he sexual response cycle has four different phases that both male and females experience although normally at different times. The term sexual response cycle describes the changes that occur in the body as women and men become sexually aroused. The sexual response cycle includes both myotonia and vasocongestion. Myotonia is muscle tension that causes facial grimaces, spasms in the hands and feet as well as the spasms of orgasm. Vasocongestion is the swelling of the genital tissues. (Nevid and Rathus,2005) The four distinct stages that occur in the sexual response cycle are the excitement phase, orgasmic phase, plateau phase, and the resolution phase. The excitement phase is the first phase of the sexual response cycle. The excitement phase is characterized by stimulation. The female excitement is characterized by vaginal lubrication which can start anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds after sexual stimulation. The excitement phase can last anywhere from a few minutes to many hours some of the characteristics of the excitement phase are; muscle tension, heart rate quickens, accelerated breathing, skin can/may become flushed, nipples become erect/hardened, vaginal lubrication, the blood flow to the genitals increase which result in in swelling of the woman’s clitoris and labia minora which is the inner lips and the erection of the men’s penis, women’s breast become fuller, vaginal walls begin to swell, and the man’s testes swell his scrotum tightens and he begins secreting a lubricating liquid. The plateau phase is the second phase in the sexual response cycle and is characterized in vasocongestion, heart rate, muscle tension, and blood pressure in preparation for orgasm. When it come to the plateau phase the changes that began in phase one are intensified. During this phase the vagina continues to swell due to the increased blood flow and the women’s clitoris becomes highly sensitive and when touched could even be painful. The clitoris retracts under the clitoral hood and shortens to avoid direct stimulation from the penis. The men’s testicles are withdrawn up into the scrotum and in both male and females breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure continue to increase. The heart rate could increase anywhere from 100 to 160 beats per minute. Another thing that happens during this phase is that muscle tension increases and muscle spasms may start to begin in the face, hands and feet. Orgasmic is the third stage in the sexual response cycle. The male consist of two stages of muscular contractions. During the first stage semen collects at the base of the penis and the internal sphincter of the urinary bladder prevents semen and urine from mixing. The second stage is muscle contractions which propel the ejaculation out of the body. Female’s orgasms are manifested by 3 to 15 contractions of the pelvic muscles that surround the vaginal barrel. The orgasm is the climax of the sexual response cycle and is the shortest of the phases and only lasts a few seconds. General characteristics include; involuntary muscle contractions, spasms in the muscles in the feet, sudden forceful release of sexual tension, in women, the muscles of the vaginal contract the uterus also has rhythmic contractions, men have rhythmic contractions of the muscles at the base of the penis resulting in the ejaculation of semen, you could also experience a “sex flush” over the entire body and the blood pressure and heart rate reach a peak the heart beating up to 180 times per minutes and respiration may increase to 40 breaths per minute. The final phase of the sexual response cycle is the resolution phase. The resolution phase is where the body returns to its unaroused state after an orgasm. After a male ejaculates their blood is released from engorged areas and then erection disappears and the testes return to their normal size. Women’s orgasms also trigger the release of blood from engorged areas. The vaginal barrel and the clitoris gradually shrink back to their unaroused sizes and their nipples also return to their normal size. Male and female’s blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing also return to their normal levels before arousal. After an orgasm both males and females may feel relaxed and satisfied.
Unlike women, men enter a period called the refractory period meaning they cannot experience another ejaculation or orgasm. In adolescent males the refractory period can last for only minutes as to where men aged 50 and older can last anywhere to several minutes up to a day. Women do not experience the refractory period and can become rearoused quickly and experience multiple orgasms and continuous sexual stimulation. Sexual dysfunction is something that millions of Americans experience. Sexual dysfunctions are persistent recurring problems in becoming sexually