Assessing women's sexual arousal in the context of sexual assault history and acute alcohol intoxication.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have examined differences in women's sexual arousal based on sexual assault history (SAH) or in-the-moment alcohol intoxication. Only one has examined combined effects. Findings regarding the relationship between SAH and arousal are contradictory.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to determine the relationship between SAH, alcohol intoxication, and sexual arousal.


METHODS
Women were randomly assigned to an alcohol (target blood alcohol level = 0.10%) or control condition and categorized as having an SAH or not. After beverage administration, all women watched erotic films while genital arousal (vaginal pulse amplitude; VPA) was measured. Afterward, self-reported sexual arousal was measured.


METHODS
Genital response was measured by VPA using vaginal photoplethysmography while watching erotic films. Self-reported sexual arousal was assessed after watching erotic films.


RESULTS
Women with an SAH had smaller increases in genital arousal in response to the films than women without an SAH. Intoxicated women had smaller increases in genital arousal than sober women. However, no differences for SAH or intoxication were found in self-reported arousal.


CONCLUSIONS
SAH and alcohol intoxication are associated with smaller increases in genital arousal compared to women without an SAH and sober women, suggesting that these co-occurring factors impact sexual arousal.
Gilmore
Amanda K
AK
University of Washington, Department of Psychology, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: amandakg@uw.edu.
Schacht
Rebecca L
RL
University of Washington, Department of Psychology, Seattle, WA, USA.
George
William H
WH
University of Washington, Department of Psychology, Seattle, WA, USA.
Otto
Jacqueline M
JM
University of Washington, Department of Psychology, Seattle, WA, USA.
Davis
Kelly Cue
KC
University of Washington, School of Social Work, Seattle, WA, USA.
Heiman
Julia R
JR
Indiana University, Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Bloomington, IN, USA.
Norris
Jeanette
J
University of Washington, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
Kajumulo
Kelly F
KF
University of Washington, Department of Psychology, Seattle, WA, USA.
D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D004882:Erotica; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido / Q000502:physiology*; D017156:Photoplethysmography; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000098:blood supply*
D000431:Ethanol