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Sexual arousal is the process and state of an animal being ready for sexual intercourse.

Human sexual arousal

Unlike most other animals, human beings of both sexes are potentialy capable of sexual arousal throughout the year, and there is therefore no human mating season. Things that precipitate human sexual arousal are commonly known as turn-ons. Given the right stimulation, sexual arousal in humans will typically end in an orgasm, but may be pursued for its own sake, even in the absence of an orgasm.

Causes of human sexual arousal

See also: Sexual attraction

Includes, but is not limited to:

Signs of possible human sexual arousal

Human sexual response cycle

During the 1950s and 1960s, William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson conducted many important studies within the field of human sexuality. In 1966, the two released a book, Human Sexual Response, detailing four stages of physiological changes in humans during sexual stimulation, based on their own sexual experiences. These phases, in order of their occurrence, are excitement, plateau, orgasmic, and resolution.

See human sexual response cycle.

Genital procedures and sexual arousal

Scientific data shows that male circumcision may cause neurological changes in the human brain, which is suggested to lower sexual excitability (Mackey, 1997).This is contested. [1] Another study suggested that arousal of a man's female partner is also impacted. [2]

Sexual arousal in other animals

It is not completely understood how other animals relate sexually, but current research studies suggest that animals, like humans, enjoy sexual relations. This is especially noted in dogs, dolphins, and bonobos.

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