Today’s NYT has given a somewhat vague review on Elisabeth Lloyld’s book “the logic of female orgasm”. The main thesis of that book states that the female orgasm has no evolutionary role in human sex. In male, the penis is developed with all sorts of built-in nerves to stimulate orgasm. Under the same development females enjoy orgasm with the benefit from the penis vestige-the clitoris. Like nipples in males, female orgasm is a by-product of sex organ development. This idea was put forth by Donald Symons, and has been forcibly defended by the book author and Stephen Jay Gould for a couple years.

Well, one tenet in evolution is that evolution has no direction. It is true that only human females (together with very few other primates) have developed orgasm. However, human beings are on the top of human evolution chain and own many capabilities that other animals don’t, for example, bipedal walking, reading and writing. The discovery of orgasm in females may be related to the bipedal walking and related sex position. On the other hand, although comparing female clitoris and male penis makes anatomical sense, the female orgasm is not restricted to clitoris contact, as there are so many sex positions that don’t involve clitoris. That is, female clitoris is sufficient for orgasm, but not a must. In addition, there are also large differences in orgasmic reactions between males and females. It seems that during orgasm, female’s reactions are more dramatic and provocative than man. Brain studies have suggested that some parts of temporal cortex are related to orgasm in females but not in males. Given the more complicate female reproductive system, it is possible that the development of orgasm in females is newer than that in males. Because female orgasm is not a prerequisite of pregnancy, it may serve a different evolutionary function other than reproduction process itself.

The orgasm in male has been hypothesized that it serves a positive feedback to spread genes. The female orgasm, however, seems to have little role in gene spreading because almost all females can get pregnant without orgasm. Indeed, at least 10% females rarely experience orgasm during copulation. However, even if we dismiss ideas that female orgasm can suck sperms (in addition to trap a condom as one English lady did), time optimal copulation, and enhance romantic or erotic sensation, its function may be more related to attract and bond targeted males. Given the harsh environment in prehistoric days, raising children alone would be too much a burden for women. Some ingenious ways including monogamy, constant sex, and sex orgasm were developed to ensure the security of their genes. Further, the female orgasm may involve a progressive learning process either intentionally or unintentionally, as research found that faked orgasm was common in women.

Yes, the female orgasm is a by-product of female anatomical structure, but it has served a great purpose to retain family and spread genes. As time goes by, more and more inventive ways of enjoying orgasm proliferate, which includes but not limits to oral sex, anal sex, homo-sex, and the most popular activity in the 21st century–cybersex.