Understanding How Sex Really Works

While the basics of sex are relatively intuitive (It is, after all, pretty much a matter of inserting Tab A into Slot B.), the science of sex can provide an interesting look into the complex way the human body responds to arousal and prepares itself for sexual intercourse from a perspective that might be somewhat clinical but is also incredibly fascinating.  And it turns out that your junior high sex education teacher was right: sex really does have as much to do with the brain as with your reproductive system!

It all starts with your hormones…

Like so many other processes the human body undergoes, sex starts with hormones.  Contrary to common belief, testosterone is responsible for the sex drive in both women and men.  (Estrogen is necessary for the function and development of women’s sex organs, but it plays virtually no role in sexual arousal.)  Once arousal is initiated, testosterone and other hormones cycle through to the brain’s limbic system, passing along the sexual stimulus messages to what is often referred to as the “pleasure center” of the brain.

Then you start getting hard…

At that point the limbic system passes messages to the pelvic region by using the nervous system, which in turn causes the genitalia’s blood vessels to dilate; this, in turn, allows blood to rush into erectile tissue in both men and women before the vessels close off and cause blood to stop flowing from the area, which results in an erection for both men (penis) and women (clitoris).  This is accompanied by even more chemicals and hormones being produced, including the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine that further send messages of arousal from the brain and throughout the body.

Then your heart races in anticipation…

At this point many things happen to the human body as it prepares for the potential of sexual intercourse, including a distinct increase in both the blood pressure and the heart rate.  The nipples of both men and women tend to grow hard at this point.  Men will experience a thickening of the scrotum as their testicles draw closer to their bodies and their penis becomes erect.  Women, on the other hand, will experience slight enlargement of their breasts and swelling of the clitoris as blood flow to the genitalia increases, along with significant vaginal lubrication.  Once penile erection and adequate vaginal lubrication are achieved, sexual penetration can commence.

Then poof, your orgasm is done…

Once orgasm has been achieved and sexual intercourse is complete, the human body begins to return to its pre-aroused state, which is referred to as the “resolution phrase” among sex scientists.  Physical signs of arousal like increased heart rate and blood pressure begin to subside to normal levels, and the heightened level of blood flow to the genitals begins to lessen.  Men in particular will experience a refractory period during which they cannot achieve an erection for some length of time, although women do not experience this refractory period and can become fully aroused again virtually immediately after, which is why they are able to achieve multiple orgasms in a short time frame.
 

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