Understanding Women's Subjective Sexual Arousal Within the Laboratory: Definition, Measurement, and Manipulation

Ariel B Handy; Amelia M Stanton; Cindy M Meston

doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.11.001

Understanding Women's Subjective Sexual Arousal Within the Laboratory: Definition, Measurement, and Manipulation

Sex Med Rev. 2018 Apr;6(2):201-216. doi: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.11.001. Epub 2018 Jan 12.

Authors

Ariel B Handy¹, Amelia M Stanton¹, Cindy M Meston²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
² Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. Electronic address: meston@psy.utexas.edu.

PMID: 29339116
DOI: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.11.001

Abstract

Introduction: Subjective sexual arousal (SSA) is positive, cognitive engagement in sexual activity. SSA is considered an important aspect of the sexual experience, as it has been found to facilitate sexual activity and, in situations of chronically low or absent arousal, potentially cause distress. Despite the clinical implications of SSA, a thorough review of how to manipulate SSA has yet to be conducted.

Aim: To review the state of knowledge about SSA in women, including its definition, measurement, and the outcomes of studies attempting to manipulate SSA within a laboratory setting.

Method: A comprehensive search of the electronic databases of PubMed and PsycINFO was conducted. The generated list of articles was reviewed and duplicates were removed. Individual articles were assessed for inclusion and, when appropriate, relevant content was extracted.

Main outcome measure: The potential effects of various manipulations of SSA in a laboratory setting was the main outcome.

Results: 44 studies were included in this review. Manipulations were grouped into 3 primary categories: pharmacological (n = 16), cognitive (n = 22), and those based on changes to the autonomic nervous system (n = 6). Results suggest that cognitive manipulation is the most effective method of increasing SSA. Altering the relative balance of the 2 branches of the autonomic nervous system (the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system) also appears to be a promising avenue for increasing SSA.

Conclusion: This review supports the use of cognitive manipulation for increasing women's SSA in a laboratory setting. Avenues for future research and recommendations for clinicians are discussed. Handy AB, Stanton AM, Meston CM. Understanding Women's Subjective Sexual Arousal Within the Laboratory: Definition, Measurement, and Manipulation. Sex Med Rev 2018;6:201-216.

Keywords: Female Sexual Function; Sexual Arousal; Subjective Sexual Arousal.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biomedical Research*
Female
Humans
Libido / physiology*
Research Design
Sexual Behavior / physiology*