They do this because they know it is extremely confusing and embarrassing. People who sexually abuse boys and men often use their knowledge about male bodies to deliberately cause an erection and/or ejaculate to occur. People who commit sexual abuse usually know this, and take advantage of it.
The combination of fear, arousal, and touch can be overwhelming and confusing. Both states involve the symptoms of increased heart rate, fast shallow breathing, and increased alertness, to name a few. It is also true that fear and arousal are very similar in a physiological sense. It does not mean in any way that the man is sexually attracted to his doctor, or that he has a sexual preference for doctors in general! In the same way, developing an erection, or ejaculating, during sexual assault does not say anything at all about one’s sexual preferences or identity.ĭiagram 1. To help put this in context, some men may experience some involuntary arousal when their doctor performs a digital rectal examination to check for prostate problems. In this procedure, the prostate and other glands and organs are electronically stimulated to achieve an ejaculation.) (In fact, with men who have spinal injuries, a technique called ‘electroejaculation’ is used to collect sperm so their partner can try to conceive. It is a normal response for the body to produce seminal fluid when the prostate gland and the seminal vesicles are touched or pressured. If the prostate gland is pressured or stimulated it will typically produce an erection (see the diagram below).
The prostate gland is located next to the bladder and the seminal vesicles, just past the sphincter muscles of the anus (the opening to the rectum). Many people have heard about the prostate from education campaigns about prostate cancer. The prostate gland is also involved in male arousal. If sexual assault involves some form of anal touching or penetration, it is common for the male body to respond by developing an erection and/or ejaculating. The area around the anus is very sensitive because it has a rich supply of nerves, which can also cause arousal when touched.
The most difficult thing for me… has been to separate the physiological response I had during the abuse – my own arousal – from the victimization… For years I could not see myself as a young man who had been victimized because I had felt pleasure… My anger at this is something I am… now able to deal with." Will, 37, Pennsylvania (From Mike Lew, Leaping Upon the Mountains: Men Proclaiming Victory Over Sexual Child Abuse. Stimulation of the genitals (such as pressure, touching or rubbing) can very easily cause an erection, even when it is not intended or wanted. A common example of this is the vibrations from riding on the bus, or sitting with a cat purring on your lap. Most men (and almost all teenage boys) have had the experience of unwanted or unintentional arousal. Having said that, obviously the genitals (meaning the penis and testicles) can be very sensitive, and so can the area around the anus.Īrousal, or the way our body responds to touch, is not always something that can be controlled. In fact, teenage boys especially can be extremely sensitive to touch anywhere on the body, not just around the areas we usually associate with sexual arousal. Much of our body – our senses and nerve endings – is basically designed to respond to stimulation, particularly to touch or pressure. Please note that, in addressing this topic, this page uses direct language relating to sex and genitals, as well as a detailed anatomical diagram. In it we will try to address some of the questions relating to physiological arousal and sexuality that men report struggling with. This page deals with the issue of male sexual assault and arousal.
It’s not your fault." Professional man, age 38, sexually abused from age 5-16.ĭeveloping an erection or ejaculating during a sexually abusive experience can be one of the most confusing and distressing aspects of sexual abuse for men and boys. If your body reacted in a "sexual" manner, doesn’t mean you wanted it.