Question

Marcia and John make love and both have orgasms. Describe the similarities and differences in their passage through the resolution phase.

Answer 1

Sexual response cycle is a pattern of physiologic events occurring during sexual arousal and intercourse. In both men and women, these events may be identified as occurring in a sequence of four stages:

1. Excitement,
2. Plateau,
3. Orgasm, and
4. Resolution.

The basic pattern of these stages is similar in both sexes, regardless of the specific sexual stimulus. Sexual response follows a pattern of sequential stages or phases when sexual activity is continued. The body first passes through the excitement phase, followed by the plateau phase, during which if sexual stimulation is continued, one will experience orgasm, like Marcia and John felt while engaging in the sexual intercourse, where they crossed the plateau phase (because both of them kept on maintaining the sexual stimulation) after which they experienced orgasm. Orgasm lasts for a few seconds (normally not over ten), after which the individual enters the resolution phase, the return to a normal or subnormal physiological state. Up to the resolution phase, males and females are the same in their response sequence, but, whereas males return to normal even if stimulation continues, continued stimulation can produce additional orgasms in females. In brief, after one orgasm a male becomes unresponsive to sexual stimulation and cannot begin to build up another excitement phase until some period of time has elapsed, but females are physically capable of repeated orgasms without the intervening “rest period” required by males.

John will feel a decrease in arousal occurring after orgasm. He will enter a refractory period during which reactions are not possible for a period of time. The sex flush fades, and the perspiration sometimes might show up in the immediate post orgasmic period. Loss of swelling of the phallus occurs with the loss of localized vasocongestion. Vasocongestion is the swelling of bodily tissues caused by increased vascular blood flow and a localized increase in blood pressure. This loss also leads to the descent of the testes into the relaxed scrotum. A general decrease of muscle tension will appear.

For Marcia, the return will be fairly rapid since orgasm has occurred. The average time is about 5 to 10 min post which the myotonia (the inability to relax voluntary muscle after vigorous effort), and sex flush subsides quickly. The clitris will regain normal size and position. Changes resulting from vasocongestion will disappear throughout the body in an irregular flow of abatement. Marcia's entire body will be involved in her response to effective sexual stimulation. Myotonia, vasocongestion, sex flush, and other specific reactions will be observed in several regions of the body. Orgasm is often accompanied by a general reduction in perceptual acuity and the appearance of perspiration. Marcia may respond again immediately and therefore experience multiple orgasms.