An orgasm (sexual climax) is the conclusion of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, and may be experienced by both males and females. The human sexual response cycle is a four-stage model of physiological responses during Sexual stimulation. The human sexual response cycle is a four-stage model of physiological responses during Sexual stimulation. Orgasm is characterized by intense physical pleasure, controlled by the involuntary, or autonomic, nervous system. ^[1] It is accompanied by quick cycles of muscle contraction in the lower pelvic muscles, which surround the primary sexual organs and the anus. A muscles contraction (also known as a muscle twitch or simply twitch) occurs when a Muscle fibre generates tension through the action of Actin The pelvis (pl pelvises or pelves) or pelvic girdle is the irregular bony structure located at the base of the spine (properly known A sex organ, or primary sexual characteristic, as narrowly defined is any of the anatomical parts of the body which are involved in sexual reproduction and constitute The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an Animal 's Digestive tract from the Mouth. Orgasms are often associated with other involuntary actions, including muscular spasms in other areas of the body, a general euphoric sensation, and frequently, vocalizations. A spasm is a sudden involuntary contraction of a Muscle, a group of muscles or a hollow organ, or a similarly sudden Contraction of an Orifice Euphoria is a medically recognized emotional state related to Pleasure and Happiness. In Linguistics ( Articulatory phonetics) manner of articulation describes how the tongue lips and other speech organs are involved in making a sound make

After orgasm, humans often feel tired and a need to rest. This is attributed to the release of prolactin. Prolactin ( PRL) or Luteotropic hormone ( LTH) is a Peptide hormone primarily associated with Lactation. ^[2] Prolactin is a typical neuroendocrine response in depressed mood and irritation. Neuroendocrine nʊəroʊˈɛndəkrɪn cells are cells that release a hormone into the circulating blood in response to a neural stimulus ^[3] Ongoing research at the University Medical Center of Groningen, the Netherlands, studies brain events that accompany orgasm in men and women. Groningen is the capital city of the province of Groningen in the Netherlands. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Techniques used involve Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and fMRI. Positron emission tomography ( PET) is a Nuclear medicine imaging technique which produces a three-dimensional image or map of functional processes in the A pet is an Animal kept for companionship and enjoyment or a househeld animal as opposed to Livestock, Laboratory animals Working animals Functional MRI or functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI is a type of specialized MRI scan Male and female brains act almost the same during orgasm. Brain scans showed that large parts of the cerebral cortex temporarily reduced their activity. The cerebral cortex is a structure within the Brain that plays a key role in Memory, Attention, perceptual Awareness, Thought, ^[4]

Contents 1 Achieving orgasm 1.1 Vaginal orgasm 1.2 Anal stimulation 1.3 Breast and nipple stimulation 1.4 Spontaneous orgasms 1.5 Involuntary orgasms 1.6 Multiple orgasms 2 Definitions of "orgasm" 3 Evolutionary function of orgasms 3.1 Purpose of female orgasm 3.2 Genetic basis of individual variation 4 Medical aspects of orgasm 4.1 Physiological responses 4.1.1 In men 4.1.1.1 Sensation 4.1.2 In women 4.2 Orgasm and health 4.3 Orgasmic dysfunction 4.4 Drugs and orgasm 5 In tantric sex 6 In other animals 7 Books 8 See also 9 Notes 10 External links

Achieving orgasm

One of the main ways of achieving orgasm is by direct or indirect stimulation of the penis or clitoris. The penis (plural penises, penes The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in Female Mammals In humans the visible button-like portion is located near the Anterior Such stimulation can come from a variety of activities, including but not limited to sexual intercourse, manual masturbation, anal sex, oral sex, non-penetrative sex, a sensual vibrator, or an erotic electrostimulation. Sexual intercourse, in its biological sense is the act in which the male reproductive organ (in humans and other higher animals enters the female reproductive tract Masturbation refers to Sexual stimulation especially of one's own genitals ( self masturbation) and often to the point of Orgasm, which Anal sex most often refers to the sex act involving insertion of the Penis into the Rectum. Oral sex refers to sexual activities involving the use of the Mouth, and may include use of the Tongue, Teeth, and Throat, in order Non-penetrative sex (also known as outercourse and dry sex) is Sexual activity without Vaginal Anal, and Oral penetration Vibrators are devices intended to vibrate against the body and stimulate the nerves for a relaxing and pleasurable feeling Erotic electro stimulation (also known as electrophilia or electrosex) is a Human sexual practice involving the application of low frequency electrical Orgasm may also be achieved by stimulation of the nipples or other erogenous zones. In its most general form a nipple is a Structure from which a fluid emanates An erogenous zone is an area of the Human body that has heightened Sensitivity and stimulation of which normally results in sexual response. In the absence of physical stimulation, orgasm can be from psychological arousal alone, or during dreaming (a nocturnal emission or "wet dream" in males). A nocturnal emission is an Ejaculation of Semen experienced by a male during Sleep. A nocturnal emission is an Ejaculation of Semen experienced by a male during Sleep.

Important in sexual stimulation are internal glands, called the Skene's glands in women and the prostate in men, two homologous structures. In Human anatomy (female the Skene's glands (also known as the lesser vestibular, periurethral glands, skene glands, paraurethral The prostate (from Greek προστάτης - prostates, literally "one who stands before" "protector" "guardian" is a In common use, the term G-spot refers to these areas. The Gräfenberg spot, or G-spot, is a female Erogenous zone which when stimulated leads to high levels of sexual arousal and powerful Orgasms

The stimulation can come from receptive intercourse, fingering, fisting, or penetration with a dildo. Fingering is the practice of using fingers to stimulate the Clitoris, Vagina or Anus. Fisting is a Sexual activity that involves inserting a hand into the Vagina or Anus. A dildo is a Sex toy, often explicitly Phallic in appearance intended for bodily penetration during self-administered Masturbation

With sufficient stimulation, the prostatic structure can also be "milked. " Providing that there is no simultaneous stimulation of the penis, prostate milking can cause ejaculation without orgasm. Prostate massage and prostate milking are terms used to describe the Massage or stimulation of the Prostate gland in males either for medical or Sexual When combined with penile stimulation, some men report that prostate stimulation increases the volume of their ejaculation.

Vaginal orgasm

The female body can achieve orgasm from stimulation of the clitoris and from stimulation of the G-spot. The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in Female Mammals In humans the visible button-like portion is located near the Anterior The Gräfenberg spot, or G-spot, is a female Erogenous zone which when stimulated leads to high levels of sexual arousal and powerful Orgasms The Gräfenberg spot, or G-spot, is a small area behind the female pubic bone surrounding the urethra and accessible through the anterior wall of the vagina. Many scientists believe that only certain women possess a G-spot. The G-spot orgasm is sometimes referred to as "vaginal," because it results from stimulation inside the vagina, including during sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse, in its biological sense is the act in which the male reproductive organ (in humans and other higher animals enters the female reproductive tract However, only stimulation of the G-spot, and not other intravaginal stimulation, results in a "vaginal orgasm. "

The "two-orgasm theory" (the belief that in women there is a vaginal orgasm and a clitoral orgasm), has been criticized by feminists such as Ellen Ross and Rayna Rapp as a "transparently male perception of the female body". Feminism is a discourse that involves various movements theories, and Philosophies which are concerned with the issue of Gender difference, advocate ^[5] The concept of purely vaginal orgasm was first postulated by Sigmund Freud. Sigmund Freud (ˈziːkmʊnt ˈfʁɔʏt born Sigismund Shlomo Freud (May 6 1856 &ndash September 23 1939 was an Austrian Psychiatrist who founded In 1905, Freud argued that clitoral orgasm was an adolescent phenomenon, and upon reaching puberty the proper response of mature women changes to vaginal orgasms. While Freud provided no evidence for this basic assumption, the consequences of the theory were greatly elaborated, partly because many women felt inadequate when they could not achieve orgasm via vaginal intercourse that involved little or no clitoral stimulation.

In 1966, Masters and Johnson published pivotal research about the phases of sexual stimulation. The Masters and Johnson research team, made up of William Masters and Virginia E Their work included women and men, and unlike Alfred Kinsey earlier (in 1948 and 1953), tried to determine the physiological stages before and after orgasm. Alfred Charles Kinsey (June 23 1894 &ndash August 25 1956 was an American Biologist and professor of Entomology and Zoology, who in 1947 Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Physiology (from Greek grc φύσις physis, "nature origin" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study of the mechanical physical ^[6] One of the results was the promotion of the idea that vaginal and clitoral orgasms follow the same stages of physical response. Masters and Johnson also argued that clitoral stimulation is the primary source of orgasms.

Recent discoveries about the size of the clitoris - it extends inside the body, around the vagina^[7] - complicate or may invalidate attempts to distinguish clitoral vs. vaginal orgasms. Recent anatomical research shows that there are nerves connecting intravaginal tissues and the clitoris. This, with the anatomical evidence that the internal part of the clitoris is a much larger organ than previously thought, could explain credible reports of orgasms in women who have undergone clitorectomy as part of female circumcision. Female genital cutting (FGC also known as female genital mutilation (FGM female circumcision or female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C refers to Female genital cutting (FGC also known as female genital mutilation (FGM female circumcision or female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C refers to The link between the clitoris and the vagina is evidence that the clitoris is the 'seat' of the female orgasm and is far more wide-spread than the visible part most people associate with it. But it is possible that some women have more extensive clitoral tissues and nerves than others, and so that some women can achieve orgasm only by direct stimulation of the external part of the clitoris.

Anal stimulation

Anal orgasm is an orgasm brought on by anal stimulation, such as from anal sex, an inserted finger, or a sex toy. Anal sex most often refers to the sex act involving insertion of the Penis into the Rectum. A sex toy is an object or device that is primarily used in facilitating human sexual pleasure. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some women experience anal orgasm as qualitatively different from clitoral or "vaginal" orgasm, though for many others the distinction is less clear. ^[8]

In both sexes pleasure can be derived from the nerve endings around the anus and the anus itself. Hence, anal-oral contact can still be pleasurable without stimulation of the clitoris. Anal–oral sex, also referred to or described as anal–oral contact or anilingus (from anus + lingus (Latin Lingere:to lick also Jack Morin has claimed that anal orgasm has nothing to do with the prostate orgasm, although the two are often confused. ^[9]

Breast and nipple stimulation

A breast orgasm is a female orgasm that is triggered from the stimulation of a woman's breast. The breast is the upper Ventral region of an animal’s Torso, particularly that of Mammals including Human beings. ^[10] Not all women experience this effect when the breasts are stimulated; however, some women claim that the stimulation of the breast area during sexual intercourse and foreplay, or just the simple act of having their breasts fondled, has created mild to intense orgasms. Sexual intercourse, in its biological sense is the act in which the male reproductive organ (in humans and other higher animals enters the female reproductive tract In Human sexual behavior, foreplay is a set of intimate psychological and physical acts between two or more people meant to increase Sexual arousal. According to one study that questioned 213 women, 29% of them had experienced a breast orgasm at one time or another,^[11] This shows that it is not common, but it is possible. An orgasm is believed to occur in part because of the hormone oxytocin, which is produced in the body during sexual excitement and arousal. Oxytocin ( IPA: /ˌɔksɪˈtoʊsɪn/ (Greek "quick birth" is a Mammalian Hormone that also acts as a Neurotransmitter in the It has also been shown that oxytocin is produced when an individual's nipples are stimulated and become erect. In its most general form a nipple is a Structure from which a fluid emanates ^[12]

Spontaneous orgasms

Orgasms can be spontaneous, seeming to occur with no direct stimulation. Occasionally, orgasms can occur during sexual dreams (see Nocturnal emission). A nocturnal emission is an Ejaculation of Semen experienced by a male during Sleep.

The first orgasm of this type was reported among people who had spinal cord injury (SCI). Spinal cord injury causes myelopathy or damage to white matter or myelinated fiber tracts that carry sensation and motor signals to and from the brain Although SCI very often leads to loss of certain sensations and altered self-perception, a person with this disturbance is not deprived of sexual feelings such as sexual arousal and erotic desires. Thus some individuals are able to initiate orgasm by mere mental stimulation.

Some non-sexual activity may result in a spontaneous orgasm. The best example of such activity is a release of tension that unintentionally involves slight genital stimulation, like rubbing of the seat of the bicycle against genitals during riding, exercising, when pelvic muscles are tightened or when yawning or sneezing. The bicycle, cycle, or bike is a pedal-driven, human-powered vehicle with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind Muscle (from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus "mouse" is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the A yawn (from the Middle English yanen, an alteration of yonen or yenen, which in turn comes from the Old English geonian A sneeze (or sternutation) is a semi-autonomous Convulsive expulsion of Air from the Lungs, most commonly caused by foreign particles

It was also discovered that some anti-depressant drugs may provoke spontaneous climax as a side effect. ^[13] There is no accurate data for how many patients who were on treatment with antidepressant drugs experienced spontaneous orgasm, as most were unwilling to acknowledge the fact.

Involuntary orgasms

A direct stimulation that triggers orgasms does not necessarily have to be consensual. Thus victims of non consensual acts such as rape or frotteurism can experience orgams despite their will. Rape, also referred to as Sexual assault, is an Assault by a person involving Sexual intercourse with or Sexual penetration of another person In psychiatry the clinical term frotteurism (no longer called frottage) refers to a specific Paraphilia which involves the non-consensual rubbing against another This could lead to accusations against the victim or trigger self accusations. Involuntary orgasms can happen regardless of the gender of either party. ^[14]

The BDSM play of forced orgasm is based on involuntary orgasms. In BDSM, forced orgasm is a form of play where the dominant partner brings the submissive partner to an Involuntary orgasm, whilst the submissive attempts to compete

Multiple orgasms

In some cases, women either do not have a refractory period or have a very short one and thus can experience a second orgasm, and perhaps further ones, soon after the first. In sexuality the refractory period is the recovery phase after Orgasm during which it is physiologically impossible for an individual to have additional orgasms After the first, subsequent climaxes may be stronger or more pleasurable as the stimulation accumulates. For some women, their clitoris and nipples are very sensitive after climax, making additional stimulation initially painful.

There are sensational reports of women having too many orgasms, including an unauthenticated claim that a young British woman has them constantly throughout the day, whenever she experiences the slightest vibration. Persistent genital arousal disorder (also known as persistent sexual arousal syndrome or PSAS) results in a spontaneous and persistent genital arousal, ^[15]

It is possible for a man to have an orgasm without ejaculation (dry orgasm) or to ejaculate without reaching orgasm. Some men have reported having multiple consecutive orgasms, particularly without ejaculation. Males who experience dry orgasms can often produce multiple orgasms, as the refractory period, is reduced. In sexuality the refractory period is the recovery phase after Orgasm during which it is physiologically impossible for an individual to have additional orgasms ^[16] Some males are able to masturbate for hours at a time, achieving orgasm many times. ^[16] In recent years, a number of books have described various techniques to achieve multiple orgasms. Most multi-orgasmic men (and their partners) report that refraining from ejaculation results in a far more energetic post-orgasm state. Additionally, some men have also reported that this can produce more powerful ejaculatory orgasms when they choose to have them.

One dangerous technique is to put pressure on the perineum, about halfway between the scrotum and the anus, just before ejaculating to prevent ejaculation. In Human anatomy, the perineum is generally defined as the surface region in both males and females between the Pubic symphysis and the Coccyx. In some Male Mammals the scrotum - also 'scrutum' or 'scrootum' - is a protuberance of Skin and Muscle containing the Testicles The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an Animal 's Digestive tract from the Mouth. This can, however, lead to retrograde ejaculation, i. In males, retrograde ejaculation occurs when the fluid to be ejaculated, which would normally exit the body via the Urethra, is redirected to the Urinary e. redirecting semen into the urinary bladder rather than through the urethra to the outside. In Anatomy, the urinary bladder is a hollow muscular, and distensible (or elastic organ that sits on the Pelvic floor in Mammals It is the In Anatomy, the urethra (from Greek ουρήθρα - ourethra) is a tube which connects the Urinary bladder to the outside of It may also cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum. Men who have had prostate or bladder surgery, for whatever reason, may also experience dry orgasms because of retrograde ejaculation.

Other techniques are analogous to reports by multi-orgasmic women indicating that they must relax and "let go" to experience multiple orgasms. These techniques involve mental and physical controls over pre-ejaculatory vasocongestion and emissions, rather than ejaculatory contractions or forced retention as above. Anecdotally, successful implementation of these techniques can result in continuous or multiple "full-body" orgasms. ^[17] Gentle digital stimulation of the prostate, seminal vesicles, and vas deferens provides erogenous pleasure that sustains intense emissions orgasms for some men. A dildo device (the Aneros) claims to stimulate the prostate and help men reach these kinds of orgasms. A dildo is a Sex toy, often explicitly Phallic in appearance intended for bodily penetration during self-administered Masturbation Aneros is a patented line of Male Sex toys designed to massage and stimulate the Prostate for sexual pleasure

Many men who began masturbation or other sexual activity prior to puberty report having been able to achieve multiple non-ejaculatory orgasms. Young male children are capable of having multiple orgasms due to the lack of refractory period until they reach their first ejaculation. In female children it is always possible, even after the onset of puberty. This capacity generally disappears in males with the subject's first ejaculation. Some evidence indicates that orgasms of men before puberty are qualitatively similar to the "normal" female experience of orgasm, suggesting that hormonal changes during puberty have a strong influence on the character of male orgasm. ^[18]

A number of studies have pointed to the hormone prolactin as the likely cause of male refractory period. Prolactin ( PRL) or Luteotropic hormone ( LTH) is a Peptide hormone primarily associated with Lactation. In sexuality the refractory period is the recovery phase after Orgasm during which it is physiologically impossible for an individual to have additional orgasms Because of this, there is currently an experimental interest in drugs which inhibit prolactin, such as cabergoline (also known as Cabeser, or Dostinex). Cabergoline (brand names Dostinex and Cabaser an ergot derivative is a potent Dopamine receptor Agonist on D2 receptors Anecdotal reports on cabergoline suggest it may be able to eliminate the refractory period altogether, allowing men to experience multiple ejaculatory orgasms in rapid succession. At least one scientific study supports these claims. ^[19] Cabergoline is a hormone-altering drug and has many potential side effects. It has not been approved for treating sexual dysfunction. Another possible reason may be an increased infusion of the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin ( IPA: /ˌɔksɪˈtoʊsɪn/ (Greek "quick birth" is a Mammalian Hormone that also acts as a Neurotransmitter in the Furthermore, it is believed that the amount by which oxytocin is increased may affect the length of each refractory period.

A scientific study to successfully document natural, fully ejaculatory, multiple orgasms in an adult man was conducted at Rutgers University in 1995. Rutgers The State University of New Jersey (also known as Rutgers University) is the largest institution for higher education in the state of New Jersey During the study, six fully ejaculatory orgasms were experienced in 36 minutes, with no apparent refractory period. ^[20] It can also be said that in some cases, the refractory period can be reduced or even eliminated through the course of puberty and on into adulthood. Later, P. Haake et al. observed a single male individual producing multiple orgasms without elevated prolactin response. ^[21]

Definitions of "orgasm"

There is some debate whether certain types of sexual sensation should be accurately classified as 'orgasm', including female orgasms caused by G-spot stimulation alone, and the demonstration of extended or continuous orgasms lasting several minutes or even an hour. The Gräfenberg spot, or G-spot, is a female Erogenous zone which when stimulated leads to high levels of sexual arousal and powerful Orgasms ^[22] The question centers around clinical definition of orgasm.

Orgasm is usually defined in a clinical context strictly by the muscular contractions involved.

In these and similar cases, the sensations experienced are subjective and do not necessarily involve the involuntary contractions characteristic of orgasm. However, the sensations in both sexes are extremely pleasurable and are often felt throughout the body, causing a mental state that is often described as transcendental, and with vasocongestion and associated pleasure comparable to that of a full contractionary orgasm.

For this reason, there are views on both sides as to whether these can be accurately defined as orgasms.

Evolutionary function of orgasms

Most male orgasms expel sperm from the body during vaginal intercourse, which can result in conception. The term sperm is derived from the Greek word (σπέρμα sperma (meaning "seed" and refers to the male reproductive cells. Evolutionary biologists have several hypotheses about the role, if any, of the female orgasm in the reproductive process. Evolutionary biology is a sub-field of Biology concerned with the origin of Species from a Common descent, and Descent of species In 1967, Desmond Morris first suggested in his popular-science book The Naked Ape that female orgasm evolved to encourage physical intimacy with a male partner and help reinforce the pair bond. For the Australian rugby league footballer coach and administrator see Des Morris Desmond John Morris (born 24 January 1928 Morris suggested that the relative difficulty in achieving female orgasm, in comparison to the male's, might be favorable in Darwinian evolution by leading the female to select mates who bear qualities like patience, care, imagination, intelligence, as opposed to qualities like size and aggression, which pertain to mate selection in other primates. Such advantageous qualities thereby become accentuated within the species, driven by the differences between male and female orgasm. If males were motivated by, and taken to the point of, orgasm in the same way as females, those advantageous qualities would not be needed, since self-interest would be enough.

Morris also proposed that orgasm might facilitate conception by exhausting the female and keeping her horizontal, thus preventing the sperm from leaking out. This possibility, sometimes called the "Poleax Hypothesis" or the "Knockout Hypothesis," is now considered highly doubtful.

Other theories are based on the idea that the female orgasm might increase fertility. For example, the 30% reduction in size of the vagina could help clench onto the penis (much like, or perhaps caused by, the pubococcygeus muscles), which would make it more stimulating for the male (thus ensuring faster or more voluminous ejaculation). The pubococcygeus muscle or PC muscle is a hammock-like muscle found in both sexes that stretches from the Pubic bone to the Coccyx (tail bone forming The British biologists Baker and Bellis have suggested that the female orgasm may have an "upsuck" action (similar to the esophagus' ability to swallow when upside down), resulting in the retaining of favorable sperm and making conception more likely. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The esophagus or oesophagus (see American and British English spelling differences) sometimes known as the gullet, is an organ in ^[23] They posited a role of female orgasm in sperm competition. Sperm competition is " competition between Sperm of two or more Males for the Fertilization of an Ovum " (Parker 1970

A 1994 Learning Channel documentary on sex had fiber optic cameras inside the vagina of a woman while she had sexual intercourse. TLC (generally called as The Learning Channel) is a cable TV network in the US and Canada, that carries a variety of informational and During her orgasm, her pelvic muscles contracted and her cervix repeatedly dipped into a pool of semen in the vaginal fornix, as if to ensure that sperm would proceed by the external orifice of the uterus, making conception more likely. The pelvic floor or pelvic/urogential diaphragm is composed of muscle fibers of the Levator ani, the Coccygeus, and associated Connective tissue The vaginal portion of the cervix projects free into the anterior wall of the Vagina between the anterior and posterior Fornices vaginae. The fornices of the Vagina are the deepest portions of the vagina extending into the recesses created by the extension of the Cervix into the vaginal space The external orifice of the uterus (or ostium of uterus, or external os) is a small depressed somewhat circular aperture on the rounded extremity of the ^[24] Elisabeth Lloyd has criticized the accompanying narration of this film clip which describes it as an example of "Sperm Upsuck", saying that it depicted normal orgasmic uterine contractions, which have not been shown to have any effect on fertility. Elisabeth Anne Lloyd (born 3 September 1956 Morristown New Jersey, USA is a philosopher of biology ^[25]

The fact that women tend to reach orgasm more easily when they are ovulating suggests that it is tied to increasing fertility. ^[26]

Other biologists surmise that the orgasm simply serves to motivate sex, thus increasing the rate of reproduction, which would be selected for during evolution. Since males typically reach orgasms faster than females, it potentially encourages a female's desire to engage in intercourse more frequently, increasing the likelihood of conception.

Purpose of female orgasm

The clitoris is homologous to the penis; that is, they both develop from the same embryonic structure. In Evolutionary biology, homology has come to mean any similarity between characters that is due to their shared ancestry. Stephen Jay Gould and other researchers have claimed that the clitoris is vestigial in females, and that female orgasm serves no particular evolutionary function. Stephen Jay Gould (September 10 1941 &ndash May 20 2002 was a prominent American paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and historian of science Vestigiality describes homologous characters of Organisms which have lost all or most of their original function in a species through Proponents of this hypothesis, such as Dr. Elisabeth Lloyd, point to the relative difficulty of achieving female orgasm through vaginal sex, the limited evidence for increased fertility after orgasm and the lack of statistical correlation between the capacity of a woman to orgasm and the likelihood that she will engage in intercourse. Elisabeth Anne Lloyd (born 3 September 1956 Morristown New Jersey, USA is a philosopher of biology ^[27]

Science writer Natalie Angier has criticized this hypothesis as understating the psychosocial value of female orgasm. Natalie Angier (born February 16, 1958) is a nonfiction writer and a science journalist for the New York Times. Catherine Blackledge in The Story of V, citing studies that indicate a possible connection between orgasm and successful conception, has criticized the hypothesis as ignoring the ongoing evolutionary advantages that result from successful conception. The anthropologist and primatologist Sarah Blaffer Hrdy has also criticized the argument that female orgasm as vestigial, writing that the idea smacked of sexism. Anthropology (/ˌænθɹəˈpɒlədʒi/ from Greek grc ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos, "human" -λογία -logia) is the study of Primatology is the study of Primates It is a diverse Discipline and primatologists can be found in departments of Biology, Anthropology Sarah Blaffer Hrdy (note Hrdy is Czech for "proud" (born July 11, 1946) is a U Sexism is the belief or attitude that one Gender or Sex is inferior to or less valuable than the other and can also refer to a Hatred or distrust towards ^[28]

Evolutionary biologist Robin Baker argues in Sperm Wars that occurrence and timing of orgasms are all a part of the female body's unconscious strategy to collect and retain sperm from more evolutionarily fit men. Sperm Wars is a primarily nonfiction book by Evolutionary Biologist Robin Baker An orgasm during intercourse functions as a bypass button to a woman's natural cervical filter against sperm and pathogens. An orgasm before functions to strengthen the filter.

Genetic basis of individual variation

A 2005 twin study found that one in three women reported never or seldom achieving orgasm during intercourse, and only one in ten always orgasmed. Twin studies are one of a family of designs in Behavior genetics which aid the study of individual differences by highlighting the role of environmental and genetic This variation in ability to orgasm, generally thought to be psychosocial, was found to be 34% to 45% genetic. The study, examining 4000 women, was published in Biology letters, a Royal Society journal. Biology Letters ( is a journal covering a wide spectrum of the biological sciences published both in print and online The Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, known simply as The Royal Society, is a Learned society for science that was founded in 1660 ^[29][30] Dr. Elisabeth Lloyd has cited this as evidence for her Fantastic Bonus Theory. Elisabeth Anne Lloyd (born 3 September 1956 Morristown New Jersey, USA is a philosopher of biology ^[31]

Medical aspects of orgasm

Physiological responses

In men

During orgasm, a human male experiences rapid, rhythmic contractions of the anal sphincter, the prostate, and the muscles of the penis. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an Animal 's Digestive tract from the Mouth. The prostate (from Greek προστάτης - prostates, literally "one who stands before" "protector" "guardian" is a The penis (plural penises, penes The sperm are transmitted up the vas deferens from the testicles, into the prostate gland as well as through the seminal vesicles to produce what is known as semen. The term sperm is derived from the Greek word (σπέρμα sperma (meaning "seed" and refers to the male reproductive cells. The vas deferens (plural vasa deferentia also called ductus deferens, ( Latin: "carrying-away vessel" is part of the Male Anatomy The testicle (from Latin testiculus, diminutive of testis, meaning "witness" virility plural testes) is the male The prostate (from Greek προστάτης - prostates, literally "one who stands before" "protector" "guardian" is a The seminal vesicles ( glandulae vesiculosae) are a pair of simple tubular glands posteroinferior to the Urinary bladder of males Physiological aspects Internal and external fertilization Depending on the Species, spermatozoa can fertilize The prostate produces a secretion that forms one of the components of ejaculate. Contraction of the sphincter and prostate force stored semen to be expelled through the penis's urethral opening. Physiological aspects Internal and external fertilization Depending on the Species, spermatozoa can fertilize The process takes from three to ten seconds, and is highly pleasurable.

Normally, as a man ages, the amount of semen he ejaculates diminishes, and so does the duration of orgasms. This does not normally affect the intensity of pleasure, but merely shortens the duration.

After ejaculation, a refractory period usually occurs, during which a man cannot achieve another orgasm. In sexuality the refractory period is the recovery phase after Orgasm during which it is physiologically impossible for an individual to have additional orgasms This can last anywhere from less than a minute to several hours, depending on age and other individual factors.

Sensation

As a man nears orgasm during stimulation of the penis, he feels an intense and highly pleasurable pulsating sensation of neuromuscular euphoria. The penis (plural penises, penes A neuromuscular junction ( NMJ) is the Synapse or junction of the Axon terminal of a Motoneuron with the motor end plate, the Euphoria is a medically recognized emotional state related to Pleasure and Happiness. These pulses begin with a throb of the anal sphincter and travel to the tip of the penis. The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an Animal 's Digestive tract from the Mouth. The glans penis (or simply glans) is the sensitive tip of the Penis. They eventually increase in speed and intensity as the orgasm approaches, until a final "plateau" of pleasure sustained for several seconds, the orgasm.

During orgasm, semen is usually ejaculated and may continue to be ejaculated for a few seconds after the euphoric sensation gradually tapers off. Physiological aspects Internal and external fertilization Depending on the Species, spermatozoa can fertilize It is believed that the exact feeling of "orgasm" varies from one man to another,^[32] but most male human beings agree that it is highly pleasurable.

In women

A typical woman's orgasm lasts much longer than that of a man. ^[33] It is preceded by erection of the clitoris and moistening of the opening of the vagina. The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in Female Mammals In humans the visible button-like portion is located near the Anterior The vagina (from Latin, literally " Sheath " or " Scabbard " is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the Uterus Some women exhibit a sex flush, a reddening of the skin over much of the body due to increased blood flow to the skin. For a person to flush is to become markedly Red in the Face and often other areas of the skin from various physiological conditions The skin is the outer covering of living tissue of an animal (or plant Blood is a specialized Bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's cells ��such as nutrients and oxygen—and transports Waste products As a woman nears orgasm, the clitoral glans moves inward under the clitoral hood, and the labia minora (inner lips) become darker. The clitoral glans (glans clitoridis is an external portion of the Clitoris. In Female Human Anatomy, the clitoral hood, (also called preputium clitoridis and clitoral prepuce) is a fold of Skin The labia minora (singular labium minus) or nymphae are two longitudinal Cutaneous folds on the human Vulva. As orgasm becomes imminent, the outer third of the vagina tightens and narrows, while overall the vagina lengthens and dilates and also becomes congested from engorged soft tissue. ^[34] The uterus then experiences muscular contractions. The uterus (from the Latin word for womb) is the major Female reproductive organ of most Mammals including Humans One end the A woman experiences full orgasm when her uterus, vagina, anus, and pelvic muscles undergo a series of rhythmic contractions. The uterus (from the Latin word for womb) is the major Female reproductive organ of most Mammals including Humans One end the The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an Animal 's Digestive tract from the Mouth. The pelvis (pl pelvises or pelves) or pelvic girdle is the irregular bony structure located at the base of the spine (properly known Most women find these contractions very pleasurable. Recently, researchers from the University Medical Center of Groningen, the Netherlands, showed that it is possible to objectively recognize orgasms just by the specific frequencies of these contractions (abstract). Groningen is the capital city of the province of Groningen in the Netherlands. After orgasm, the clitoris re-emerges from under the clitoral hood, and returns to its normal size, typically within ten minutes.

Orgasm and health

Orgasm, and indeed sex as a whole, are physical activities that can require exertion of many major bodily systems. A 1997 study in the British Medical Journal^[35] based upon 918 men age 45-59 found that after a ten year follow-up, men who had fewer orgasms were twice as likely to die of any cause as those having two or more orgasms a week. A follow-up in 2001 which focused more specifically on cardiovascular health found that having sex three or more times a week was associated with a 50% reduction in the risk of heart attack or stroke. This is an article about the rock music band "Circulatory System" Myocardial infarction ( MI or AMI for acute myocardial infarction) also known as a heart attack, occurs when the blood supply A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain (Note that as a rule, correlation does not imply causation). Correlation does not imply causation is a phrase used in the Sciences and Statistics to emphasize that Correlation between two variables does not imply

Orgasmic dysfunction

The inability to have orgasm is called anorgasmia, ejaculatory anhedonia, or inorgasmia. Anorgasmia (often related to Delayed ejaculation in males is a form of Sexual dysfunction sometimes classified as a Psychiatric disorder in which the patient In Psychology, anhedonia ( Greek αν- an- without + ηδονή hēdonē pleasure) is an inability to experience If a male experiences erection and ejaculation but no orgasm, he is said to have sexual anhedonia. The erection of the Penis, Clitoris or a Nipple is its enlarged and firm state Ejaculation is the ejecting of Semen from the Penis, and is usually accompanied by Orgasm. In Psychology, anhedonia ( Greek αν- an- without + ηδονή hēdonē pleasure) is an inability to experience

For a variety of reasons, some people choose to fake an orgasm. Faking orgasm refers to the act of pretending to have an Orgasm without actually experiencing one A recent Redbook survey shows that 52% of women regularly fake orgasms. For other uses see Red Book. Redbook is an American women's magazine published by the Hearst Corporation. Only 17% are likely to have an orgasm during sexual intercourse, because the clitoris often is not stimulated enough by intercourse alone. Sexual intercourse, in its biological sense is the act in which the male reproductive organ (in humans and other higher animals enters the female reproductive tract The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in Female Mammals In humans the visible button-like portion is located near the Anterior 43% of women report “some kind of sexual problem,” such as inability to achieve orgasm, boredom with sex, or total lack of interest in sex.

If orgasm is desired, anorgasmia is mainly attributed to an inability to relax, or "let go. " It seems to be closely associated with performance pressure and an unwillingness to pursue pleasure, as separate from the other person's satisfaction. Often, women worry so much about the pleasure of their partner that they become anxious, which manifests as impatience with the delay of orgasm for them. This delay can lead to frustration of not reaching orgasmic sexual satisfaction. Psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich, in his 1927 book The Function of the Orgasm was the first to make orgasm central to the concept of mental health, and defined neurosis in terms of blocks to having full orgasm. Wilhelm Reich ( March 24, 1897 – November 3, 1957) was an Austrian-American psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. This article describes the term in psychology For the experimental metal band see Neurosis (band. Although orgasm dysfunction can have psychological components, physiological factors often play a role. For instance, delayed orgasm or the inability to achieve orgasm is a common side effect of many medications.

Specifically in relation to simultaneous orgasm and similar practices, many sexologists claim that the problem of premature ejaculation^[36] is closely related to the idea encouraged by a scientific approach in early 20th century when mutual orgasm was overly emphasized as an objective and a sign of true sexual satisfaction in intimate relationships. Premature ejaculation (PE also known as rapid ejaculation, rapid climax, premature climax or early ejaculation, is the most common sexual The twentieth century of the Common Era began on A focus that is brought to the subject of simultaneous orgasm raises the problem that a man becomes too concerned with delaying ejaculation, which in fact deprives the intercourse from the necessary spontaneity and thus only making simultaneous orgasm even more difficult to reach. Delayed ejaculation, also known as retarded Ejaculation and ejaculation incompetence is the inability to ejaculate or persistent difficulty in achieving Orgasm despite When partners become preoccupied with controlling and synchronizing their actions instead of enjoying the process, this may lead to sexual disturbance.

Drugs and orgasm

Certain drugs have been reported to have enhancing effects on orgasm. Nitrite inhalants are used by both men and women to enhance orgasm. Poppers is the Street term for various Alkyl nitrites taken for recreational purposes through direct inhalation, particularly Amyl nitrite Marijuana enhances both male and female orgasms (it should be noted that marijuana generates a general heightening of sensations), while at the same time delaying ejaculation. Cannabis, also known as marijuana or marihuana, or ganja (from Hindi / Sanskrit: गांजा gānjā hemp) is a ^[37] GHB, GBL and 1,4 Butanediol are commonly used to enhance orgasms. gamma -Hydroxybutyric acid, 4-hydroxybutanoic acid, GHB, or fantasy is a naturally-occurring substance found in the Central nervous gamma -Butyrolactone (γ-butyrolactone or GBL is a Hygroscopic colorless oily liquid with a weak characteristic Odor and is soluble in water Cocaine also increases sexual desire while delaying orgasm. Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant [1] Both male and female users of stimulants, such as 3,4-MDMA (ecstasy), and psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin-containing mushrooms sometimes report heightened sexual pleasure. Stimulant drugs are Drugs that temporarily increase alertness and awareness MDMA ( 34-methylenedioxy- N -methylamphetamine) most commonly known today by the street name Ecstasy (often abbreviated E, X, The general group of pharmacological agents commonly known as hallucinogens can be divided into three broad categories Psychedelics, Dissociatives Psilocybin (IPA /saɪləˈsaɪbɪn/ (also known as psilocybine) is a psychedelic Indole of the Tryptamine family found in Psilocybin Throughout history, recreational drugs have been used to enhance orgasm but, due to lack of research (or government-mandated research restrictions), may be unreliable or have hazardous side effects. Recreational drug use is the use of Psychoactive drugs for Recreational purposes rather than for work, medical or spiritual purposes ^[37] Anecdotal evidence suggests that women have enhanced orgasms with sildenafil (commercially known as Viagra). Sildenafil citrate, sold as Viagra, Revatio and under various other trade names is a drug used to treat Erectile dysfunction (male impotence ^[38]

In tantric sex

Tantric sex is the ancient Indian spiritual tradition of sexual practices. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country It attributes a different value to orgasm than traditional cultural approaches to sexuality. Some practitioners of tantric sex aim to eliminate orgasm from sexual intercourse by remaining for a long time in the pre-orgasmic and non-emission state. Sexual intercourse, in its biological sense is the act in which the male reproductive organ (in humans and other higher animals enters the female reproductive tract Advocates of this, such as Rajneesh, claim that it eventually causes orgasmic feelings to spread out to all of one's conscious experience. "Rajneesh" Chandra Mohan Jain (रजनीश चन्द्र मोहन जैन (December 11 1931 – January 19 1990 also known as Acharya Rajneesh ^[39][40]

Some advocates of tantric and neotantric sex claim that Western culture focuses too much on the goal of climactic orgasm, which reduces our ability to have intense pleasure during other moments of the sexual experience. Tantra ( Sanskrit: तन्त्र; " Weave " denoting continuity) tantricism or tantrism is any of several esoteric Neotantra is a term used to describe the modern western use of the word Tantra. Eliminating this enables a richer, fuller and more intense connection. ^[41]

These practices should not be confused with Buddhist tantra (Vajrayana). Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayana, Mantranaya, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and

In other animals

The mechanics of male orgasm are similar in most mammals. Females of some mammal and some non-mammal species such as alligators^[42] have clitorises.

There has been ongoing research about the sexuality and orgasms of dolphins, a species which apparently engages in sexual intercourse for reasons other than procreation. Dolphins are Marine mammals that are closely related to Whales and Porpoises There are almost forty species of dolphin in seventeen genera. ^[43]

See Animal sexuality. Animal sexual behaviour takes many different forms even within the same Species.

Books

• Gabriele Froböse, Rolf Froböse, Michael Gross (Translator): Lust and Love: Is it more than Chemistry? Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry, ISBN 0-85404-867-7, (2006).
• Komisaruk, Barry R. ; Beyer-Flores, Carlos; Whipple, Beverly. The Science of Orgasm. Baltimore, MD; London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006 (hardcover, ISBN 0-8018-8490-X).

See also

• Child sexuality
• Female ejaculation
• Female sexual dysfunction
• Forced orgasm (a BDSM term)
• Human sexual behavior
• Male ejaculation
• Orgasm control
• Persistent sexual arousal syndrome
• Sexual function
• The little death - French translation of "la petite mort," a euphemism for orgasm. Child sexuality refers to phenomena researched as the Sexual feelings behaviors and development of Children. Female ejaculation (also described in the medical literature as Orgasmic Expulsion and colloquially as squirting or gushing) refers to In BDSM, forced orgasm is a form of play where the dominant partner brings the submissive partner to an Involuntary orgasm, whilst the submissive attempts to compete Human sexual behavior or different human sexual practices encompass a wide range of activities such as strategies to find or attract partners ( Mating and display Ejaculation is the ejecting of Semen from the Penis, and is usually accompanied by Orgasm. Orgasm control (also known as extended orgasm) is a sexual technique involving an active partner taking control over a passive partner's Orgasm. Persistent genital arousal disorder (also known as persistent sexual arousal syndrome or PSAS) results in a spontaneous and persistent genital arousal, A model defining different aspects of sexual function relevant for the assessment of Sexual dysfunction developed at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden La Petite Mort ( fr "The Little Death" ie an Orgasm) is the 8th album by King Orgasmus One Tracklist

Notes

External links

• Men's Health: Male Orgasm
• Net Doctor: Female Orgasm
• The Science of Orgasm, by Barry R. Komisarak, Carlos Beyer-Flores, & Beverly Whipple
• Sex and the Mind Expanding Drugs

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