This bibliography was last updated in 1989 and sorely needs it. Please e-mail me any additions and they will be added to the distribution. Please see note at the end of the bibliography concerning distribution (feel free to send it friends, feel free to send it to enemies, just don't get any money for it.) I would like to maintain this as an ongoing bibliography through the resources of the internet community.
The annotations reflect my take on these articles and while, of course , they are correct, accurate and trustworthy, they may cause some disagreement. Any and all comments will be greatly appreciated.
Presents Freud's model of normal psychosexual development in females. Argues that females have two independent erotogenic centers: the infantile erotogenic of the clitoris and the mature erotogenic zone of the vagina. Clitoral arousal was seen as a sign masculine libido, whereas vaginal responsiveness was the essence of felinity. Freud's ideas were probably treated more rigidly and dogmatically by his followers than did Freud, however, the impact of these ideas should not be minimized. This formulation of female sexuality has essentially dominated the last 80 years and has filled the coffers of many a psychotherapist.
One hundred women were studied to try to determine the role of the clitoris in female sexual response. One of the earliest attempts to provide scientific data concerning female orgasm.
Dickinson was not only a researcher and practitioner, he was also a superb illustrator. This volume contains an impressive collection of detailed drawings of human reproductive anatomy. Provides detailed measurements of variation in male and female genitalia. Many of the drawings were based upon direct observation of vaginal reactions during arousal using a lighted transparent tube. A forerunner of Masters and Johnson that actually provided more information that their later book.
Detailed genetic analysis of the prostate in female rats. Reports in the incidence in various strains of rats as raging from 0-66%. Through selective breeding authors increased % from 28% to 99%. Thismay seem an out of place reference, but its relevance will be apparent later when female ejaculation is "discovered".
An attempt to address female orgasm in an evolutionary context. Not a particularly successful attempt, but entertaining nevertheless. Elkan argues that "fixing" mechanisms have evolved in species that allow the male time to inseminate the female. In many lower species these are mechanical taking the form of hooks and barbs that impale the female, preventing her from leaving before insemination is complete. In species where the male cannot hook the female there are behavioral immobilizing mechanisms (such as lordosis). Elkan goes on to argue that orgasm is not one of these mechanisms and therefore does not occur in animals (with the exception of teleosts and swans!!!). Thus, women should not be concerned if they do not experience orgasm because it is a gift and not part of their phylogenetic due. An anorgasmic woman should be no more concerned than should be a woman unable to play a piano! (Summary from secondary sources)
For an entomologist from Indiana, this was a radical departure. Became a scandal and an academic cause celebre. Still the most complete survey on male sexuality ever done. Used a somewhat scientific method that relied upon lengthy face to face interviews that were somewhat structured. Authors had no way of verifying the truth of the statements people made, but did do extensive inter-interviewer checks. Shows that males employ a wide variety of sexual outlets and that greater than 98% routinely have an orgasm during sexual activity. Presents evidence that preadolescent males have capacity for multiple orgasm which decreases throughout late adolescence and early adulthood. Also shows that male sexual activity peaks in late 20's and goes down from there.
The article that is credited as first recognizing the role for the paraurethral glands in female orgasm. He never used the term "G-Spot" that came much later from Beverly Whipple and associates. Gräfenberg does describe an area under the anterior wall of the vagina that swells upon stimulation. He also described the release of fluid upon orgasm. This paper went relatively unnoticed until the 1970's. (Summary from secondary sources)
Kegel was primarily interested in nonsurgical treatment for stress incontinence in woman. Found that it could be treated if women learned how to exercise the P.C. muscle. Subjects volunteered that their sexual responsiveness to intercourse increased after kegel exercises. Several women who had previously never had orgasm during intercourse, now did. Has other nice side benefits like protecting against uterine prolapse. Seems like a bad design in the place, though. Too much depending upon too few muscles. Another article that was largely ignored until picked up by popular press.
Equally as controversial as the first book, maybe more so since it was one thing to talk about males and quite another thing to talk about females as sexual beings. Presented data suggesting that females too have varied sexual lives, but less varied than males. Suggests a much later onset of orgasm in females than males and lower life time incidence. About 14% of sample reported multiple orgasms. About 10% of sample reported never having experienced an orgasm. Not possible to get a clear estimate of percentage of females not routinely experiencing orgasm. Authors argued strongly against the "vaginal" orgasm, suggesting that all orgasms involved clitoral stimulation (or surrounding tissues (see Bergler and Kroger below).
Written by a Freudian Psychoanalyst and a gynecologist this book harshly attacks Kinsey's work. This is a truly scary book to read for it illustrates the constraining nature of the neofreudian psychoanalytic position. Instead of considering any of Kinsey's data objectively, all data which disagreed with psychoanalytic doctrine was dismissed as lying, sublimation, or guilt reduction. I can't imagine that any women treated by these folks would ever be found sexually normal. Argues against Elkan's position that orgasm is a gift, by arguing that neuroses are all that stand in the way of any women having vaginal orgasms(by their estimates, this occurs in less that 20% of women).
Description of the accessory glands in lames and female in a variety of species, prostatic analogues appear in a variety of species. The human doesn't appear to have a true prostatic analogue, but does have the "para-urethral glands of Skene" which have ducts opening directly into the urethra. These glands are probably vestiges of the primordial Wolffian ducts and might be preserved to varying degrees depending upon individual female androgen levels during differentiation.
This article describes M&J's approach to human sexual response where women were filmed during sexual response cycles. Vaginal reactions were filmed in many subjects through a transparent plastic "penis". M&J developed the notion of four arbitrary phases in sexual response and then proceeded to treat them as entities that are independently measurable ("a good plateau phase"). Subjects in these studies ranged from paid professionals to volunteers all studied under the not lights of the laboratory. This and the companion article resolved the vaginal-clitoral debate in favor of the clitoris. Authors saw no evidence of "female ejaculation" in their filmed studies.
Describes anatomical changes in the clitoris and surrounding tissues during sexual excitement and orgasm. Does not provide real data on any conclusion presented in the article, but emphatically states conclusions. Clitoral erection may be present in 50% of women. Points out that direct contact between penis and clitoris is difficult. Suggests that clitoris is indirectly stimulated during intercourse be traction on the labia. Makes a clear break from Freudian notion of "mature" vaginal orgasms and "infantile" clitoral orgasms. Says most women prefer two to three orgasms before they are sexually satisfied.
This book was truly revolutionary in 1966. Unlike the Kinsey reports, this book was based upon actual observation under laboratory conditions of 382 women and 312 men. The fact that M&J had actually seen what they reported gave their conclusions much more weight than they may have warranted. M&J have never really presented any true summary data from these studies so that others could judge whether M&J had a representative sample. Similarly, it has never been clear which of their conclusions were forced upon them by their data and which they selected appropriate examples to support their own biases. Still, this was seen as the wooden stake in the heart of Freudian views of sexuality. Was also reassuring to males when M&J concluded that erect penis size bore little relation to either flaccid penis size or the ability to facilitate a female's orgasm. However, looking back, the some problems of methodology, interpretation, and reporting were present in this book that are in all their others. M&J are very influential, but not good scientists. Later Investigators arguing for vaginal orgasms (the new kind) cite this along with Kinsey and Hite as leading to two decades of "cliterocentricity".
Presents a very nice historical perspective on the issue of female orgasm. Traces the controversy over the Freudian view of the vaginal orgasm. Describes the two schools of Freudians that argued for the maturity of the vaginal orgasm (Helene Deutsch, Marynia Farnham, Marie Robinson, G. Bychowski (male), and our friend Bergler) and the other group of psychoanalysts that argued for the importance of the clitoris and against any transition from clitoral to vaginal sensitivity (Therese Benedek, Majorie Brierley, Karen Horney, Clara Thompson, Judd Marmor [male], and S. Rado [male]). Has an excellent bibliography which the reader is referred to as the original sources cited there are not annotated here.
Treatment for sexual dysfunction based upon Human Sexual Response. This was the source of the "squeeze technique" to treat premature ejaculation. Developed the system of sensate focus to progressively increase female arousal and sensation leading to orgasm. Created a great controversy through the use of sex surrogates for both males and females to aid the development of sexual adequacy, this book claimed tremendous success rates that do not appear to have been supported either in M&J's work or others. However, the ideas in this book have dominated the last 19 years of sex therapy.
A strange little paper on the authors physiological responses during intercourse. Shows a nice relationship between her orgasms while his speeds up. She vocalizes during orgasm, he doesn't. Also shows that nice guys don't necessarily finish last. Still, scheduling the subjects was easier in this study than most.
Tested penile (and toe) sensitivity to a vibratory stimulus in 100 males aged 17-88. Found an age-graded change in sensitivity with a sharp decrease in sensitivity at 65 years of age. In a separate comparison found a relationship between male vibratory sensitivity and occurrence of coitus at three times 35-44, 45-53, and 65-74. In all cases in couples that did not have coitus during a year, the males vibratory threshold was significantly higher than in couples that did.
Replots extensive blood pressure data from dogs published by Pussep (1933, in German) during copulation. Authors suggest when all of the data are presented (claims others have selectively used parts of the data) then there is a clear relationship between changes in female BP and male ejaculation. It wasn't so apparent to me that this was the case. Presents the BP data from a 37 year-old male and a 32 year-old female married 10 years (guess?) showing a similar change in BP in relation to her orgasms. Argues the male ejaculation triggers orgasm in females of several species, maybe. Not a clearly though out comparative study, but brings diverse data together in one place. Much of the monkey work that looked so exciting in 1971, is now not seen that way.
A very interesting and readable book by a female psychoanalyst, who happened to take her human sexuality course from Kinsey before he had published his landmark books. Her view of female sexuality is definitely shaped by M&J's work and she is definitely in the cliterocentric camp("The term "vaginal orgasm" is perfectly permissible as long as it is understood that the thrusting is effective because it stimulates the clitoris., p.86). Argues that orgasm is not a simple thing for women and requires lots of stimulation. Presents the novel (and unsupported) argument that the rise of circumcision was to desensitize the male penis so that males could last long enough to facilitate female orgasm. Makes as much sense as the cleanliness argument for circumcision.. Sherfey also takes the evidence of multi-orgasmic potential and cyclical sexual interest to suggest that the "...forceful suppression of women's inordinate sexual demands was a prerequisite to the dawn of every modern civilization and almost every living culture." (p. 138). And here you thought it was related to the invention of agriculture (on the other hand when would there be time to plant crops without a little forceful suppression of women's sex drive?).
A large, but poorly controlled survey of women in the '70s. Most interesting for its extensive use of quotations from the thousands of surveys Hite distributed through any means available. It is not possible to get any real statistical information from the book as the survey actually kept changing throughout the project. Also some subjects (anal intercourse is one example) were left out because Hite found them personally distasteful. The book seems to portray women as sexually more active and assertive than Kinsey's report, but that may be primarily due to the more conversational style of Hite's book. She definitely is part of the cliterocentric world so despised by the Freudians.
Feeling left out, the males decide to get into the thick of it. This article (by a woman) presents evidence from three fully adult males that they experience something that myographically and by verbal report appears to be rapid serial orgasms with a single ejaculation on the last orgasm. Kinsey nicely showed that young males have this ability (or young males showed Kinsey) but lose it as they get older. This author suggests we can get it back, if we really want to.
A decent historical case for the existence of female ejaculation by a woman who went on to get her JD degree from Tulane. A good use of precedents to make the case that female can ejaculate. As the authors point out, this paper only provides the background to show that women can ejaculate, it is up to others to show that they do. unlike later citation of this paper would lead one to believe, there is no evidence in this paper that directly suggests that women do ejaculate.
Sample of 281 women divided into never orgasmic (153), clitorally orgasmic (114), and orgasmic during intercourse without direct stimulation (24). They reported that the first group lifted only 7.4mmHG with their PC muscles, the second group 12.3, while the last lifted 17.0. The differences were significant. They suggested this demonstrated the importance of PC muscle tone in orgasm during intercourse.
Survey of 286 homosexual women who were self-selected for participation (286 returns from 2000 questionnaires). Only 7 of 268 responders had never experienced orgasm. 53% experienced first orgasm masturbating, 22% with a female and 18% with a male partner. 71% did not fake orgasms, 20% did, and 7% did with males, but not with females. Survey provided no data about relative occurrence of orgasm or frequency of sexual activity.
A good and very complete review of the state of female orgasm as of 1981. Nicely points out that everything isn't actually as neat as M&J would have had us believe and that the four phases of arousal and resolution have conceptual problems. Tries to disentangle the physiological response from the psychological perception and meaning of it. Doesn't resolve the issue, but points several profitable directions for discussion.
47 subjects were tested for the strength of their PC muscle and the strength of voluntary uterine contractions. Subjects divided into ejaculators(E) and nonejaculators(NE) by self-report. The PC muscle contractions of Es(11.8uv) were significantly stronger than those of NEs (6.7uv). The same was true for voluntary uterine contractions. These data support the notion that a strong PC muscle is associated with E. They wouldn't support the idea that female E is actually stress incontinence due to a weak pelvic floor.
A brief comment from a male MD about how he discovered female ejaculation. Seems one of the speakers at a professional meeting, when challenged to prove that female ejaculation existed did just that later in a hotel room. Says that the ejaculated fluid was milky. Also all of his patients "who went home to experiment found the Gräfenberg spot". I don't know if this means everyone found it, some didn't go home, or that some didn't experiment.
46 women who had not had an orgasm during the previous two years were assigned to one of three groups: PC exercise, relaxation, and control. At the end of twelve weeks PC strength and orgasmic function were assessed. The PC exercise group had stronger PC muscles, but a comparable number of women experienced orgasm in each group (actually the control group had the highest proportion experiencing orgasm). Authors argue that increasing strength of PC muscles isn't sure way to orgasm. Data support that doing nothing is best (control group had greatest improvement).
Considers the evidence for orgasmic expulsion of fluid and rules out urine, the Bartholin's glands and the vagina as sources. Concludes that a "female prostrate" is embryologically possible and could be the source of the fluid. Doesn't present any really quantifiable data, but another decent historical review.
Subject suffered from stress incontinence and expelled fluid at orgasm. She learned to suppress orgasm to avoid embarrassment. Through Kegel exercises, she learned to control urinary incontinence and found that orgasmic expulsions still occurred. Samples of the fluid were collected by authors under very crude conditions and after digital stimulation of the "G-spot". These samples showed higher levels of PAP(a prostatic enzyme) than found in urine, but the levels are also three orders of magnitude lower than seen in male prostatic fluid. There is also a problem of no control for volume differences in the ejaculation fluid samples and the urine samples. This convinced a lot of people that female ejaculation exists and it comes from the female prostate.
Suggests several cogent criticisms of previous work on "female ejaculation". Points out that a simple way of ruling out urinary incontinence is to administer a blue dye (Urosed) which would color the ejaculate if it is urine. Also argues that the presence of Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP) doesn't mean ejaculation since all of the studies have used digital stimulation of the urethral length, PAP could have been expressed from the Skene's glands. Presents a systematic set of steps that should be used to verify female ejaculation. Hasn't been done yet.
Study of 6 ejaculators and 5 nonejaculators. Both groups of subjects were comparable in terms of parity, history of stress incontinence, physical size, and background. Subjects had examinations by trained gynecologists not privy to the research hypotheses. Subjects provided urine and ejaculate samples (ejaculators only, of course) for analysis of PAP, urea, and creatinine. There was no difference between the groups in the existence of a palpable Grafenberg spot. The "ejaculate" samples were chemically indistinguishable from urine. This study did not support any of the earlier contentions by some of these same authors. The study was fairly rigorous and the authors did not appear to pull any punches in analyzing the data.
The belated publication of the author's rejected 1979 paper brought up to date. This set out to be what Seveley and Bennet did in 1978 with some data from the author's practice. Argues that females do ejaculate something that is not urine. Presents evidence that the volume of the ejaculated fluid can be quite large and does not have the ammonia smell of urine upon drying. Also argues for a place of increased sensitivity of the anterior wall of the vagina that is related to the glands surrounding the urethra.
Since a well-controlled study was apparently not good enough for these folks (see Goldberg, et al, 1983), we are presented with some more intriguing pilot data. The authors did not actually supervise the collection of samples and cannot say how they were actually obtained. Seven new subjects contributed "ejaculate" for analysis. These seemed to differ from urine, with one woman's sample well within the normal male ejaculate range for TIAP (used to be PAP) (15,000 units vs. 2.4-155 for the other samples). Why are these samples more clearly different than urine, whereas the other ones in Goldberg's study weren't. It is interesting to note, that in the previous study an attempt was made to explicitly avoid bias. There is no sense of controlling for bias in this study at all.
Using anatomic and enzymatic techniques establishes a homology between the female paraurethral glands and the male prostate. Argues that the glands in the two sexes are the same.
A detailed enzymatic and anatomical investigation of the paraurethral glands 12 women 15-45 years old. Evidence clearly supports these glands as homologous to male prostate. The glands are enzymatically very active and are compartmentalized, with different enzymes in the glandular and the ductal portions. Author points out that these glands empty into the urethra at different distances from the meatus and not on either side of the meatus as has been incorrectly stated elsewhere.
Seven of 10 women (12-77) were found to have paraurethral glands. In 4 of the 7 having glands a prostate-specific antigen was found. All seven glands had PAP. Authors suggest the glands are a homologue of the male prostate.
Perry argues with Hoch about whether there is an area of general or specific sensitivity on the anterior wall of the vagina. The real issue is that Hoch believes that the vaginal sensitivity is part and parcel of clitoral responsiveness, whereas Perry thinks there are two separate systems (sound familiar?). Perry also uses this letter to argue that "... the Goldberg study, (which) set out to prove that ejaculation was really urinary in nature...".
A review of the evidence for vaginal eroticism. Traces the controversy over "vaginal" and "clitoral" orgasms from Freud through M&J's resolution of them all to clitoral to the arousal of the "G-spot". Concludes that all women probably possess a vaginal zone of sensitivity, but that all orgasms are actually "cerebral".
Found in 10 women that digital stimulation of the anterior wall of the vagina significantly increased pain threshold without reducing tactile sensitivity. This finding certainly might account for people's tolerance of painful practices during sexual arousal. Komisaruk has the theory in lower animals that this is the mechanism that gets the female to tolerate the male's intromission, particularly in those species there the male has hook and barbs on his penis
80% of men and 57% of women treated with phenezine and 50% of men and 27% of women treated with imipramine reported decreased sexual function. Unclear whether decrease was solely in orgasm of also arousal. Symptoms disappeared within 1-3 after medication.
A concise and strong review of the evidence to date for a G-spot and female ejaculation. Authors agree that there is a place of heightened sensitivity on the anterior wall of the vagina in many women, but forcefully argue that the relationship between this area and the female urethra has not been established. In fact, some evidence places this area at 5cm into the vagina, whereas the urethra is only 3cm long. This would place the area behind the urethra. Similarly the authors point out the problems with the female ejaculate story. They raise a new point that the assays being used be others which were thought to be specific for PAP actually also measure VAP (a vaginal acid phosphatase). Contamination by VAP could give elevated PAP levels. The authors concede that the VAP could come from contamination by PAP from the ejaculate. Clearly no one knows. They give a final caution that publicizing things like the G-spot and female ejaculation may enhance the sense of normalcy of women who expel fluid and have heightened vaginal sensitivity, but they can lead other women to feel sexually inadequate.
Describes investigations of vaginal sensitivity with 59 couples. Found that 67% of women reported discomfort to stimulation of cervix and 85% reported high erotic sensitivity to stimulation of full extent of anterior vaginal wall. 64% of the women reported that they could achieve orgasm by manual or penile stimulation of the anterior vaginal wall. They also reported that such stimulation with simultaneous clitoral stimulation was more rapid, intense, and fulfilling (this makes you think what humans lost when they became bipedal andbecame missionaries). Author suggests there is no G-spot, but an area of heightened sensitivity. Further suggests that shouldn't talk about clitoral or vaginal orgasms, but "genital orgasms" involving the whole complex of vaginal, clitoral, and deep structures.
Used a questionnaire to study 805 nurses. 58% had pretended to reach orgasm at least once. Subject variables found that pretenders became sexually active earlier and were more sexually explorative. Pretenders differed significantly from nonpretenders in changes they wished in their sex lives on the measures of more frequent orgasms, more manual stimulation of clitoris, more assertive self-role in intercourse, intercourse with mutual love, petting with mutual love, and finding a new sex partner. Results suggest pretending is related to the dynamic of a specific relationship and not to specific characteristics of the pretender.
Seventy females self-identified as heterosexual (23), bisexual (22), or homosexual (25) were interviewed about sexual response and fulfillment. Subjects were recruited from women's groups, author's friends, and from a "gay/straight consciousness raising group" that the first author participated in. Bisexual women experienced the highest weekly frequency of orgasm (8.8) followed by homosexual women (6.2), and then hets (4.7). All of these frequencies are 2 to 4 times what Kinsey reports for a comparably aged sample of women. There are no estimates given of regularity of intercourse or the occurrence of orgasmic difficulties sexual orientation. The article has a thinly-veiled axe to grind concerning male-female understanding.
Goes through all of the cytochemical and histochemical evidence to justify calling Skene's glands, the female prostate. There is no doubt that this author has presented a wealth of evidence testifying to the secretory nature of these glands. However, he does not answer Hoch's concern that he has provided no estimate about what proportion of the population has these glands. He may be right that the female prostate does exist, but it may turn out to be irrelevant to female sexual response. This article doesn't provide evidence to the contrary.
Three case reports (2 female, 1 male) of subjects taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors for depression. Subjects reported anorgasmia, even though arousal (and lubrication in females) was still present. Symptoms disappeared after dosage was reduced or stopped. The mechanism for the interference with orgasm is unknown.
A very current summary of work on sexual function. Has a nice historical review of each area and articles on the current state of several areas. Covers the blood-flow monitoring work on sexual arousal (not covered in this bibliography). Authors remain skeptical about the existence of female ejaculation.
Two case studies of males treated with the antidepressant despiramine reported ejaculation without any "feeling". The treatment appears to have dissociated seminal emission (the transmission of semen from storage sites through smooth muscle contractions) from expulsion. It is the expulsive phase of the ejaculatory process that seems to be associated with orgasm. Authors discuss (not very convincingly) possible differential neurotransmitter involvement in these phases.
Found that the vagina in 60 normal volunteers was less sensitive to electric stimulation than the dorsal surface of the hand (but then so was the clitoris). Mean sensitivity threshold for hand was 0.49ma while clitoris was 1.12ma, and vagina averaged 2.6ma. Vaginal sensitivity varied by location within vaginal with the anterior wall (12:00) averaging 2.0ma, whereas other areas ranged from 2.4-2.9ma. Subjects were tested under nonerotic conditions so relation to sensitivity during sexual arousal is unknown. Supports the idea of a differential topography of vaginal sensitivity. Authors conclude that differences in clitoral and vaginal sensitivity argue for the importance of the clitoris in orgasm.
*Note: Probably the most famous unpublished data in this area are those of Eric Phoebus who pioneered measuring heart rate during copulation in free-ranging rhesus. He found evidence of heart-rate changes like those seen in human females during orgasm. To my knowledge these data have not been published beyond abstracts.
The first paper arguing that female rhesus have orgasms. Claimed that the reaching back that females do during the male's ejaculation indicates an orgasm. Evidence is completely circumstantial. Other investigators have reported that this reach back behavior occurs at times other than the male's ejaculatory mount. While this doesn't argue against this being evidence of a female orgasm (after all, she could be multiorgasmic), the picture is not as clear as presented here. Probably when all is said and done it will turn out that Doris was right all along.
An example of the human serving as a nice model for the nonhuman primate. Based upon M&J's work Frances set out to see if rhesus females could have orgasm when strapped down to an angle iron frame and stimulated vaginally with an artificial penis. When the females eren't trying to escape the apparatus or bite the experimenter they did show three of M&J's four phases of arousal. Two of the three animals did show vaginal and anal contractions at some point during the series of stimulation. Some females showed the "spasmodic arm reflex", and some reached back during stimulation to grab the experimenter's arm or their own genitals. Suggestive results, but it is unlikely that anyone will ever follow up on this study.
A large monograph on a communication in a small group of stumptail macaques. First study to report that females also display the open-mouthed display characteristic of ejaculating males when they are being mated with and during mounting series with other females. Argument for female orgasm is based upon the similarity in the behavior and the context in which it occurs.
Provides the clearest physiological evidence in a nonhuman primate of phenomena similar to those seen in human females. During female-female mounting a female stumptail provided telemetered information on heart rate and uterine contractions. When female displayed a male-like "ejac face" she also displayed a large tonic uterine contraction with several clonic contractions at 0.7sec intervals superimposed on the main contraction. Also reported that 4/10 intact females displayed the "ejac face" on at least one heterosexual copulatory sequence with one female displaying them on as many as 40% of copulations. When this article appeared Dave received an irate phone call that his article advocated female homosexuality.
A review of the evidence for orgasm in nonhuman primates with the author's own evidence from the digital stimulation of female chimpanzees suggestings that something akin to interspecies orgasm occurs in chimps (this apparently was not a reciprocal arrangement). Though this research will probsbly be most remembered for the original data collected (and the original data collection method) actually the most bizarre part of this paper is the author's suggestion that female orgasm evolved to stimulate male ejaculation. Few theories on the function of female orgasm have flown in the face of such counter evidence as this one, but I actually heard the first author present it at a national meeting in great seriousness and with a straight face.
Reports heart rate and uterine activity for stumptails during heterosexual copulation. Duplicates Goldfoot's finding in isosexual copulation of an increase in uterine contraction associated with an "ejac face" occuring with the male's ejaculation. Heart rate increases in the female, but not to the extent reported for the male. Slob reports the "ejac face" occurred at times when there were no uterine contractions and that uterine contractions sometimes occurred without the facial behavior. He suggests that the two are unrelated.
First author measured T levels before during and alter sexual intercourse. Wife collected blood samples, but didn't get authorship. Showed no relationship between coitus and T level. However, design couldn't really have demonstrated one. Also reported no effect of masturbation to orgasm on T in seven male volunteers.
The title says it all. Even when a male stumptail ejaculated 45 times in three hours there was no discernable increase in T (he wasn't even breathing harder either)
There were none. Another case where hormones in rhesus males did not appear to be influenced by sexual behavior.
Used a remotely controlled backpack with an indwelling catheter to allow sampling during behavioral interactions. Reported increases in T in some males, but the increase occurred 30-60 minutes after copulation.
Follows up on previous report of increased T following ejaculation in rhesus monkeys. Found that the increase could be detected with venipuncture if samples were collected 60 minutes after test. Suggests that it is ejaculation per se and not other aspects of the testing environment that are important for the post-coital increase in T.
Studied 9 males and 13 females in the privacy of the lab. All subjects were hooked up of monitor contractions and have constant blood sampling during masturbation to orgasm. Both males and females showed a significant increase in plasma oxytocin (OF) during sexual arousal and orgasm. OF levels were highest at orgasm and then proceed to decline. Authors speculate that OF may be involved in the smooth muscle contraction associated with arousal and orgasm. Expectant parents wonder whether this could prematurely trigger labor and delivery (and maybe hasten a slow labor).
Annotations © 1997, Kim Wallen. This bibliography may be distributed freely as long as distribution is not for profit and includes this message, including copyright notice.
Please e-mail any additions to me. New references will be duly credited to the contributor. Return
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