While men’s fantasies are visually driven, women’s fantasies are focused on the object of desire and what it can offer them. Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that different forms of sexual fantasy can have real effects on arousal and sexual desire, especially in women. Scientists conducted a study among 128 women and 98 men and divided them into several groups. One group imagines an exciting and pleasurable sexual encounter and then answers open-ended questions about it. In the second group, they are also engaged in a similar “fantasy”, imagining sexual situations, the third – read an erotic story chosen by the researchers. In the fourth group, they participate in a neutral exercise, for example describing the room they are in. Participants also rated the degree of perceived genital arousal, how they felt physically, and the degree of desire for sex. Compared to the control group, the volunteers engaged in erotic thoughts from the first three reported an increase in sexual and psychological arousal, as well as a higher desire for sex. In the group of imagining sexual situations, the arousal is the greatest, the scientists note. Sometimes women don’t feel the desire and excitement at the beginning of intercourse, but the libido increases as the “intermission” progresses, explains sex therapist Ian Kerner. NEWS_MORE_BOX In fact, women’s sexual response is usually characterized by “responsive desire,” while men’s sexual response is more like “spontaneous desire,” says sex expert Emily Nagosky. “Responsive” desire means that the motivation for sex occurs after the sexual behavior has begun. According to the study, actively fantasizing about sex not only drives the thought of intimate contact, but can also lead to real sexual desire and arousal. Fantasizing is a sign of a healthy sex life, experts say. And sharing fantasies with your partner can not only heat up the relationship in the bedroom, but also the confidence of the partners in the relationship. The results are reflected in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.