Sexual
desire sometimes develops slowly in women
They may not reach sexual maturity until they have been
married for some time. The awakening may be gradual or may take place suddenly.
Women tend to be less quickly and spontaneously aroused than men. Both partners
should understand this. A woman should not feel that her husband is oversexed
or "crude" if he desires intercourse because he has seen her
partially undressed or because she has kissed him affectionately. A man should
not consider himself rejected or decide that his wife is cold if she fails to
be aroused so readily. 394 I Family Preventive Care Many women need a
warming-up period, both to feel desire and Lo be physically ready for
intercourse.
When a woman is sufficiently aroused, her vagina is well
lubricated and naturally receptive to insertion of the penis. Many women
respond best to lovemaking that begins with verbal expressions of affection,
kisses, and gentle caresses and proceeds to stimulation of the breasts, the
nipples, the clitoris (the small projection outside the vagina, which is
composed of erectile tissue similar to the penis), and the vagina itself. Each
husband should learn to know the degree to which his wife is excited by
caresses of different parts of the body. If the husband is skillful, will a
wife always achieve sexual satisfaction? Even under the most favorable
circumstances, some women do not experience an orgasm, or climax.
Some
experience an orgasm only after they have been married for some time.
Some experience it only occasionally, perhaps only at
certain periods of the month, as their desire may be of a cyclical nature,
peaking before, during, or after the menstrual period. In 'men, the orgasm is
clearly defined; in women it may be vague or diffuse. Its intensity varies. It
may center in the clitoris or may appear to involve the internal portion of the
vagina, or a woman may experience both types of orgasm. Often, failure to
achieve orgasm does' not prevent a woman from having pleasure from the sexual
act; failure does not necessarily make her tense and frustrated; this, too,
varies in individual women. It is important for a man to help his wife
experience the sexual satisfaction he enjoys.
Men often reach
climax more rapidly than women. This can usually be compensated for by making
certain that the woman is highly stimulated before actual intercourse begins.
While many couples find it particularly satisfying to reach orgasm
simultaneously, others see no objection to having the woman reach it first.
Generally, a woman's desire fades rather slowly after orgasm, whereas that of a
man tends to vanish rapidly. It is not unusual, especially if a man is young or
greatly excited, for him occasionally to have an orgasm almost immediately upon
beginning the sexual act; this is called premature ejaculation. However, if it
occurs habitually, he should consult a doctor.
Often premature ejaculation is
due to early, furtive, hurried sex experiences. As a result, a man may not have
learned to enjoy a leisurely sexual pace and to adapt to his partner's needs.
