Sexual arousal

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'''Sexual arousal''' is the process and state of an animal being ready for [[sexual intercourse]].  
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'''Sexual arousal''' is the process and state of being ready for [[sexual intercourse]] or other sexual activity. Unlike most other creatures, humans have no mating season and are capable of sexual arousal at any time. Things that precipitate people's sexual arousal are commonly known as '''turn-ons'''. Given the right stimulation, sexual arousal will typically end in an [[orgasm]], but may be pleasurable for its own sake, even in the absence of an orgasm.
  
== Human sexual arousal ==
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== Causes of sexual arousal ==
  
Unlike most other animals, human beings of both sexes are potentially capable of sexual arousal throughout the year, and there is therefore no human mating season. Things that precipitate human sexual arousal are commonly known as '''turn-ons'''. Given the right stimulation, sexual arousal in humans will typically end in an [[orgasm]], but may be pleasurable for its own sake, even in the absence of an orgasm.
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The causes are varied and not always consistent in any one person. Arousal may physical or mental. Typical causes include:
 
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=== Causes of human sexual arousal ===
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* The sight (including eye contact), smell, warmth, and touch of a (potential) sexual partner
 
* The sight (including eye contact), smell, warmth, and touch of a (potential) sexual partner
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* [[Pornography]]
 
* [[Pornography]]
 
* [[Erotica]]
 
* [[Erotica]]
* [[Sex in advertising]]
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* Linked associations, such as caused by sex in advertising
 
* [[Masturbation]]
 
* [[Masturbation]]
 
* [[Sexual roleplaying]]
 
* [[Sexual roleplaying]]
 
* [[Voyeurism]]
 
* [[Voyeurism]]
  
=== Signs of possible human sexual arousal ===
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== Signs of possible sexual arousal ==
 
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*Among both genders
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**Increase in breathing rate
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**Increase inblood pressure
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**Increase in muscle tone (myotonia)
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**Increase in heart rate (tachycardia)
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**Vasocongestion of the skin ("sex flush")
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**Slight or extreme dilation of the pupils (though especially so with females)
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**Erection of the nipples (especially upon direct stimulation)
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===Sexual arousal in both genders===
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*Increase in breathing rate
 +
*Increase in blood pressure
 +
*Increase in muscle tone (myotonia)
 +
*Increase in heart rate (tachycardia)
 +
*Vasocongestion of the skin ("sex flush")
 +
*Slight or extreme dilation of the pupils (though especially so with females)
 +
*Erection of the [[nipple]]s (especially upon direct stimulation)
  
*Female sexual arousal:
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===Female sexual arousal===
**Increase in breast size
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*Increase in [[breast]] size
**Lubrication of the [[vagina]]
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*Lubrication of the [[vagina]]
**Vasocongestion of the [[vagina]]l walls
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*Vasocongestion of the vaginal walls
**Clitoral tumescence and erection
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*[[Clitoris|Clitoral]] tumescence and erection
**More visible venous patterns across the breasts
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*More visible venous patterns across the breasts
**Elevation of the uterus and stretching of the vagina
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*Elevation of the uterus and stretching of the vagina
**Change in shape and size of the labia majora and labia minora
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*Change in shape, and increase in size of, the labia majora and labia minora
  
*Male sexual arousal
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===Male sexual arousal===
**Penile tumescence and erection
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*[[Penis|Penile]] tumescence and erection
**Emission of pre-ejaculatory fluid
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*Emission of pre-ejaculatory fluid
**Ascension of the testes
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*Ascension and swelling of the [[testicles]]
**Tensing and thickening of the scrotum
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*Tensing and thickening of the [[scrotum]]
  
=== Human sexual response cycle ===
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== Sexual response cycle ==
  
During the 1950s]] and 1960s, William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson conducted many important studies within the field of human sexuality. In 1966, the two released a book, ''Human Sexual Response'', detailing four stages of physiological changes in humans during sexual stimulation. These phases, in order of their occurrence, are excitement, plateau, orgasmic, and resolution.
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During the 1950s and 1960s, William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson conducted many important studies within the field of human sexuality. In 1966, the two released a book, ''Human Sexual Response'', detailing four stages of physiological changes in humans during sexual stimulation. These phases, in order of their occurrence, are excitement, plateau, orgasmic, and resolution.
  
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:''See [[Wikipedia:Human_sexual_response_cycle|Human sexual response cycle]] in [[Wikipedia]]
  
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==Other causes of arousal==
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Almost anything may cause sexual arousal in some people.  For example:
  
=== Genital procedures and sexual arousal ===
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* '''Melolagnia''' is sexual arousal from listening to and/or playing [[music]].
  
Scientific data shows that [[male circumcision]] causes neurological changes in the human brain, which is suggested to lower sexual excitability (Mackey, 1997).
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==See also==
[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9446966&dopt=Abstract] Another study suggested that arousal of a man's female partner is also impacted. [http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/116-1181/595/]
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* [[Diabetes and sex drive]]
  
 
[[Category:Health]]
 
[[Category:Health]]

Latest revision as of 07:22, 19 December 2011

Sexual arousal is the process and state of being ready for sexual intercourse or other sexual activity. Unlike most other creatures, humans have no mating season and are capable of sexual arousal at any time. Things that precipitate people's sexual arousal are commonly known as turn-ons. Given the right stimulation, sexual arousal will typically end in an orgasm, but may be pleasurable for its own sake, even in the absence of an orgasm.

Contents

[edit] Causes of sexual arousal

The causes are varied and not always consistent in any one person. Arousal may physical or mental. Typical causes include:

[edit] Signs of possible sexual arousal

[edit] Sexual arousal in both genders

  • Increase in breathing rate
  • Increase in blood pressure
  • Increase in muscle tone (myotonia)
  • Increase in heart rate (tachycardia)
  • Vasocongestion of the skin ("sex flush")
  • Slight or extreme dilation of the pupils (though especially so with females)
  • Erection of the nipples (especially upon direct stimulation)

[edit] Female sexual arousal

  • Increase in breast size
  • Lubrication of the vagina
  • Vasocongestion of the vaginal walls
  • Clitoral tumescence and erection
  • More visible venous patterns across the breasts
  • Elevation of the uterus and stretching of the vagina
  • Change in shape, and increase in size of, the labia majora and labia minora

[edit] Male sexual arousal

  • Penile tumescence and erection
  • Emission of pre-ejaculatory fluid
  • Ascension and swelling of the testicles
  • Tensing and thickening of the scrotum

[edit] Sexual response cycle

During the 1950s and 1960s, William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson conducted many important studies within the field of human sexuality. In 1966, the two released a book, Human Sexual Response, detailing four stages of physiological changes in humans during sexual stimulation. These phases, in order of their occurrence, are excitement, plateau, orgasmic, and resolution.

See Human sexual response cycle in Wikipedia

[edit] Other causes of arousal

Almost anything may cause sexual arousal in some people. For example:

  • Melolagnia is sexual arousal from listening to and/or playing music.

[edit] See also

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