What are the 4 phases of arousal?
Marguerite Ledner
2025-08-06 18:45:27
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Researchers have identified four stages of sexual response in women and men: arousal, plateau, orgasm and resolution.
When a woman becomes aroused, the blood vessels in her genitals dilate.
There is increased blood flow in the vaginal walls, which causes fluid to pass through them.
Stage 1: sexual excitement or arousal
Stage 2: sexual plateau
Stage 3: orgasm
Stage 4: sexual resolution
This is when the woman's body slowly returns to its normal state.
During arousal and sex, there are various stages of physical response.
The pulse and breathing quicken, and blood pressure rises.
A woman may become flushed, especially on the chest and neck, due to the blood vessels dilating.
Blood flow to the lower third of the vagina reaches its limit, and causes the lower area of the vagina to become swollen and firm.
Orgasm is the intense and pleasurable release of sexual tension that has built up in the earlier stages, characterised by contractions of the genital muscles, including the introitus.
Swelling reduces, and breathing and heart rate slow down.
Garfield Trantow
2025-08-02 02:52:22
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The sexual response cycle has four phases: Desire, Arousal, Orgasm, and Resolution. Males and females can experience these phases, although the timing may be different. There are four stages of human sexual response: desire, arousal, orgasm and resolution. Phase 1 is Desire, Phase 2 is Arousal, Phase 3 is Orgasm, and Phase 4 is Resolution. The order and timing of the stages can vary. Some people may skip a phase entirely. Some of these stages may be absent during certain sexual encounters, or out of sequence in others. The four phases are experienced by both males and females, but the intensity of the response and the time spent in each phase varies from person to person.
Arnulfo McDermott
2025-07-22 03:55:28
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In both men and women, these events may be identified as occurring in a sequence of four stages: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. The basic pattern of these stages is similar in both sexes, regardless of the specific sexual stimulus. In the excitement stage, the body prepares for sexual activity by tensing muscles and increasing heart rate and blood pressure. In the plateau stage, breathing becomes more rapid and the muscles continue to tense. At orgasm the neuromuscular tension built up in the preceding stages is released in a few seconds. The succeeding resolution stage brings a gradual return to the resting state that may take several hours.
Turner Hegmann
2025-07-22 03:19:54
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The sexual response cycle has four phases: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution.
Both men and women experience these phases, although the timing usually is different.
The sexual response cycle refers to the sequence of physical and emotional changes that occur as a person becomes sexually aroused and participates in sexually stimulating activities, including intercourse and masturbation.
In addition, the intensity of the response and the time spent in each phase varies from person to person.
Understanding these differences may help partners better understand one another's bodies and responses, and enhance the sexual experience.
General characteristics of the excitement phase, which can last from a few minutes to several hours, include the following:
General characteristics of the plateau phase, which extends to the brink of orgasm, include the following:
The orgasm is the climax of the sexual response cycle.
During resolution, the body slowly returns to its normal level of functioning, and swelled and erect body parts return to their previous size and color.
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