Sexual Response in Men

What is the normal pattern of sexual response in men?

There are 4 phases to the male sexual response:

• excitement
• plateau
• orgasm
• resolution.

What happens during the excitement phase?

Sexual stimuli--either thoughts or physical actions--start this phase.

In the excitement phase:

• The heart beats faster.
• Blood pressure gets higher.
• Skin becomes flushed (filled with blood).
• The testicles get larger.
• The skin of the scrotum pulls closer to the body.
• More blood flows into the penis, creating an erection.

What happens during the plateau phase?

This is the phase between excitement and orgasm. The plateau phase is short, but a man may be able to make it last longer by holding off ejaculation. What normally happens in the plateau phase is:

• The head of the penis gets bigger and more purplish in color.
• The glands secrete seminal fluid into the urethra.
• A point is reached where it is hard to stop from having an orgasm.

What happens during the orgasm phase?

If you continue the sexual activity, you will often have an orgasm and ejaculation. Ejaculation is the term for the time when semen comes out of the penis. Orgasm is a total-body response. It does not involve only the penis. It triggers a series of muscle spasms in the legs, stomach, arms, back, and penis. The feelings are intense and pleasurable.

What happens during the resolution phase?

After ejaculation, your body starts to go back to the state it was in before the sex began.

In the resolution phase:

• Blood flows out of the penis and the erection goes away.
• You have an overall feeling of relaxation.
• The testes and scrotum return to their normal size.

What happens if you become aroused but do not have sex?

If you become aroused but do not have sex, your body will slowly go back to its normal, unexcited state.

How does age affect male sexual response?

Young men tend to get full erections very quickly. As men get older, it usually takes a longer time for a full erection. The erection may change during lovemaking. It may become firmer as lovemaking becomes more intense, or the erection may never again be as firm as it was at a younger age. This is normal.

What are common misunderstandings about the male sexual response?

Some common myths about male sexual response are:

• An erection always means a man wants to have sex.
• Lack of an erection means a lack of sexual interest.
• All touching is sexual.
• A real man is always interested in and ready for sex.
• Sex equals intercourse.
• Satisfying sex just happens--without any discussion or planning.
• A man who has a regular sexual partner will not want to masturbate.
• Real men do not have sex problems.

Are sexual problems common?

All men will have some type of sexual problem at some time. For example:

• You may have problems getting erections.
• You may get erections when you do not want one.
• You may feel like you either reach orgasm too soon or that it takes too long.
• You may feel that you or your partner is not getting enough enjoyment out of sex.
• Your ideas about good sex may be different from your partner's.

You need not worry about occasional sexual problems. However, if you keep having problems that concern you or that affect your relationship with your partner, talk to your healthcare provider about it. Your provider can help you determine whether your problem is physical or psychological. In either case you can be referred to someone who specializes in problems with sexual function.

Written by Lee A. Mancini, MD, CSCS.
Published by RelayHealth.
© 2009 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.