Why Does The Female Orgasm Exist?

Women have the potential to become pregnant whether or not they reach orgasm during vaginal intercourse. This observation has generated a long-standing scientific debate about why women have orgasms in the first place. If the female orgasm is not essential for reproduction, then what purpose does it serve? Although scientists do not yet agree on the answer, a number of interesting theories have been offered.

Some have argued that the female orgasm is a “sperm retention mechanism” that increases the odds of conception. The thought here is that uterine contractions during orgasm serve to draw sperm further into a woman's reproductive tract. Scientists have found some evidence suggesting that this might indeed happen.

Why Does The Female Orgasm Exist?

In one study, female participants were asked to collect “flowback” after unprotected vaginal intercourse. In other words, they collected ejaculate that seeped out of the vagina after sex. Scientists then did a sperm count on each flowback sample and related this count to whether or not women reported having an orgasm. What they found was that when women reached orgasm around the same time as their male partners, the flowback contained less sperm than when women didn’t orgasm at all or reached orgasm much sooner than their partners.

However, this study has its flaws. For one thing, we don’t know how much sperm was actually released during each ejaculation to draw firm conclusions about how much of it was retained. Moreover, if we accept the argument that the female orgasm really does help to retain sperm, then why do so many women have difficulty reaching orgasm during vaginal sex, and why does it often take women much longer to have an orgasm than men?

An alternative theory is that perhaps there is no adaptive value to the female orgasm and, instead, the pleasure it provides is just a “fantastic bonus” for women. The “fantastic bonus” theory argues that the female orgasm is just a byproduct of how the tissues in the human body are laid out in early development.

Why Does The Female Orgasm Exist?

Regardless of whether someone is biologically male or female, everyone looks the same when they are initially in the womb. During the first two months of development, the genital structures are undifferentiated and have the potential to develop into either penises and scrotums or vulvas. The male and female genitals actually develop out of the same embryonic tissues and nerve structures—and these structures are laid out in order to ensure orgasm if a male develops because the male orgasm is necessary in order for men to sexually reproduce. Because men’s ability to reach orgasm is so heavily favored by our biology, it may be that the female orgasm is just a byproduct of this.

Another way to think about this is that the female orgasm has a lot in common with the male nipple in terms of why it exists. Biology favors nipple development in women in order to make breastfeeding possible. Men’s nipples don’t serve any known biological or reproductive function; however, they do contain many nerve endings, therefore making them a potential “bonus” in the bedroom (in fact, survey studies have found that most men report that nipple stimulation can lead them to become sexually aroused). So, perhaps female orgasms and male nipples are both nothing more than fantastic bonuses of nature.

Lastly, keep in mind that these are just a few of the many theories out there on the origin of the female orgasm and they certainly do not represent the last word on this topic. To learn more about the science behind orgasms, click here.

10 Scientific Facts About The Female Orgasm

Female Orgasm Facts: How much do you know about the female orgasm? Check out the list below for 11 of the most interesting facts scientists have discovered about women and their orgasms. Which one is your favorite? How much do you know about women? Do you know why women are crazy about having sex?

1. The rule of thumb: the distance between a woman’s clitoris and her vaginal opening is associated with her likelihood of orgasm during vaginal intercourse. The smaller the distance (particularly if it's a thumb-width or less), the more likely she is to reach orgasm. Why? The clitoris receives more indirect stimulation when it’s closer to the action.

2. Women are able to experience multiple orgasms. In fact, scientists believe that most women are likely capable of this because women, unlike men, usually don’t have a refractory period upon reaching orgasm. Men can have multiple orgasms too, but it is rare, and most guys who have experienced this report far fewer orgasms. Case in point: the most orgasms documented in one hour is 134 for a woman and *just* 16 for a man.

3. Some women have orgasms in their sleep. That’s right—nocturnal orgasms aren’t just for men! Believe it or not, Alfred Kinsey’s research revealed that 37% of the women he surveyed had at least one orgasm in their sleep before [2].

4. Some women have orgasms while they exercise (i.e., “coregasms”). Kinsey also found that about 5% of the women he surveyed reported one or more exercise-induced orgasms, but more recent studies have found even higher numbers of women reporting this. However, orgasms aren’t just reported during core exercises—women have also reported them during yoga, running, weight lifting, jazzercise, and more.

5. “Nipplegasms” are a thing too. Yep—some women experience orgasm from nipple stimulation alone. Why? One plausible explanation comes from brain scanning studies, which have found that nipple stimulation activates the same brain regions as clitoral and vaginal stimulation.

6. Some women have premature orgasm. Consider this: a 2011 study of Portuguese women found that 14% of those surveyed said that they reach orgasm before they would like to at least occasionally, with 3% reporting that this happens frequently.  Of course, this isn’t nearly as common as male premature orgasm—but the point stands that men aren’t the only ones who experience this.

7. Brain-imaging research reveals that the area of the brain that processes pain is activated during orgasm in women. This suggests an important neural connection between pleasure and pain (learn more about this and other brain changes during orgasm in this video).

8. Women are more likely to reach orgasm with male partners who are attractive, wealthy, and self-confident (i.e., guys with higher “mate value”). Why? Some scientists argue that the female orgasm has evolved to serve as a feedback mechanism that informs women about the reproductive fitness and potential of their mates.

9. The odds of a heterosexual woman reaching orgasm during casual sex is linked to how many times she has had sex with that partner before, how she feels about the guy, and what sexual activities they engage in. Check out this infographic for a closer look at the details.

10. Most women report that a longer penis does not increase their likelihood of reaching orgasm during vaginal intercourse. However, some women do prefer longer penises during sex, perhaps because they find stimulation of the cervix pleasurable. In fact, some women have reported reaching orgasm from cervical stimulation.

Women who have a more prominent tubercle of the upper lip are more likely to reach orgasm during sex. What the heck does that even mean? Click here to learn more.

3 Recipes for Sexual Vitality

Eager to rev up your libido? Click here to learn more about the best foods to feed your body's sexual vitality, then try these recipes from raw vegan chef Elyse Clark.
Super Kale Salad
1 head of kale

1 ripe avocado

1/3 cup unrefined flax oil 

2 tablespoons Bragg's Liquid Aminos/Nama Shoyu/Tamari

1/2 cup nutritional yeast

2 tablespoons garlic powder

1 tablespoons chili powder

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup hemp seeds



1. Wash kale and remove leaves from stem; place stems aside for juicing or composting. Break leaves into bite size pieces using hands or kitchen scissor

2. Massage kale with avocado, flax, and aminos followed by remaining ingredients until well incorporated. Serve.
Pumpkin Seed Pesto Sauce

 2 cups raw pumpkin seeds

1 cup olive oil

1/2 cup parsley

1/2 cup basil

1 tsp himalayan pink salt

1 garlic clove


1.  Blend in food processor or high speed blender until desired consistency is reached
Maca Brazil Truffles
(pictured above)
1 cup raw brazil nuts

1 1/4 cups unsweetened shredded coconut

1 1/2 tablespoons maca

3/4 cup date paste or soaked and pitted Medjool dates

1 tablespoons maple

1 teaspoons vanilla powder


1.  Combine all in food processor (if the dough is too dry add teaspoon of water, too wet add extra coconut)
.
2. Form into balls and let set in fridge for 20 minutes or longer.

Hungry for More: What to Eat for Sexual Vitality

 

Rev up your sexual vitality with cinnamon and other surprising foods.

Envision a ripe, juicy apricot. It beckons from the kitchen counter—full, sweet, and ready to be enjoyed. Now think about a bag of dried apricots. They’re in the pantry, for use . . . whenever. Our sexuality should be like the fresh apricot: a nourishing and urgent part of our lives. Yet many of us struggle to feel desire, or we lack the energy to act on it.

“My mom confided in me that she only had sex when she went on vacation,” says Brigitte Mars, a herbalist and nutritional consultant based in Boulder, Colorado. “And I said, ‘But, Mom, you only go on vacation once a year!’” Luckily for Mom (and Dad!), Mars is the author of The Sexual Herbal and offered to make meals that contained a lot of cinnamon. The results? “After a week, she winked at me.”

“Cinnamon, consistently eaten, keeps you ‘user ready,’” explains Brian Clement. He and his wife, Anna Maria, both naturopaths and nutritionists, are the authors of 7 Keys to Lifelong Sexual Vitality. “It’s the biggest question we hear: How can I get my libido back?” says Anna Maria Clement. That’s a question worth pursuing, she says. “Sexual satisfaction is a major contributor to the quality of life.”

The right foods can support desire, but if you’re envisioning oysters, think again: Foods for sexual vitality are different from aphrodisiacs, says Mars. “You want to tone the whole body. It’s not, What can I do for tonight? but, rather, having extra energy for sex.” Here are the powerhouse foods that will fan your desire: 

Nuts and seeds, especially sesame, chia, sunflower, hemp, and pumpkin. “Raw nuts and seeds have a lot of life force,” says Mars, who suggests soaking chia seeds overnight and having them for breakfast with blueberries, nuts, and honey.

Grains, beans, and squash. “The best way to eat squash is raw,” says Brian Clement. “Grate it up and add it to salads or dips.”

Turmeric, lemon, and cayenne, which support healthy circulation. “Some of the smallest capillaries in the body go down to the penis and vaginal areas,” Clement says. “Blood flow is necessary for full arousal,” agrees Laurie Steelsmith, a Honolulu-based naturopathic physician and the author of Great Sex, Naturally.

Cruciferous vegetables, acai, mangosteen, and berries. These support liver health, which is also vital to good circulation, says Steelsmith.

Cardamom, garlic, and ginger. “You want to warm your body up, not cool your jets,” says Mars. “Make your food healthy and exciting.”

Maca. This root is associated with stabilizing hormones, says Elyse Clark, a raw vegan chef and educator from Deer Park, New York. She uses maca powder, beets, and Brazil nuts to make raw-food truffles.

Dark chocolate. It contains L-arginine (a vasodilator) and phenylethylamine, which makes you feel happy, Steelsmith says. Skip the chocolate bar, with its added sugar and fat. Instead, buy cocoa powder and add it to your smoothies.

Root vegetables. “Roots are said to energize your lower chakras,” says Mars. Try burdock root, carrots, and beets.

Avoid fatty foods and alcohol, which will make you sluggish, and coffee, which Steelsmith says lowers testosterone in both men and women.

Overall, focus on fresh, unprocessed foods. “When you eat cleaner, you function more optimally,” says Clark. “Even your response to human touch will change—you can get aroused by simpler things. Your body is getting the message more clearly.”