Sexual arousal and pleasure
In this section you will learn about sexual arousal and pleasure
![A close up of the of the a male and female pelvis, both wearing underwear. Over the genital area of both drawings is a smiling emoji inside a flame.](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Arousal-M-F.jpg)
Learning about sexual arousal and pleasure is an important part of growing up.
![](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/13-2.jpg)
This page is for people aged 13 years and older.
If you are younger than 13 year old you can talk to a trusted adult about sexual arousal and pleasure.
![An illustration of a person with a vulva and a person with a penis with the following body parts labelled: Breasts, nipples, clitoris, vulva and vagina, penis.](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Images-of-people-with-no-clothes-on-content-warning-image-private-body-parts-no-underwear.jpg)
There are drawings of
- private body parts
- people with no clothes on
- sexual touching and masturbation
These drawings are there to help you understand.
![Content warning image comparing a photograph of a hand and a drawing of a hand](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Content-warning-version-2.jpg)
There are no photos of real people’s private body parts on our website.
![A drawing of a laptop with the Healthy Respect website page about private body parts on the screen. A big green tick is in front of the laptop.](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Learning-about-private-body-parts-is-okay.jpg)
It is ok to see these drawings when learning about sexual arousal and pleasure.
![Image of a person talking to a trusted professional](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Talking-to-trusted-adults-teacher-and-support-worker-2.jpg)
If you have any questions or upset about anything you read, it is good to speak to an adult you trust.
![Image of a green arrow pointing down.](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Green-arrow.jpg)
Move down the page to find out more about sexual arousal and pleasure.
If not you can learn about bodies or what is sex.
What is sexual arousal?
![](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Arousal-M-F.jpg)
Sexual arousal is when a person’s private body parts feel nice, tingly, and warm.
![](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Seeing-something-arousing.jpg)
Sometimes people feel aroused because they have seen something that makes them feel aroused.
![](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Unknown-arousal-amira.jpg)
Sometimes people feel aroused for no reason at all.
![](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Arousal-is-a-normal-part-of-growing-up.jpg)
Feeling aroused is a very normal part of our bodies changing as we grow up.
![](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Masturbation-person-with-a-vulva-over-underwear-scaled.jpg)
Some people feel like touching their private parts when they are aroused. This is called self touch or masturbation.
Masturbating is touching your private parts in a way that feels good.
![Images showing privates spaces and public spaces. Top and middle image are private spaces for example bathroom and bedroom. Bottom image is a public space like a park.](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Masturbation-in-a-private-place-bedroom-and-bathroom.jpg)
Masturbating is a private thing and must be done in a private place.
A private place for masturbating could be your bedroom or bathroom in your house.
Learn more about self touch and masturbation.
![A drawing of a classroom, a park, a cinema, and a pool labelled as](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Public-places.jpg)
It is not okay to masturbate in a public place.
Some examples of public places are a school, a park, a cinema, or a swimming pool.
![A drawing of a young man in a swimming pool touching his private parts over his pants. Their is a girl swimming towards him. A lifeguard is blowing a whistle. There is a big red X beside the image showing this is not okay.](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Masturbation-in-public-not-okay-e1717593758792.jpg)
Masturbating in a public place where someone might see you can make people feel very upset.
It is against the law to masturbate in a public place.
![A drawing of a young man experiencing sexual arousal and thinking about the fact he does not want to masturbate or have sex.](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Feeling-aroused-does-not-always-mean-you-want-to-masturbate-or-have-sex-2.jpg)
Feeling aroused is normal. It does not always mean you want to masturbate or feel ready to have sex.
![](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Green-arrow.jpg)
Scroll down to learn more about sexual arousal and pleasure.
Pleasure and orgasm
![A man and a woman laying on a bed wearing clothes. The man is cuddling the woman from behind and they are smiling at each other. Both of them are thinking about their private parts with a picture of a smiley face and a flame, representing that they both feel aroused.](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Condoms-and-sex-etu-images-1.jpg)
Sexual arousal and pleasure are an important part of sex.
![](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Orgasm-F-title-image.jpg)
Sometimes sexual arousal and pleasure feel really strong and intense. This can become an orgasm.
An orgasm is really good feeling.
![](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Semen.jpg)
Semen comes out of the penis at orgasm. This is called ejaculation, or cumming.
![](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Wet-dream-ejaculation-no-blanket-male.jpg)
Sometimes people can have an orgasm while they are asleep.
This is called a wet dream.
![](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/female-orgasm-uterus.jpg)
The muscle in the vagina squeeze and relax and the person might feel really good.
This is called orgasming or cumming.
![](https://www.healthyrespect.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Orgasm-from-Masturbation-or-sex.jpg)
People might have an orgasm when they masturbate or when they have sex.
Find out more about masturbation.