Physiology of sexual response

A. General model

B. Changes in anatomy

C. Other general responses

I. Physiology of sexual response

A. Introduction.

1. Masters and Johnson, 1966: 10,000 episodes: 382 women, 312 men

2. General model for women and men

• Excitement phase
• Plateau phase
• Orgasm
• Resolution
•  

3. Main physiological reactions:

• vasocongestion: increased blood in genital tissue and breasts
• myotonia (neuromuscular tension): build up of energy in nerves and muscle

4. Some differences between women and men

• excitement time varies (within and between sexes)
• In women, plateau may not always lead to orgasm
• Women can have multiple orgasms

B. Sexual response in different anatomical structures

1. External genitals during sexual response

2. Uterus during sexual response: early and late phases

3. Other female response areas:

• Breast
• G-spot and female ejaculation

4. Penis during sexual response: Phases 1,2 and Phases 3,4

C. Other general responses

1. Excitement:

• heart rate increases (tachycardia)
• muscle tension
• sex flush
• vasocongestion

2. Plateau

• sex flush spreads
• further muscle tension

3. Orgasm

• explosive discharge of neuromuscular tension
• muscle contraction in penis/vagina and anus: .8 seconds apart

4. Resolution

• refractory period for males
• female can be stimulated to another orgasm
• without orgasm: 1+ hrs of chronic pelvic congestion

II. Race, Ethnicity, and Sexuality

A. African Americans

• Attitudes towards Black women and men (Gail Wyatt, 1982)
• Sexuality textbook views
• Black Culture and Sexuality
  • Extended family
  • language
  • attitude
  • self-image

• Romantic relationships
  • conflict
  • chance of dying before age 25 much higher BlM

• Sexual behavior

Belcastro 1985; 565 undergrads, B and W

• 35% black men - cunnilingus in past year
• 72% white men "
• 48% black women - fellatio
• 82% white women "
• Implications?

• Homosexuality
  • stigmatized
  • black gay men - highest risk for AIDS

B. Ethnicity and Sexual Behavior (Laumann, et al., 1994)

Behavior	Whites	African Americans	Latinos	Asian Americans
masturbated in last year
men	67%	40%	67%	61%
women	44%	32%	35%	NA
Performed oral sex
men	81%	51%	71%	64%
women	75%	34%	60%	NA
Sex ratio (number of males per 100 females) 30-34 year olds	101	85	98	NA
Percent 30-34 never married
men	25%	45%	25%	NA
women	14%	35%	17%	NA
Percent conceptions terminated by abortion	10%	9%	11%	21%
Had sex with a same-sex partner
Men	10%	8%	8%	3%
Women	5%	3%	4%	0
% who had 2 or more sexual partners in the past 12 months	15%	27%	20%	8%

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