Female orgasm seems to remain a mystery for most people. Articles are explaining its nature and what is are scattered all over the Internet. Some even argue that female orgasm is a myth. Scientists are trying to figure out the reason why orgasm occurs. And is bringing forth female orgasm the only role the clitoris ever had?
MALE ORGASM VERSUS FEMALE ORGASM
Orgasm in men is straightforward and clearly a no-brainer since sperm needs to be ejaculated inside the vagina to reach and fertilize the egg cell. On the other hand, female orgasms are not necessary for reproduction. So why do female orgasms occur?
There are two theories that aim to provide an answer: 1) orgasms are there to help select a mate and, 2) female orgasms are a mere byproduct of female orgasms.
A study by physiologist Roy Levin titled "The Clitoris - An Appraisal of its Reproductive Function During the Fertile Years: Why Was It, Still Is, Overlooked in Accounts of Female Sexual Arousal," which was published in Clinical Anatomy, explained, "Despite numerous modern accounts that characterize the activation of human female sexual arousal by clitoral stimulation, none appear to have referred to it possessing any involvement in a specific reproductive role." He added that the widely accepted fact about the clitoris is that it is an organ whose function is for sexual pleasure. Levin was able to find answers to his questions. He re-analyzed the previously done analysis and eventually concluded that the clitoris is both for pleasure and reproduction.
Back in the olden days, the clitoris was thought to have something to do with the urinary tract. As a matter of fact, some physicians in the 1500s believed that the clitoris was some abnormality and did not exist in healthy women. Since then, the view on the clitoris had drastically changed until it became stereotyped for female sexual pleasure, which is unfortunate because the clitoris may have served another function: to transport and retain sperm.
Several studies also claim that stimulating the clitoris can activate major brain systems, including memory, cognition, and social behavior. Because of these widespread activities in the brain, the genitals get into reproduction mode: there will be an increase in blood and oxygen flow along with lubrication. The external parts of the vagina will then form the 'orgasmic platform,' which lifts the uterus to accommodate incoming sperm. It doesn't end there: during the actual orgasm, the pelvic muscles contract to ensure the potential of fertilization. The contraction allows the cervix to temporarily stop the semen from traveling inwards towards the uterus to make the sperm stronger and more agile.
To come to this conclusion, there were a lot of experiments conducted with non-human mammals (rats, horses, rabbits, to name a few) and saw a similar way of sperm retention through the clitoris. This leads researchers to the conclusion that the clitoris is, indeed, vital to reproduction. In support of this statement, a study published earlier this year showed that female rabbits who did not experience orgasm during mating ovulated 30% less than those who did.
