Discriminate between the phases of the human sexual response cycle. What occurs during each phase and how might it occur differently in men and women?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A good answer would include the following key points:
1. Phase 1: Excitement. This occurs when the process of sexual arousal gets started. It can be stimulated by erotic thoughts, kissing, visual images, and touching between partners. This stage is marked by an increase in blood flow throughout the body, a process called vasocongestion. In men, this causes the penis to become erect. In women, the clitoris stiffens and lubrication of the vagina occurs.
2. Phase 2: Plateau. Once at a high state of arousal, a person may experience a leveling off (but a continued high level of excitement) called the plateau phase. This may last for a period of minutes or a period of hours. The bodily changes occurring during plateau are more subtle, such as the testicles being pulled up closer to the body and the inner vagina expanding in size. These changes prepare the body for orgasm.
3. Phase 3: Orgasm. The third stage is the orgasm, experienced as a pleasurable release of sexual tension. The orgasm in both males and females is a series of brief muscle contractions, usually between five and ten, in the genital area. In males, semen (normally containing sperm cells) is ejaculated from the urethral opening of the penis. In both sexes, orgasm is associated with the release of chemicals in the brain that contribute to the sensation of pleasure and contentment.
4. Phase 4: Resolution. Following an orgasm, arousal subsides and the body returns to its pre-aroused state. Blood leaves the tissues and genitals return to their normal size and shape. This phase, which Masters and Johnson called resolution, usually takes about 15 minutes, but may take longer if the person didn't have an orgasm. Following an orgasm, most men experience a refractory period, a length of time during which arousal to orgasm is impossible. The length of the refractory period varies with age and individual differences, but it can vary from a few minutes to several hours. Masters and Johnson identified several different sexual response patterns in men and women. Men typically pass through all four stages, followed by a refractory period. Women, on the other hand, may exhibit one of three different sexual response patterns. Sometimes a woman will have a pattern similar to the male pattern: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. Other times, a woman may experience multiple orgasms before resolution. In a third and common pattern during heterosexual intercourse, a woman may spend an extended period of time at plateau without ever reaching orgasm.