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A Critic Takes On the Logic of Female Orgasm
New York Times ^ | 5/17/05 | DINITIA SMITH

Posted on 05/17/2005 8:12:54 AM PDT by JAWs

Evolutionary scientists have never had difficulty explaining the male orgasm, closely tied as it is to reproduction.

But the Darwinian logic behind the female orgasm has remained elusive. Women can have sexual intercourse and even become pregnant - doing their part for the perpetuation of the species - without experiencing orgasm. So what is its evolutionary purpose?

Over the last four decades, scientists have come up with a variety of theories, arguing, for example, that orgasm encourages women to have sex and, therefore, reproduce or that it leads women to favor stronger and healthier men, maximizing their offspring's chances of survival.

But in a new book, Dr. Elisabeth A. Lloyd, a philosopher of science and professor of biology at Indiana University, takes on 20 leading theories and finds them wanting. The female orgasm, she argues in the book, "The Case of the Female Orgasm: Bias in the Science of Evolution," has no evolutionary function at all.

Rather, Dr. Lloyd says the most convincing theory is one put forward in 1979 by Dr. Donald Symons, an anthropologist.

That theory holds that female orgasms are simply artifacts - a byproduct of the parallel development of male and female embryos in the first eight or nine weeks of life.

In that early period, the nerve and tissue pathways are laid down for various reflexes, including the orgasm, Dr. Lloyd said. As development progresses, male hormones saturate the embryo, and sexuality is defined.

In boys, the penis develops, along with the potential to have orgasms and ejaculate, while "females get the nerve pathways for orgasm by initially having the same body plan."

Nipples in men are similarly vestigial, Dr. Lloyd pointed out.

While nipples in woman serve a purpose, male nipples appear to be simply left over from the initial stage of embryonic development.

The female orgasm, she said, "is for fun."

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: biology; dynamohum; evolution; orgasm; science; sex; whypostthis; women
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To: All

"I tell you, the Female Orgasm is a MYTH! I have had sex with hundreds of women, and not ONE of them has ever had an orgasm. It simply does not exist! "

41 posted on 05/17/2005 8:46:38 AM PDT by Paradox (In my heart, I will always be something of a Liberal, in my head, a Conservative. Head wins.)
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To: HairOfTheDog

Actually, I have heard a theory that endorphins are released during nursing...you sit and rock, feeding the kid, and it's pleasant.


42 posted on 05/17/2005 8:47:20 AM PDT by tiamat (Can't sleep...clowns will get me..can't sleep...clowns will get me...can't sleep....clowns will get)
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To: HairOfTheDog
...orgasm before sex in wimmen actually hinders pregnancy.

Orgasm before sex? Heck, they might as well orgasm before dinner and save me the expense.

43 posted on 05/17/2005 8:49:16 AM PDT by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: wvobiwan

Works for me. Or not, as the case may be.


44 posted on 05/17/2005 8:49:58 AM PDT by js1138 (e unum pluribus)
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To: PBRSTREETGANG

Heh.


45 posted on 05/17/2005 8:50:27 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: tiamat

Pleasant is not the word for it. I have breastfed six, and the word that best describes it is "fulfilling."


46 posted on 05/17/2005 8:50:27 AM PDT by coton_lover ("If He who was without sin prayed, how much more ought sinners to pray?" --St. Cyprian)
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To: coton_lover

I was trying to be polite.


47 posted on 05/17/2005 8:50:59 AM PDT by tiamat (Can't sleep...clowns will get me..can't sleep...clowns will get me...can't sleep....clowns will get)
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To: coton_lover

And good for you, BTW!


48 posted on 05/17/2005 8:51:19 AM PDT by tiamat (Can't sleep...clowns will get me..can't sleep...clowns will get me...can't sleep....clowns will get)
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To: Paradox

LOL!! Most women get turned of by scotch burps in their face.


49 posted on 05/17/2005 8:55:28 AM PDT by Millee (So you're a feminist......isn't that cute??)
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To: JAWs

The evolutionary logic of the female orgasm is pretty obvious. They have the same muscle spams men do only inward bound, thus if the timing is right they move the sperm of men who are more "skilled" closer to the egg giving them an advantage over less "desirable" men.

Plus of course there's the most basic reason for both: fun. How many people really and truly have sex for the sole purpose of breeding? How much of the perpetuation of the human race is because the process of making a kid is fun?


50 posted on 05/17/2005 8:56:01 AM PDT by discostu (quis custodiet ipsos custodes)
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To: tiamat

And I was waiting for you to tell me to ask my Wife!


51 posted on 05/17/2005 8:57:17 AM PDT by BBell
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To: BBell

LOL!


52 posted on 05/17/2005 8:58:29 AM PDT by tiamat (Can't sleep...clowns will get me..can't sleep...clowns will get me...can't sleep....clowns will get)
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To: JAWs

One question arises reading this article - who cares ?

;-)


53 posted on 05/17/2005 8:59:20 AM PDT by patience+plumpudding (I didn't loose my mind - it was mine to give away)
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To: JAWs

One question arises reading this article - who cares ?

;-)


54 posted on 05/17/2005 8:59:22 AM PDT by patience+plumpudding (I didn't loose my mind - it was mine to give away)
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To: JAWs

Somebody please post a picture of "When Harry Met Sally".


55 posted on 05/17/2005 9:01:35 AM PDT by sparkomatic (This happens every time one of these floozies starts poontangin' around with those show folk fags!)
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To: Bluegrass Conservative

[[Dude, I think you may be doing something wrong.]]

Actually, if she is having more fun, he must be doing something right.


56 posted on 05/17/2005 9:03:12 AM PDT by lifelongsoldier (A woman can never have enough of a man who makes her have more fun.)
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To: JAWs



It's our reward for having sex with men. lol


57 posted on 05/17/2005 9:06:44 AM PDT by SouthernFreebird
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To: najida
I'm sure this thread will get plenty of responses without any help from me.

I could add something but I've been here too long to get banned while posting on a woman's orgasm thread.....

58 posted on 05/17/2005 9:07:17 AM PDT by #1CTYankee (New tag-line under-construction.)
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To: HamiltonJay

It may have been that $50 bill you gave her.......


59 posted on 05/17/2005 9:10:47 AM PDT by brwnsuga (Proud, Black, Conservative!)
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To: SouthernFreebird

"It's our reward for having sex with men. lol"

Amen, sister!

Just kidding, I like orgasms, with or without my husband.


60 posted on 05/17/2005 9:13:58 AM PDT by brwnsuga (Proud, Black, Conservative!)
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