Sexual arousal in men: how does it manifest itself and what causes it?

A sexually attractive woman excites a man

Sexual arousal in men is a complex process. This includes the processing of external information (what the stronger sex sees and hears), psychological readiness for sex, anticipation of pleasure and the immediate physiological reaction of the body. How this process takes place in men and how to speed up arousal, it is useful for every woman to know.

Where does it all begin?

The onset of excitation is set by various sensory stimuli. The girl's smell, her kisses and touches, her appearance (especially without clothes) stimulate the centers in the brain that transmit the signal to the genitals via the nervous system.

Hormones are involved in this process. dr. John Bancroft, an American sexologist and part-time 4th director of the Kinsey Institute for Sex Research, claims that the level of testosterone in the blood determines the degree of a man's irritability. This conclusion was reached as a result of a study whose results were published in the Journal of Endocrinology in the article "Endocrinology of Sexual Arousal".

As a result, an erection occurs. This is the filling of the cavernous bodies of the penis with blood. The muscles contract and prevent venous outflow, which is why the penis becomes hard, increases in size (on average 3-4 times), and pulsation is felt. Often such a reaction occurs within a few seconds after sexual stimulation. It is interesting that during foreplay the erection can weaken and strengthen again - this is absolutely normal.

The British Journal of Urology International published a study conducted among 20 thousand men. The sizes of their genitalia were measured. Men from all over the world participated. As a result, it turned out that the average size of the penis at rest is 9. 16 cm, and during erection - 13. 12 cm.

13 cm is the average size of the male penis during erection

There are three types of erection. One of them - nocturnal (spontaneous) - occurs without sexual overtones. The other two monitor sexual arousal in men.

Psychogenic (or psychological) - occurs against the background of excitement of centers in the brain. Nerve impulses are transmitted to the spinal cord and then along the nerves to the reproductive system.

Reflex – appears as a result of touching the penis. Since this organ has many nerve endings and its skin is extremely sensitive, even light touches can cause irritation and blood flow to the penis.

In addition to an erection, a man's pulse quickens, his breathing quickens, and his blood pressure rises (as in the female half of the population). The scrotum becomes thicker and may become denser, and the testicles rise. The upper part of the body becomes slightly red. Lubricating fluid is released, which facilitates the passage of sperm through the canal.

What turns men on?

In addition to the beautiful image (naked woman, or dressed in lacy lingerie, dancing, lying seductively, etc. ), foreplay plays a big role. Men also need it to make the excitement as strong as possible. The surest way for a girl to turn a guy on is to stimulate his sensitive areas. This includes:

  • Head, neck and chest;
  • Abdomen (especially the lower part) and back;
  • Genital organs and surrounding areas.

Foreplay begins, in most cases, with kissing. A passionate kiss from a girl can already cause an erection and put a guy in the right mood. There are many nerve endings on the lips, in addition, he feels the sexuality of his partner and anticipates the upcoming sex. At this point, you can caress the occipital area with your hands; this area is also very sensitive. Many men like it when they kiss and bite their earlobes, but you have to be careful with this, because there are those who categorically do not like this process.

The lower abdomen is a great area to caress before oral sex (from the navel down). The back is suitable for erotic massage. By the way, this can be done not only with hands, but also with lips, hair and bare chest.

Everything is clear with the genitals - any movement in this area is welcome and causes sexual excitement in men. You should beware of sudden movements; boys may fear for the safety of their dignity. Smoking, manual techniques - all this maximizes the partner's desire. Nearby areas include the inner thighs that you can caress with your hands.

A kiss during foreplay can turn a man on quickly

Representatives of the stronger sex get excited quite quickly. But they need more time (from several hours to a day) to rest and fully recover after sex than women, because this process takes a lot of energy. Therefore, repeated sexual arousal may not occur quickly in all men and this should be treated with understanding.

Sexual arousal in men

When you see a partner who is sexually attractive to you, you get excited first mentally and then physically. But how this happens is a little known question for most people. What does science say? She believes that arousal is a physiological sexual response.

More precisely, its first stage. That is, a whole series of processes. There are no gender differences: increased breathing and heartbeat, appearance of muscle tension, increased blood pressure, increased secretion of saliva, dilated pupils, appearance of redness and goosebumps, as well as erection of nipples.

With sexual arousal, psychological behavior, look and voice change. This is due to the release of hormones into the blood, which act on the body like drugs. In men, in addition to the above, there is an erection of the penis, an elevation of the scrotum to the pubis, its swelling and thickening, as well as the release of preejaculate to lubricate the head.

In women, there is additional lubrication, thinning or, conversely, an increase in the labia majora (depending on whether the woman has given birth or not), erection of the clitoris, lifting and enlargement of the uterus, tension of the pubosacral muscles and an increase in the length of the vagina.

By the way, if in men in rare cases reddening of the skin is observed, then in women there is a rush of blood not only on the clitoris and lips, but also on the chest and back. In some women, this redness is so noticeable that during and after orgasm, the area between the chest to the shoulders and neck may even turn crimson.

Why are there so many reactions? They are associated with a rush of blood, which the body carries out in order to achieve greater sensitivity of the genital organs, and readiness for the second phase in the cycle of sexual reactions - sexual intercourse. The excitement phase is followed by: the plateau phase (sexual intercourse), the orgasm phase and the phase of ending sexual reactions.

The excitement phase may not occur. This is often a physical rather than a psychological problem. Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is a disorder in which the strength of the erection is insufficient for sexual intercourse. There are three types of impotence: psychological, organic and mixed.

In most men, erectile dysfunction is associated with an organic form due to various diseases. The most common causes are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and hormonal disorders. The quality of blood supply to organs and hormonal levels are disturbed.

With some diseases, bad habits, taking certain drugs, especially those that affect the central nervous system, and a sedentary lifestyle, blood flow to the pelvic organs is weakened, which is why the main reaction of sexual excitement in a man does not occur - the filling of cavernous bodies with blood.

Drugs, alcohol and smoking affect not only the physical, but also the psychological state, which is why impotence changes from an organic form to a mixed one. You cannot delay this situation; it can be easily corrected at first. You need to see a urologist or sex therapist.

Men are much more likely to be sexually aroused than they are to orgasm. Long-term abstinence can cause serious damage to the body in general, and especially to the genitals. The favorite women's motto "we will excite you and not let you" is good in moderation - you should not overuse such entertainment. Sexual dissatisfaction seriously affects not only physical but also mental health. A person becomes nervous, angry, irritable. Regular orgasm is an important condition for the normal functioning of the body. And there is practically no difference in the way it is obtained - during sex or masturbation.