pleasure & arousal

pleasure
intimacy
arousal & desire
sexual response cycle
orgasms
erogenous zones

pleasure

Sensuality = deriving pleasure and enjoyment from one’s own body or the bodies of others.
Pleasure = The World Association for Sexual Health’s Declaration on Sexual Pleasure defines sexual pleasure as the enjoyment and satisfaction derived from any kind of sexual activity or erotic
experience, solitary or partnered (WAS, 2019).
Why is it important for us to acknowledge pleasure in sex ed? (video of qt adults)

It is NORMAL to want to feel pleasure!!!
Pleasure is one of the primary motivators for sex!
If we destigmatize pleasure, it makes it easier to learn about it!

intimacy

Intimacy is a feeling of closeness and connection in an interpersonal relationship.

Types of intimacy: physical, emotional, intellectual, experiential, and spiritual

Skin hunger - aka touch starvation - is a longing to be touched.
Touching does NOT have to be sexual - what ways do you
desire touch? (video interview with queer and trans adults)
Touch can calm your body, reducing cortisol levels and raising oxytocin levels, lowering your heart rate and blood pressure, and reducing pain and feelings of social isolation.

arousal & desire

Desire = emotionally wanting to have sex or engage in sexual activity
Arousal = physically wanting to have sex or engage in sexual activity
It’s okay if you don’t experience desire or arousal, if it seems like you experience less desire or arousal than other people, or if you experience desire or arousal and you don’t want to.

What happens when we get “turned on”or “horny”?

For cisgender girls, women, and AFAB (assigned female at birth) trans and nonbinary folks who are not on HRT

Your pulse and heartbeat quicken, and your blood pressure rises.
Your blood vessels dilate, including blood vessels to the genitals.
Your vagina and vulva might become wet to help lubricate the
genitals.
Parts of your vulva, such as the labia (lips) and clitoris, become
swollen due to the increased blood supply.
Your vaginal canal might expand.
Your breasts become fuller, and your nipples may become erect.
Orgasms can last on average 20 seconds longer than AMAB folks.

For cisgender boys, men, and AMAB (assigned male at birth) trans and nonbinary folks who are not on HRT

Heart rate and breathing speed up
Your blood pressure increases
Increased blood flow to the genitals causes an erection
Penis and testicles increase in size
Orgasms can be wet or dry — semen can shoot out or dribble.
Multiple orgasms might also be possible for some people.
After orgasm, your erection gradually subsides, your muscles
relax, and you feel drowsy and relaxed.

the sexual response cycle

Simplified Sexual Response Cycle

Excitement - physical arousal begins
Plateau - arousal continues to build

Breathing & heart rate quicken
Vocalizing like moaning

Orgasm

More on this next!

Resolution

Muscles relax and your blood pressure drops. You might feel particularly sensitive or even painful to touch.

New Sexual Response Cycle Models

https://www.theoriginway.com/blog/female-sexual-response-cycle

^resource to draw from, make more accessible to queer and trans youth and make new infographic for updated SRC

orgasms

The orgasm stage is often considered the end goal of sexual activity, but it doesn’t have to be! It’s totally possible to have pleasurable sex without reaching orgasm.
Orgasms can include muscular convulsions, especially in the lower back and pelvic area.
Orgasms are often associated with feelings of euphoria and pleasure.

After an orgasm, you might experience a refractory period, during which you won’t be able to orgasm again.
Some people experience multiple orgasms, but that’s not necessary for you to have a pleasurable sexual experience.

erogenous zones

Erogenous zones are points on the body that you can touch to stimulate pleasure. (should this go in anatomy?)
(Possible) for all bodies

Anus, nipples, areolas, & breasts/chest; mouth & lips; neck &
ears; wrists, inner elbows, backs of knees; back, especially the
small of your back; navel & lower stomach; scalp

For vulva-havers

Clitoris, G-spot, pubic mound, cervix, A-spot

For penis-havers

Frenulum, glans, perineum, foreskin, testes & scrotum, prostate