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Sexual Desire
Sexual arousal - a drive state that is critical to reproduction and results in thoughts/behaviours related to sexual activity.
Brain regions
In men, the preoptic area in the anterior (front of) hypothalamus is involved in sexual arousal. Areas of the brain involved in male sexuality overlap with areas associated with aggression.
In women, the preoptic area is involved in eating behaviours. Instead, the ventromedial (lower, central) hypothalamus is involved in sexual arousal. Neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus regulate the release of estradiol, an estrogen hormone that regulates willingness to accept a sexual partner. Areas of the brain involved in female sexuality overlap with areas that are related to nurturing behaviours.
The septal nucleus, which receives inputs from the hypothalamus and amygdala, shows significant spikes in activity during orgasm.
Hormones
Dihydroepiandosterone (DHEA) - initial onset of sexual desire. Begins to be produced around age 6. Boys and girls tend to experience initial sexual interest around age 10, despite the fact that girls reach puberty much earlier than boys do.
Testosterone - regulates sexual desire in male mice, as well as human men and women.
Estrogen - regulates sexual desire in female mice, but not in women. Fluctuates significantly through the menstrual cycle. It may be an evolutionary advantage for human women not to have as rigid of a cycle of sexual interest as other mammals.
Sexual Response Cycle
- Excitement phase - blood flow and muscle tension increase in and around the sexual organs, respiration and heart rates increase, blood pressure rises. May experience erect nipples and reddening/blushing of the skin of the face and upper body. Penises typically become erect or partially erect, testicles draw upward. Vaginas typically become lubricated and the clitoris becomes swollen.
- Plateau phase - muscle tension and heart rate increase further. Male urinary bladder closes to stop urine from mixing with semen. Rhythmic contraction of the muscles at the base of the penis. Clitoris may slightly withdraw, and vaginal lubrication may increase.
- Orgasm phase - breathing becomes extremely rapid, pelvic muscles contract rhythmically. Quick cycles of muscle contraction of the anus and lower pelvic muscles, as well as uterine and vaginal contractions. Men ejaculate about 2 to 5 millilitres of semen.
- Resolution phase - blood pressure drops, muscles relax, body returns to resting state. Most people experience a refractory period, in which further stimulation will not produce excitement. The refractory period may last minutes to days.
Practice: Sexual Desire
This phase of the sexual response cycle is associated with quick cycling contractions in the muscles of the lower pelvis.