NEUROENDOCRINE AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSE TO SEXUAL AROUSAL AND ORGASM IN MEN

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Abstract

Data regarding the neuroendocrine response pattern to sexual arousal and orgasm in man are inconsistent. In this study, ten healthy male volunteers were continuously monitored for their cardiovascular and neuroendocrine response to sexual arousal and orgasm. Blood was continuously drawn before, during and after masturbation-induced orgasm and analyzed for plasma concentrations of adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin, growth hormone (GH), β-endorphin and testosterone. Orgasm induced transient increases in heart rate, blood pressure and noradrenaline plasma levels. Prolactin plasma levels increased during orgasm and remained elevated 30 min after orgasm. In contrast, none of the other endocrine variables were significantly affected by sexual arousal and orgasm. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

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INTRODUCTION

The high prevalence of sexual disorders coupled with the effects of medical illness and pharmacological influences on sexual functions has increased the scientific interest in the psychobiology of human sexuality. Although the effects of sexual activity or exposure to erotic stimuli on the neuroendocrine response in men have been investigated for many years, the results thus far are controversial (Bancroft, 1988, Schiavi and Segraves, 1995). Sexual arousal has been shown to stimulate

Subjects and Procedure

Ten male volunteers, aged 23–46 years (M=27±6 years) participated in this study after giving their written informed consent. Subjects were recruited by an advertisement in the Hannover Medical School. All subjects had passed an intensive health examination before inclusion. A nonstructured clinical interview was carried out prior to the study. Subjects with drug or alcohol abuse, medication or sexual dysfunctions were excluded. All subjects were exclusively heterosexual and had a relaxed

Subjective Arousal and Quality and Intensity of Orgasm

During the experimental session subjects rated themselves as significantly more aroused compared with the control session (F=7.93; p<.05) (Fig. 1(A)). In addition, subjects reported a high level of both sexual arousal (4.7±0.2) and intensity of orgasm (4.2±0.4), clearly above average. All subjects reported to have had an orgasm 2–5 min after commencing masturbation.

Cardiovascular Responses

In parallel to the increased subjective arousal rating, subjects revealed transient increases in heart rate (F=9.61; p<.001),

DISCUSSION

In this study, healthy male volunteers were continuously monitored before, during and after film-induced sexual arousal and orgasm for their cardiovascular and endocrine responses. Orgasm increased blood pressure, heart rate, and noradrenaline and prolactin plasma concentrations. In contrast, adrenaline, cortisol, GH, LH, FSH, β-endorphin and testosterone plasma levels did not significantly change over time.

Subjects in the experimental condition were clearly sexually aroused during the

Acknowledgements

M. S. Exton was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

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