Biology of the Female Orgasm

Sexual Dysfunction in Women

The prevailing wisdom (decided by men) used to be that women couldn’t feel sexual pleasure. Fat lot they knew. Doctors at one time actually manually stimulated female patients sexually to combat hysteria, a supposed nervous condition leading to physical and mood symptoms that were sometimes diagnosed to need a hysterectomy to correct the condition. Wow.

Sexual dysfunction in women can stem from drug use—prescribed or illegal—and hormonal changes from pregnancy, breast feeding, PMS, or menopause that cause a lack of lubrication or a waning libido. Vaginal narrowing and atrophy can occur with age, especially if a woman doesn’t engage in regular intercourse. All this can cause pain, fear of intercourse, and an accompanying loss of sexual interest.

Talk About It

Fingers or vibrators shaped like a penis can be used to help prevent tissue atrophy and plenty of lubricants exist. Water-based are best and least likely to affect the natural PH level of the vagina or cause infection.

It’s a shame so many women are uncomfortable talking about these problems with their doctor, but it’s important to do so for one’s physical and emotional health—marital problems might be avoided, feelings of inadequacy, depression.  

The Biology of a Female Orgasm

Basically, science doesn’t have a real explanation for it as they do for a man’s. Big surprise. It doesn’t seem to be a necessary component of reproduction, though the theory goes that the muscle contractions during orgasm may help direct the sperm into the cervix and the fallopian tube where the ripe egg sits.

Women vary in how much and what kind of stimulation they need to achieve an orgasm and may require more than one type, such as stimulation of erogenous zones (lips, breasts, butt, etc.) to begin the lubrication process before direct stimulation of the more sensitive—and therefore easily painful if not properly prepared—clitoris.  

The clitoris has over 8,000 nerve endings as does the head of the penis. There is insufficient research to state what the G-spot is or if it really exists. The structure seems to vary in its placement among women and seems not to exist in others. Most scientists believe it is part of the clitoris that extends to the front vaginal wall.

Next week—female ejaculation, multiple orgasms, and the social influences on sexuality.