Sex, for some of us, is such a mystery given how much it can affect our emotions. One moment we are curious and excited. The next we are trembling with nervousness, embarrassment, and cluelessness. Often, we feel like we’re missing out on everything fun and exciting because we’re absolutely sure everyone we know is either doing it, has done it, or at least knows a whole lot more about it than we do. These are the typical worries of the less informed. Although it seems like they have all the answers, they are probably just as clueless as we are. The word ‘sex’ often refers to activities that involve the penis, vagina or anus (butt).
Other body parts like breasts, nipples, and testicles also play a significant role in any sexual activity. Unfortunately, as much as sex can be a source of pleasure and satisfaction, it can be also be used in hurtful and abusive situations.
Understanding how your body responds to sex
Knowing how your body responds to sexual stimulation is important for several reasons. First, knowing how your own body works, especially the sexual parts is something you can always use to your advantage. That knowledge will make you comfortable with your bodily response to sexual stimulation and help you assess if there’s something you should worry and see a doctor about. Second, while no two people are sexually excited by the same sexual stimuli and respond the same way, knowing what happens to your body during sex and orgasm gives a clearer picture of what excites you and your partner. Knowing what you and your partner find pleasurable often leads to a more mutually satisfying sexual relationship.
It all starts in your head
Your brain first responds to a sexy thought or image, or feeling of closeness or attracted to your partner. The affection or love you feel towards your partner is programmed in your brain. When your partner touches you, your brain sends signals to the rest of your body, especially in the genital area. After that, your brain signals the other parts of your body to feel physical sexual arousal by increasing blood flow to the genital area causing the clitoris to swell and harden in women and the penis to become erect in men. For both women and men, the heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, and breathing becomes more rapid and shallow. Men and women actually have a lot of similarities in terms of how they respond to sex. But since males and females have different reproductive organs we need to look further at how sexual arousal affects the genital area exclusively.
Speed of sexual response for every individual
It was already established that men and women have some major similarities in the ways they become sexually aroused and have orgasms. However, it’s just as important to note that there can be differences in the sexual responses of men and women.
On average, women take more time to become aroused and have an orgasm than men. This is crucial information for any male-female couple because it means their relationship, the man may need to try to slow himself down and match the pace of the woman.
For same-sex relationships, the partners may be more similar to each other biologically but it does not follow that the pace of sexual arousal for two people of the same sex will necessarily match perfectly. That is to say, everyone has their own pace of sexual arousal no matter the gender.
How fast we become aroused and have an orgasm vary from one moment to another depending on a number of factors that are unique to each individual.
Source: http://www.sexualityandu.ca/sexual-health/understanding-sexuality/sexual-arousal-and-orgasm
