The sexual response

Your interest in having sex – also known as sexual desire or libido – is affected by your physical and emotional wellbeing, relationship satisfaction, body image, and levels of sex hormones, as well as the need to express love, give and receive pleasure, and create connection.

Sexuality starts in the brain. It is responsible for making you feel interested in sex through your memories, feelings and imagination. These thoughts are created by what you see, smell, touch, taste, hear and remember. The mind also creates your body image – how you feel about your body and how you think it looks.

Learn more about:

• Stages of the sexual response cycle
• Erogenous zones
• The role of hormones
• The female sexual and reproductive anatomy
• The male sexual anatomy

Listen to our podcast on Sex and Cancer

Stages of the sexual response cycle

Understanding what is happening to the body during sexual activity can be helpful.

The sexual response cycle can be described in different ways. A common model includes several phases: desire, arousal (excitement), plateau, orgasm and resolution. Both males and females experience these phases, although the timing can be different, and you may not go through all the stages – you can become aroused and achieve orgasm as a result of a partner’s sexual interest but not have felt sexual desire beforehand.

Erogenous zones

Areas of the body that make you feel excited or aroused when they’re touched or stimulated are known as erogenous zones.

The main erogenous zones for most people are in the genital area: the clitoris, penis, scrotum and anus.

Other erogenous zones include the breasts, nipples, chest, mouth, ears, neck and inner thighs.

The role of hormones

Hormones are substances that affect how your body works. They act as messengers carrying information and instructions from one group of cells to another. Hormones control many of the body’s functions, including how you grow, develop and reproduce.

Male sex hormones (androgens)

The major male sex hormone is testosterone, which is produced mostly in the testicles and also in the adrenal glands. Testosterone causes the development of the reproductive organs and other sexual characteristics, such as a deep voice and body and facial hair.

Cancer treatments that lower testosterone hormone levels, such as testosterone-blocking drugs for prostate cancer, can affect the ability to get or keep an erection and reduce desire for sex.

Female sex hormones 

The major female sex hormones are oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen keeps the vagina moist and supple, while progesterone controls reproduction. Both these hormones are produced mostly in the ovaries until menopause, when the ovaries cease releasing eggs and periods stop. Small amounts of oestrogen and progesterone are made in the adrenal glands before and after menopause.

Some cancer treatments can affect a female’s hormone levels in the short and long term, causing early menopause or menopause-like symptoms.

In females, the ovaries and adrenal glands also make small amounts of the male sex hormones (androgens). Androgen levels may be linked with a female’s general sexual wellbeing. They decrease during and after chemotherapy and can drop suddenly if the ovaries are removed.

The female sexual and reproductive anatomy

A female’s sexual and reproductive organs are located inside and outside the body. The external sex organs (genitals), known as the vulva, include the mons pubis, clitoris, labia majora, labia minora, and Bartholin glands. The reproductive organs include the fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, cervix and vagina. You may or may not have some of these organs.

The male sexual anatomy

The male body has sexual organs both inside and outside the body. You may or may not have some of these organs.