The Physiology of Human Sexual Response

Many people find that one of their biggest problems in enjoying sex is the feeling that the opposite sex is alien, too different to be understood. Actually, although your partner's body may look different from yours, researchers have found that male and female physical sexual responses are quite similar.

Both men and women have the capacity to experience four general stages, starting with excitement, moving into a plateau phase of sexual tension, resolving the tension in orgasm, and then returning to the normal, relaxed state. Both men and women also experience similar physiological changes when they are sexually all over his or her body increase tension in a generalized sexual response known as myotonia. Both men and women also experience increased blood flow, known as vasocongestion, to their genital organs during sexual arousal.

Despite these similarities, however, men and women do differ in their sexual wants and desires. And individual men and women may have very distinct sexual needs and distinct feelings about their sexual responses. It is important to remember that our thoughts and feelings about our sexuality more important role in determining our sexual behavior than our physiology does.