ERECTION: THE SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE
Women and men go through distinct stages called the sexual response cycle (SRC) when they have sex. Here’s how the cycle progresses in a man: Mike enjoys a good sexual and emotional relationship with Susie, his wife. Ifs the end of a relaxing Saturday spent together, and Mike is lying next to Susie. Mike’s testosterone and the hormones manufactured in his brain contribute to his feelings of desire as he watches Susie read a book. She glances at him out of the corner of one eye, kindling a spark, and he remembers past pleasurable experiences making love. Mike’s in the first part of the SRC, desire. The time spent in this phase varies according to what else is going on in the situation, and how each person responds. In this case, Mike proceeds within a few minutes to the next phase, excitation.
Mike begins to feel aroused. Susie smiles at him, and puts down her book. She touches his thigh. Under the influence of testosterone, Mike’s brain and spinal cord send messages through his nervous system to the blood vessels in his penis. These messages tell the blood vessels to increase the blood flow into Mike’s corpora cavernosa, the cylinders in his penis. His heart rate increases as his heart works to pump the extra blood into his penis. Meanwhile, the increasing pressure in the sinuses partially shuts down the flow of blood out through the veins. All this activity results in Mike’s penis becoming longer and thicker as it starts to stand up. The head of his penis, that highly sensitive area called the glans penis, begins to swell and becomes even more responsive to sensations. Susie helps this excitement along by rubbing the tip of Mike’s penis with her hand, and kissing his belly. The skin of Mike’s scrotum starts to thicken and becomes tighter around his testicles, which rise up toward his groin.
The time spent in the excitement phase varies considerably. Mike is still a fairly young man, 42 years old, so it only takes him a few minutes to get a full, firm erection. During this time, Mike and Susie begin having intercourse. The blood pumping faster through Mike’s body makes his chest and face a little flushed. His breathing is deeper. His heart beats faster. He’s enjoying himself. He’s totally immersed in making love.
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