return to normal as the venous constriction is relieved. This rapid relief of areolar congestion makes the nipples look more erect. The tell tale secondary erection of the nipples is another sure, externally visible sign that orgasm has taken place. Within five to ten seconds after orgasm, the clitoris returns to its normal position as during the pre excitement phase. In cases where manual stimulation of the clitoris is resorted to produce an orgasm, its return to the normal overhanging position is another indication that an orgasm has taken place. The contracted outer third of the vagina relaxes and the orgasmic platform is lost.

Where the female partner has not gone beyond the Plateau Phase, the resolution takes much longer. If an inadequate mate partner leaves her high and dry at the Plateau Phase, chronic congestion of her pelvic parts occurs, resulting in backaches, a constant feeling of congestion in the pelvic area and, in some cases, local irritation causing vaginal discharge. Intercourse makes her more tense, irritable and frustrated.

The female is ever ready to scale the sexual summit once again if restimulated, unlike the mate who cannot respond immediately. Hence the necessity of an ever potent male to fulfil the evergreen female. However, in this Stress Century, the civilized man is a tired ,man and does not have the energy to carry repeated sexual burdens.