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Jesse Bering, research psychologist, provides a lengthy synopsis about the origins of the female orgasm. He does begin his piece with this very interesting disclaimer: “As a gay man, it’s always seemed rather exotic and foreign to me, sort of like decorative basket-weaving in a small African village. As far as I know, I’ve never even been in the same room as a woman having an orgasm, let alone given a woman one.”

Wouldn’t it be great if bloggers, authors, and venture capitalists were as transparent? E.g., “As a venture capitalist, it’s always seemed rather exotic and foreign to me to start a company because I’ve never started one myself. I graduated from an MBA program and started as an investment banker before becoming a VC.” But I digress…

Back to the issue in hand. First, just so we’re all on the same page, Cindy Meston, psychologist from the University of Texas (“hook ‘em horns”), defines female orgasm:

Female orgasm is a variable, transient peak sensation of intense pleasure, creating an altered state of consciousness, usually with an initiation accompanied by involuntary, rhythmic contractions of the pelvic striated circumvaginal musculature, often with concomitant uterine and anal contractions and myotonia that resolves the sexually induced vasocongestion (sometimes only partially), generally with an induction of well-being and contentment.

Apparently Stephen J. Gould thought female orgasms (aka, inducing well-being and contentment) served no real purpose and was merely a functionless “by-product.” Gould was influenced by Elisabeth Lloyd who wrote a book called The Case of the Female Orgasm which explained her position.

But wait, there’s more: Bering provides a list of clues, and you know how much I love lists:

1. The frequency of female orgasms has a “modest” hereditary component.

2. Most women report they are more likely to experience orgams through masturbation than sex with a man.

3. Educated women are more likely to report masturbatory orgasms.

4. There’s a positive correlation between the physical attractiveness of male partners and the frequency of orgasms.

5. There is some evidence that female orgasms causes the retention of more and better sperm.

6. And the most Holy Kaw of all: a study of Chinese women shows that those with wealthier male partners have more orgasms.

What does all of this mean? Don’t stop—be sure to read Bering’s piece called “Reopening the Case of the Female Orgasm” to learn even more.

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