Various Sexual Responce Cycle Theories

When discussing the cycle that a human goes through during sexual response, there are several different view points in which you can identify with, or at least consider when exploring this concept.

First we have Masters and Johnson's 4-phase sexual response cycle. The four stages, in order, are:

1) Excitement:

*for men this begins with an errection (vasocongestion), and testicles increase in size and elevate

*for women this begins with lubrication, errection of the clitoris, and breasts increase in size and elevate

For Both: myotonia occurs, along with an increase in both heart rate and blood pressure

2) Plateau: excitement levels out, and is the pre-climax phase

*for men testicles elevate further into position for ejaculation, and cowpers glands will produce a small secretion of semen

*for women the vaginal barrel outer 1/3 contracts, the inner 2/3 expands, and the uterus increases in size and elevates. The clitoris also withdraws into its "hood" like structure.

3) Orgasmic:

*for men there are two stages:
 i) contracting/muscle spasms to draw semen together for ejaculation
 ii) relaxation of the sphincter muscle, which allows the release of the tensionand fluid

*for women there are 3 to 15 muscular contractions in the regions around the vaginal wall and uterine location

For both men and women: they both experience muscle spasms, and an increase in heart rate & breathing rate.

4) Resolution:

*for men blood returns to the body (takes approx. 1 minute), and then the refractory period takes place (which will last for several more minutes)

*for women, the release of blood from the genitals and breast occurs

For both men and women: the myotonia/tension releases

*It is also to be noted that Masters and Johnson believe that there is only one kind of orgasm, which is vaginal.

Next, we have Kaplan's model of sexual response, which comes from a sexual therapist by the name of Helen Singer Kaplan who built a 3-phase cycle of arousal. The three phases, in order, are:

1) Desire: a unique contribution to Kaplan's model, which is suggesting that when a person engages in sexual activity, their actions are fueled by a desire to do so. If desire is too high or too low it is considered to be a problem.

2) Excitement: includes errection & lubrication for both men and women. Sexual problems that sometimes arise in this area are erectile disfunction, or lack of lubrication.

3) Orgasm: the poin at which an individual reaches a climax. Both premature orgasms for men, and women being unable to achieve orgasm are both considered sexual problems

         Following that is the contributions from Rosemary Basson. Basson was a feminist researcher and theorist, who suggested that one must remember intimacy during sex, which is uniquely important to women. She went on to say that though intimacy is not necessary for sexual activity, it IS very important in long-term relationships.

         Lastly, we have Freud, who everybody just LOVES to hear from. Freud thinks of sex under the critical theoretic paradigm, and suggested that sexuality is the engine that drives development. He also suggested that there are two types of orgasms:

 i) clitoral

ii) vaginal

             Freud describes clitoral orgasms as immature on the women's behalf, and his reasoning is due to the fact the the orgasm is acheived without vaginal involvement. He goes on to say that the clitoral orgasm is masculine, as it demonstrates "penis envy", which can only be cured once she has a baby. It is due to this fact that many women, like myself, have a hard time identifying with freud and his theories.