Section 8.3: Sexual Motivation - Terms

Asexual

A sexual orientation where an individual experiences little or no sexual attraction to others.

Hormone

A chemical messenger produced by glands that regulates bodily functions and behaviors, including growth, mood, and reproduction.

Estrogen

A primary female sex hormone responsible for the development of female secondary sexual characteristics and regulation of the menstrual cycle.

Progesterone

A hormone involved in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, helping to prepare and maintain the uterus for pregnancy.

Testosterone

The primary male sex hormone that promotes the development of male secondary sexual characteristics and influences sexual drive.

Puberty

The developmental period when a person becomes capable of sexual reproduction, marked by hormonal changes and physical maturation.

Sexual response cycle

The sequence of physiological responses to sexual stimulation, typically including excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution phases.

Refractory period

A recovery phase after orgasm during which a person is temporarily unable to achieve another orgasm.