Personality and Mood Disorders Q 64

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The sexual response cycle in which the sexual interest continues to build:

  

     A. Sexual Desire

     B. Sexual arousal

     C. Orgasm

     D. Resolution

    

    

Correct Answer: B. Sexual arousal

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Sexual arousal or excitement refers to attaining and maintaining the physiologic requirements for sexual intercourse. The vagina continues to swell from increased blood flow, and the vaginal walls turn a dark purple. The woman’s clitoris becomes highly sensitive (may even be painful to touch) and retracts under the clitoral hood to avoid direct stimulation from the penis. Breathing, heart rate and blood pressure continue to increase.

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Option A: Sexual desire refers to the ability, interest or willingness for sexual stimulation. Sexual desire is typically viewed as an interest in sexual objects or activities. More precisely, it is the subjective feeling of wanting to engage in sex. Sexual desire is sometimes, but not always, accompanied by genital arousal (such as penile erection in men and vaginal lubrication in women).

Option C: Orgasm refers to the peak of the sexual response where the female has vaginal contractions for the female and ejaculatory contractions for the male. This phase is the climax of the sexual response cycle. It is the shortest of the phases and generally lasts only a few seconds.

Option D: Resolution is the final phase of the sexual response in which the organs and the body systems gradually return to the unaroused state. This phase is marked by a general sense of well-being and, often, fatigue. Some women are capable of a rapid return to the orgasm phase with further sexual stimulation and may experience multiple orgasms. Men need recovery time after orgasm, called a refractory period, during which they cannot reach orgasm again. The duration of the refractory period varies among men and changes with age.

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