title: Assessing women's sexual arousal in the context of sexual assault history and acute alcohol intoxication.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Psychology, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: amandakg@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Amanda K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Psychology, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Schacht
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Psychology, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Psychology, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, School of Social Work, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly Cue
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Indiana University, Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Julia R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Heiman
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Psychology, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Kajumulo
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol