[Types of sexual arousal in women during heterosexual activity]

Drawing of typical personal curve of the level of excitement before, during and after intercourse was used as a part of a questionnaire for the investigation of female sexuality. The respondents were encouraged by the instructions to draw also a second, alternative curve, if they wished. Drawings obtained from 200 female neurotics and 100 female health professionals and counselors were analyzed. They showed a large variability. We divided them into six types. Curves with gradual increase of the excitement up to one climax with following gradual decrease were most frequent in both samples (in 56% neurotics and 48% of health professionals). Curves with more than one climax (multiorgasmic) were on th second place in frequency in health professionals (19% typical plus 8% alternative), while curves without climax (anorgasmic) were more frequent in neurotic females (19% plus 9%). Curves with a pronounced plateau phase, curves with some oscillations of the excitement, and curves with noncoital climax (before or and after intercourse) followed.