May 10 2009
Sexual Response Cycle
The sexual response cycle describes the physical changes that takes place when humans get aroused and engage in sex. It consists of 4 distinct phases:
- Arousal – ‘I want it’ phase
- Plateau – ‘The work’ phase
- Orgasm – ‘The Pleasure’ phase
- Resolution – ‘Lets get dressed and continue what we were doing’ phase
These phases are the same for heterosexual sex, homosexual sex, group sex and masturbation. Even though the anatomy differs, they manifest themselves the same for men and women. The time spent in each phase and the intensity differs from encounter to encounter.
All 4 these phases does not need to take place but they do follow sequentially on each other. For example the following sequences are possible depending on the circumstances:
- Arousal –> Resolution
- Arousal –> Plateau –> Resolution
- Arousal –> Plateau –> Orgasm –> Resolution
- Arousal –> Plateau –> Orgasm –> Orgasm –> Orgasm –> Resolution
- Arousal –> Plateau –> Orgasm –> Resolution –> Plateau –> Orgasm –> Resolution
The resolution looks differently if an orgasm took place or if the plateau phase went a while without orgasm or there was just arousal.
Phase |
Genitals |
Body |
Arousal |
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Plateau |
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|
Orgasm |
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Resolution |
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