September 15, 2020 2 min read

What is sexual pleasure?

 

Sexual pleasure as defined by the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) is the physical and/or psychological satisfaction and enjoyment derived from shared or solitary erotic experiences, including thoughts, fantasies, dream, emotions and feelings.

Do men and women experience sexual pleasure in the same way?

 

Men and women differ immensely in the way they experience sexual pleasure. In sexual health, there are response cycles described to explain how men and women respond sexually. Most men associate with the linear Kaplan’s model, as depicted in the picture, where they experience desire spontaneously, followed by arousal and then orgasm and resolution.  Some just go straight to arousal and some do not relate with this graph at all! There are men who will start sexual activity without any desire and then only develop it after sexual stimulation - we are all different!

What is crucial for sexual desire and pleasure in men?

 

Testosterone is crucial for sexual desire and pleasure in men. Sex is integrated into real life and real life is integrated into sex. Sex is not an isolated fragment of one’s life. If you experience decreased desire (low libido) or decreased ability to perform sexually, please contact one of our doctorsto be assessed. Sexual dysfunction can hide underlying disease.

Does ejaculation and orgasm mean the same thing?

 

Orgasm and ejaculation is not the same thing. Orgasm is a complex, subjective sensation, mostly experienced with pleasure and concentrated in the pelvic region spreading across the whole body systems. It is an integrated process between the brain (centrally) and local sensations (originating from the internal genitals, urethra and pelvic floor muscle contractions). Ejaculation is the release of seminal fluid. Ejaculating does not always mean that a man reached orgasm.  A man can also have an orgasm, but not ejaculate

Is pleasure only dependent on penetrative sex?

 

Pleasure is not only dependent on penetrative sex. The man’s perception of himself as a desirable sexual partner is traditionally linked to his skill as a lover. Such skills may include ability to maintain an erection, delay ejaculation and ideally reading the partner's sexual needs and responding behaviorally. Sensual touch and emotional pleasure are as valuable as performance. Read about how to enjoy this in our blog on Sensate Focus Therapy

Written by Dr Larisse Badenhorst 

Head of My Sexual Health Johannesburg

 

 


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