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Question

Men have orgasms to do "their share" in starting the production of human life--after while women do the rest. But why do women have them?

Answer

It is obvious that orgasm in men is the means by which the chances of conception are increased--ejaculation of semen and an intense desire to do it again and again--and again. But it has been long known that women can conceive whether they reach orgasm or not. So what is the purpose of orgasm in women? Until recently all sorts of theories abounded, from the notion that it is a useless artifact of evolution, a signal to one's mate of sexual satisfaction and devotion, a mechanism to insure emotional bonding, to a way to have the woman to lie still after intercourse so that sperm might be passively retained.

Research recently reported in Psychology Today ( Jan/Feb 1996) suggests that orgasm in women is a sophisticated way for women to unconsciously select which of a lover's sperm is used to increase the chances of conception. Two British biologists, Robin Baker and Mark Bellis, discovered that when a woman climaxes anytime between a minute before to 45 minutes after her lover ejaculates, she retains significantly more sperm than she does after nonorgasmic sex. In addition, their research results indicated that the strong muscular contractions associated with orgasm pull sperm from the vagina to the cervix, where it's in better position to reach an egg.

So it appears that on very basic physiological levels orgasm in women serves to "favor and promote" the guy who tickles her fancy.

03/18/98

Dr. Al Cooper, clinical director at the San Jose Marital and Sexuality Centre (408-248-9737), runs the training program for Counseling and Psychological Services at Stanford University. Dr. Cooper is internationally known for his work in sexuality and is freqently interviewed by the media. He currently writes a column in Men's Health Magazine.

Dr. Coralie Scherer coordinates online services for the Centre and specializes in sexual trauma, women's issues, and marital therapy.