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The varied nature of women's sexuality: unresolved issues and a theoretical approach

The varied nature of women's sexuality: unresolved issues and a theoretical approach
The varied nature of women's sexuality: unresolved issues and a theoretical approach
During the 20th century there were clear indications that the socio-cultural suppression of women's sexuality had lessened, revealing a marked variability of women's sexual expression. In this article we review the recent literature to explore explanations for this variability. It is clear that we know little about the nature of sexual desire, and in particular, what it is that is desired. There is also now substantial evidence that vaginal response, as measured by vaginal pulse amplitude, is a relatively automatic response to perception of sexual stimuli, regardless of whether these stimuli are perceived positively or result in subjective arousal. This is considered as a possible mechanism that allows vaginal intercourse without pain, even when the woman is not sexually aroused. The roles of androgens and estrogen in women's sexuality remain uncertain. The evidence is, however, consistent with there being a testosterone-dependent component of women's sexuality that is more important for some women than others. Finally, a new theoretical model is presented that aims to resolve these uncertainties and that proposes different types of women's sexuality. Once we have a better understanding of “normal” female sexuality, in its various forms, our ability to develop effective treatments for women's sexual problems should improve.
women, sexuality, sexual arousal, sexual desire, vaginal response, testosterone, estrogen
0018-506X
717-729
Bancroft, J.
719b5b80-cdd3-43ba-af71-8209a3861bbd
Graham, C.A.
ac400331-f231-4449-a69b-ec9a477224c8
Bancroft, J.
719b5b80-cdd3-43ba-af71-8209a3861bbd
Graham, C.A.
ac400331-f231-4449-a69b-ec9a477224c8

Bancroft, J. and Graham, C.A. (2011) The varied nature of women's sexuality: unresolved issues and a theoretical approach. [in special issue: Research on Sexual Arousal] Hormones and Behavior, 59 (5), 717-729. (doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.01.005). (PMID:21272585)

Record type: Article

Abstract

During the 20th century there were clear indications that the socio-cultural suppression of women's sexuality had lessened, revealing a marked variability of women's sexual expression. In this article we review the recent literature to explore explanations for this variability. It is clear that we know little about the nature of sexual desire, and in particular, what it is that is desired. There is also now substantial evidence that vaginal response, as measured by vaginal pulse amplitude, is a relatively automatic response to perception of sexual stimuli, regardless of whether these stimuli are perceived positively or result in subjective arousal. This is considered as a possible mechanism that allows vaginal intercourse without pain, even when the woman is not sexually aroused. The roles of androgens and estrogen in women's sexuality remain uncertain. The evidence is, however, consistent with there being a testosterone-dependent component of women's sexuality that is more important for some women than others. Finally, a new theoretical model is presented that aims to resolve these uncertainties and that proposes different types of women's sexuality. Once we have a better understanding of “normal” female sexuality, in its various forms, our ability to develop effective treatments for women's sexual problems should improve.

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Bancroft&Graham_HormonesandBehavior_Final.doc - Accepted Manuscript
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Published date: May 2011
Keywords: women, sexuality, sexual arousal, sexual desire, vaginal response, testosterone, estrogen
Organisations: Psychology

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 198461
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/198461
ISSN: 0018-506X
PURE UUID: 717f3633-1bf4-4c12-a20a-af957218f7cf
ORCID for C.A. Graham: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7884-599X

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Date deposited: 03 Oct 2011 15:35
Last modified: 21 Mar 2024 02:47

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Contributors

Author: J. Bancroft
Author: C.A. Graham ORCID iD

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