Sexual response and sexual satisfaction
Sexual self-knowledge and awareness of your sexual responses (the changes in your body when aroused), and those of your partner, can help improve your love life and sexual satisfaction.
© Jupiter
You don't discover sexual pleasure and orgasm immediately. Both men and women have to learn how to experience and enjoy sexual pleasure. Often, they start with lone masturbation and then experiment as a couple.
Improved awareness, experience and good communication between partners will enhance your mutual pleasure and satisfaction. Of course, you will only respond sexually if you are comfortable and feel happy and secure with your partner and won't become aroused if you feel under pressure.
Why bother with foreplay in a sexual encounter?
Foreplay is the name given to the erotic stimulation and sexual games that precede intercourse (kisses, embraces, caresses, oral stimulation).
The entire surface of the body is stimulated during foreplay and particularly the erogenous zones. These vary from person to person but for most include the mouth, ears, neck, buttocks, stomach, inner thighs, soles of feet, toes, perineum and anus. Women's erogenous zones are the breasts, nipples, clitoris, vulva, vagina (especially the G spot), while men's include the scrotum, nipples and penis, particularly the tip.
The genitals are especially sensitive and are best stimulated gently; what some find pleasant and exciting can be painful and unpleasant for others. Even if a man has some knowledge of female sexuality, he won't necessarily know what works best for his partner; conversely, a woman can't know for sure what will please her lover. That's why it's important to talk to one another, to say what you want and what works best, and show each other what to do.
The sight and smell of your lover, or sweet, dirty pillow talk, all add to the sexual excitement. If a couple is already intimate, they will know how best to arouse each other. The main purpose of foreplay is to prepare the male and female body for intercourse; in other words, to allow the erect penis to enter the vagina easily.
How the body responds to sexual stimulation...
The following physical changes occur when sexually aroused:
The female body
- The vagina becomes moist (lubrication is secreted by the vaginal walls), lengthens and widens
- The labia majora flatten and separate
- The labia minora and clitoris increase in size (they fill with blood and become red)
- The protective cover of erect clitoris retracts
- The breasts enlarge and the nipples harden
The male body
- The corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum fill with blood, making the penis stiffen
- The testicles increase in size and are drawn up towards the body, inside the scrotum (the bag holding the testicles)
- Sometimes the nipples harden.
- The Cowper glands (positioned along the urethra) secrete a liquid that lubricates the head of the penis
More common in men than women
- Increased heart rate and breathing
- Increase in blood pressure
- Flushed skin (for some)
- Increase in muscle tension
Copyright © 2010 Doctissimo
Posted 30.06.2010
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