Resolution is the last phase of the sexual response cycle. This is the time after orgasm when the body returns to the way it was before sexual excitement. Both women and men enter this state. While a man’s body is returning to a nonaroused state, he loses his erection and experiences a refractory period. During this time, men cannot get another erection. The length of the refractory period for young men is normally very short. The length of the refractory period increases with age. It will take an older man longer to be able to get another erection after he has ejaculated.
Women do not have a refractory period. They can be sexually aroused immediately after orgasm. The box on the next page shows what happens to our couple during the resolution phase.
Changes in our bodies during resolution phase
|
Woman’s Body |
Man’s Body |
|
• Heart rate and blood pressure dip |
• Heart rate and blood pressure dip |
|
below normal and soon return to |
below normal and soon return to |
|
normal. |
normal. |
|
• The whole body sweats, including |
• The whole body sweats, including |
|
hands and soles of feet. |
hands and soles of feet. |
|
• Breasts and areolas decrease in size. |
• Nipples are no longer erect. |
|
Nipples are no longer erect. |
• Penis becomes soft and smaller. |
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• Clitoris moves out from under the |
• Scrotum relaxes and testes drop |
|
clitoral hood and shrinks slightly. |
farther away from the body. |
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• Labia return to normal size and |
|
|
position and become a lighter color. |
|
|
• Orgasmic platform disappears, and |
|
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color of vagina lightens. |
|
|
• Opening of cervix remains open to |
|
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help semen travel up into uterus. |
|
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After 20 to 30 minutes, the |
|
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opening closes. Uterus lowers into |
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upper vagina. |
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*56/155/5*
