The Sexual Response - Stimulus and Response

The Basic Pattern: Mounting Tension - Sudden Release

Sexual activity produces many changes in the human body, such as an increase in pulse rate and blood pressure, the swelling of the sex organs (tumescence), muscular contractions, glandular secretions, and many other signs of mounting excitement until, eventually, the tension is released in a pleasurable, seizure-like reaction known as orgasm. As a result, the swelling of the sex organs decreases (detumescence) and the body returns to its former unexcited state.