SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

What is Sexual Response Cycle

The sexual response cycle describes the physical and emotional changes that occur during sexual activity. It was first conceptualized by William Masters and Virginia Johnson in the 1960s, and later modified by other researchers. The most widely recognized model includes four phases, though some variations (like Helen Singer Kaplan’s model) focus on three.

Below is a comparison of the sexual response cycle, integrating both models:

• Four-Phase Sexual Response Cycle (Masters & Johnson)

  — Desire (Excitement) Phase

  — Arousal (Plateau) Phase

  — Orgasm Phase

  — Resolution Phase

• Three-Phase Model (Helen Singer Kaplan)

  — Desire (Psychological interest in sex)

  — Excitement (Physical arousal)

  — Orgasm (Climax)

Women’s sexual responses are highly individual—some may skip phases or experience them differently. Emotional connection and foreplay often play a larger role in female arousal compared to men. Communication, exploration, and patience are essential for a fulfilling sexual experience.

Masters and Johnson also discovered that women fake orgasms, can have multiple orgasms, and don’t need a partner (in their time, “a man”) to orgasm. They also showed that “vaginal” orgasms were not superior to “clitoral” orgasms, busting Sigmund Freud’s theory that also put men at the center of women’s orgasm. In short, Masters and Johnson’s work “helped change the way human sexuality was perceived in America and the world”,” and it was only the starting point.

Masters and Johnson: The OGs of Sex Research

Before Masters, scientists had only interviewed people about their carnal activities. They knew how animals responded anatomically and physiologically when they got it on, but not humans. Then came Masters, who wanted to know about our sexual responses so that he could develop therapies to help with sexual dysfunction. He began by using prostitutes in his research before recruiting others to participate in his studies. In 1957, Johnson joined Masters as his research assistant.

During the studies, Masters and Johnson used electrocardiographs, electroencephalographs, intravaginal photography, and other instruments to measure changes in participants’ heart rates, breathing, lubrication, and more. The researchers even created some instruments, including a dildo called “Ulysses”. Participants would masturbate or engage in sexual intercourse while connected to these devices and as the researchers observed them. Masters and Johnson used all of this information to inform their human sexual response cycle.

According to Masters and Johnson, this cycle consists of four phases: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. This linear model progresses in order from one stage to the next—there’s no skipping a step, going back to another stage, or any other variability. (Which we all know is not how it happens 100 percent of the time in 100 percent of people, but we’ll get to that below.)

Masters and Johnson also discovered that women fake orgasms, can have multiple orgasms, and don’t need a partner (in their time, “a man”) to orgasm. They also showed that “vaginal” orgasms were not superior to “clitoral” orgasms, busting Sigmund Freud’s theory that also put men at the center of women’s orgasm. In short, Masters and Johnson’s work “helped change the way human sexuality was perceived in America and the world”,” and it was only the starting point.

Kaplan, Whipple, and Basson: Female Scientists Lead to Way

Since the time of their research trials and up to today, others have criticized the work of Masters and Johnson for many reasons and amended their cycle.

In the 1970s, Helen Singer Kaplan was one of the first to develop an alternative sexual response cycle. Believing that sexual response involves more than just physical changes and that psychological, emotional, and cognitive factors also play a role, she added “desire” to the cycle. In the linear Kaplan model, the sexual response cycle goes from desire to excitement to orgasm. Without “desire”, you cannot have the other two.

Then in 1997, Beverly Whipple and Karen Brash-McGreer came out with a circular model of women’s sexual responses. The four stages—seduction (desire), sensations (excitement and plateau), surrender (orgasm), and reflection (resolution)—don’t all need to happen, nor do they need to happen in that order. So a woman can feel desire, become aroused, and feel satisfaction without having an orgasm.

Whipple and Brash-McGreer also theorized that only pleasurable sexual experiences lead to more sexual encounters. If an experience isn’t pleasurable, it may not lead to more sex. (And we all know someone—or are that someone—who stopped seeing a person because of their performance in the sack.)

From that model, three years later, psychiatrist Rosemary Basson published another nonlinear model of female sexual response. In her model, emotional intimacy, sexual stimuli, sexual arousal, arousal and sexual desire, and emotional and physical satisfaction form a circle around “spontaneous sexual drive”. Arrows indicate that emotional intimacy, sexual stimuli, and sexual arousal can all trigger sexual drive.

Indeed, Basson’s research was the first to show that women oftentimes need to be aroused in order to become interested in sex. For example, perhaps watching porn or kissing someone triggers your desire for sex. Basson’s model shows that sexual response is not linear—it can happen in many ways, and there is no “right” (or “wrong”) way.

Basson also found that women engage in sex for many reasons—it’s not just about wanting to have sex or orgasm. Sometimes women have sex because they crave intimacy or a feeling of connection with their partner, and for many, that’s just as pleasurable if not more so than an orgasm.

Today’s Take on the Sexual Response Cycle

Although it wasn’t perfect (because nothing is), the work of Masters and Johnson set off the exploration into sexual response and pleasure. The truth is, sexual response cycles vary, particularly in women.

In a 2015 survey, 401 men and 429 women (all sexually active with partners) read narrative descriptions of sexual experience based on the Masters and Johnson, Kaplan, and Basson models. Then researchers asked which, if any, model best fit their current sexual experience.

While almost half of the men selected the Masters and Johnson sexual response cycle, women were more divided: A third chose the Kaplan model, 28 percent selected Masters and Johnson, 26 percent selected Basson, and the remaining 7 percent said none of the models fit.

Whether you relate to one model or none of the models is fine. As we continue to embrace the diversity of sexuality and sexual pleasure, we’ll likely learn more to further the work that Masters and Johnson began—and reap the benefits of the science of sex.

Can Sex Toys Enhance Female Sexual Response Cycle

Yes, when used mindfully, sex toys can significantly enhance the female sexual response cycle—boosting pleasure, orgasm frequency, and emotional connection. Sex toys can have multiple positive effects on the female sexual response cycle, enhancing pleasure, arousal, and satisfaction. However, their impact depends on individual preferences, comfort levels, and how they’re used. Here’s how they can influence each phase:

Desire Phase

• Stimulation: Sex toys (like vibrators) can help women who struggle with low libido by providing physical stimulation that jumpstarts arousal.
• Mindset: Erotic literature, app-controlled toys, or sensory play items (e.g., feathers, temperature toys) can spark mental desire.
• Hormonal Aid: For menopausal women or those with reduced sensitivity, toys can compensate for hormonal changes affecting natural lubrication and blood flow.

Arousal Phase

• Enhanced Blood Flow: Vibrators (especially clitoral stimulators like the *Womanizer*) increase vasocongestion, speeding up lubrication and swelling.
• Exploration: Toys allow women to discover what types of touch (vibration, pressure, texture) work best for them.
• Partner Play: Couples’ toys (e.g., *We-Vibe*) can improve synchronization during foreplay, helping both partners reach higher arousal.

Orgasm Phase

• Reliability: Studies show that women who use vibrators are more likely to orgasm, especially those who struggle with orgasm consistency (*Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2009*).
• Clitoral Focus: 70-80% of women need direct clitoral stimulation to orgasm—toys like bullet vibrators or suction devices (e.g., ZALO) cater to this.
• Multiple Orgasms: Toys can help some women achieve sequential or blended orgasms (clitoral + vaginal/G-spot).

Resolution Phase

• Satisfaction: Post-orgasm, toys can prolong afterglow through gentle stimulation (e.g., low-power vibrations).
• Bonding: Shared toy use with a partner may deepen emotional intimacy and relaxation.

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