Sexual intercourse is usually initiated by the sexual arousal of the participants. It makes reproduction more attractive and gives pleasure. In this process, sexual arousal occurs in different phases.
What is sexual arousal?
Sexual intercourse is usually initiated by the sexual arousal of the parties involved. It is sexual arousal that makes the painless process of sexual intercourse possible. During the arousal and plateau phase, the psyche and body prepare for the coming act. Thus, during sexual arousal, the basic physical prerequisites are already laid, such as the development of an erection. The arousal can take place over a longer or shorter period of time. Thus, it is quite possible that the phase lasts for several hours. Sexual arousal begins by a certain reflex, which can be triggered by different factors. These include, for example, visual stimuli or touch, but also the consumption of erotic material. At the end of sexual arousal there is usually another reflex: orgasm. Sexual arousal increases continuously during sexual intercourse. Muscle contractions occur at the end of which the participants feel an orgasm. While reproduction in most species is secured by drives, humans normally experience intense sensations through the sexual act.
Function and task
Sexual arousal causes a change in blood vessels in the pelvic region. Overall, the pulse and heart rate increase. The penis is an erectile tissue. During sexual arousal, complex processes cause the veins to dilate. In this way, more blood flows into the vessels, resulting in an erection. In women, on the other hand, the increased blood flow to the intimate zone leads to swollen and red labia and clitoris. The change in the labia exposes the vaginal entrance. At the same time, tiny glands at the entrance provide increased fluid production. The two outer thirds of the vagina dilate. Together with the moist mucous membranes, this enables painless penetration of the penis. During sexual arousal, the clitoris is usually perceived as particularly sensitive. The circumference of the breasts may swell, and the nipples themselves become hard and erect. Under certain circumstances, uncontrollable twitching of the muscles may occur. In men, during very strong sexual arousal, in some cases there is leakage of the drop of pleasure. The arousal can be consciously maintained or increased. Starting points here are touch and visual stimuli, but also erotic thoughts, films or stories. In this way, it may be possible to delay the orgasm or accelerate its occurrence. At the same time, the episode of sexual arousal proceeds in a different way for each person and cannot be generalized in principle. In general, the phase of arousal prepares for the coming sexual act. It forms the basis of a painless process as well as orgasm.
Diseases and complaints
In the context of sexual arousal, various complaints can occur. Especially women often have difficulties to come to orgasm. The starting point here can already be vaginal dryness. Especially during menopause, there is an increased occurrence of unwanted lack of moisture and resulting pain during sexual intercourse. The most common cause is hormonal imbalance. If the balance is disturbed, for example due to a drop in estrogen levels, the complaints may appear. The labia and vagina no longer receive sufficient blood supply. Thus, cracks can develop from penetration and the mucous membrane becomes easily vulnerable. Sexual arousal takes place not only physically, but likewise through thoughts and ideas. However, certain problems and sensations can curb pleasure. These include, for example, anxiety, nervousness or stress. If mental complaints are present, vaginal dryness cannot be ruled out. The same applies to sexual partners to whom the female part does not feel attracted. Orgasm disorder in women has many causes. In most cases, however, it is also a matter of psychological complaints or a lack of empathy on the part of the partner. Physical components are rarely the trigger.Men may fail to achieve an erection during sexual arousal. Here, too, the psyche often plays a decisive role. If stressful situations exist, the erection may fail to appear. However, this is usually not a permanent condition. If erectile dysfunction persists, other factors may also be involved. These include, for example, circulatory disorders, diabetes, lipid metabolism disorders, chronic kidney failure or an unbalanced hormone balance. Furthermore, external influences such as nicotine and alcohol can reduce potency. In addition to certain medications, local diseases such as testicular or prostate inflammation can also cause the absence of an erection. However, most of the triggering components can be treated well. Nevertheless, a general decline in potency can be expected with advancing age. Sexual arousal can be influenced by circumstances in the partnership. These include frequent quarrels and disagreements as well as a lack of trust to be able to talk openly about existing sexual desires. As soon as these do not find fulfillment in the long term, a state of sexual unsatisfaction can set in for some people.