<< Nasal and Salivary Secretions >>

When there is sexual arousal, the membranes which line the nostrils may secrete more than their usual amounts, of mucus. This mucus may contribute to the generally swollen state of the nose during sexual activity.

In the mouth, the salivary glands may also increase their secretions during sexual arousal. This is particularly true at the approach of orgasm. Then the glands may spurt quantities of saliva into the mouth. This is often sufficient to provide an abundant lubrication when there is uninhibited kissing or mouth-genital contact. The secretions are often so copious that one’s mouth may in actuality “water” in anticipation of a sexual relationship, and one who is erotically aroused may have to swallow repeatedly to clear his mouth of the overabundant supply of saliva. If one’s mouth is open when there is a sudden upsurge of erotic stimulation and response, saliva may be spurted some distance out of the mouth. Such behavior becomes especially characteristic at the approach of orgasm. Some of this may be due to difficulty in swallowing because of the muscular tensions which develop in the throat during erotic arousal.
We have abundant data from recorded observations on the increase in salivation with sexual arousal, but the phenomenon has not often been reported in the literature. See, however, Van de Velde 1930:244. Havelock Ellis 1936(11,1): 153, 166. Lashley 1916:487-488, on the contrary, found that in three human subjects sexual arousal inhibited parotid salivation; but swallowing was also inhibited so that drooling resulted despite the decreased salivation. Our data, however, apply to the increased secretions from the sublingual glands.

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