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Genes determine woman's ability to have an orgasm
By Steve Connor, Science Editor
08 June 2005

Genes determine woman's ability to have an orgasm



The ability of a woman to enjoy sex to the full has more to do with her genes than her partner, according to a study indicating that the female orgasm has a strong genetic basis.

For the first time scientists have been able to tease out the role that genes may play in determining how easy it is for a woman to reach a climax during sex.

Researchers found that the ability to achieve orgasm varies widely between women and that between 34 and 45 per cent of this variation is due to genetics rather than other factors such as culture, upbringing or religious beliefs.

Professor Tim Spector of St Thomas' Hospital in London, who led the research, said the findings may help to explain why one in three women says she achieves orgasm either rarely or not at all with her partner. "There are women who find it very easy to achieve orgasm and there are those who don't," Professor Spector said.

"What these results show is that as well as this wide variation, there is clear evidence of a biological, underlying influence here that we can't purely attribute to culture, upbringing, religion or race. There is something biological that's determining some of this large variation between women and if something is heritable it is unlikely to be by chance."

Previous surveys of sexual behaviour have shown that women are far less likely to have an orgasm than men during sex and that they take longer to reach a climax when they do have an orgasm.

The latest study, published today in the journal Biology Letters, interviewed more than 4,000 women, all of whom were either identical or non-identical twins, a factor that allowed the scientists to compare the role of genes and upbringing in influencing orgasm.

Professor Spector said the investigation was done as part of a large study of twins which investigates the role genes play in a wide variety of traits, from ailments such as hypertension and migraine to musical ability.

Inability to achieve orgasm should be treated like other forms of sexual dysfunction that are treated more seriously by the medical profession, he said.

"There is so little research done on female orgasm. It's like a taboo subject. For some reason it's treated very differently to male impotence. Female orgasm is regarded by some people as a made-up problem. Sexual dysfunction as it is euphemistically called, is [said to be] made up by the drug companies or medical institutions."

The interviewees in the study, whose ages ranged from 19 to 83, were more likely to achieve orgasm on their own than during intercourse, with just one in five saying that they never or infrequently had an orgasm during masturbation.

Professor Spector said that 34 per cent of the variation in ability to orgasm during intercourse was due to genes while 45 per cent of the variation during masturbation was due to genes.

"The masturbation figure of 45 per cent is in the same range as [the role of genes in] hypertension or blood pressure. It's in the same range as migraine, depression, and timing of the age of menopause," he said.

"It was all done anonymously and in that way we believed we were getting honest answers. The important finding is that there is huge variation in the reporting in the ease of achieving orgasm with really a massive range. One in three women reported never or infrequently achieving orgasm during intercourse and as many as 21 per cent during masturbation."

Although the male orgasm plays a vital biological function in reproduction, the role of the female orgasm is less obvious. It may increase the ability of a woman to achieve fertilisation of her eggs during the most fertile period of her menstrual cycle. Another theory is that it plays a role in selecting a mate, Professor Spector said.

"Because of the disparity in time of reaching an orgasm between men and women it's a way for women to assess men in their sexual powers or ability which in a way is a marker for whether they are likely to be a long-term mate."

[Mrs. Mulder]

LOL--well then I hit the motherload of orgasm genes is all I got to say (and am quite certain I got all of Mrs. Schwartzy's share as well! ) LMAO!

Am I right TSG ladies?

[Mulderator]

I wasn't aware that women ever failed to orgasm! Is this study credible?

Hey honey--how ya doin? (Don't get excited Schwartzy--I'm talking to Mrs. Mulder!).

[bassetman]

Lol

[linskyjack]

Originally Posted by Mulder

I wasn't aware that women ever failed to orgasm! Is this study credible?

Hey honey--how ya doin? (Don't get excited Schwartzy--I'm talking to Mrs. Mulder!).

Mulder, the problem is---you aren't good at discerning bedroom thespians!

[Wino]

Originally Posted by linskyjack

Mulder, the problem is---you aren't good at discerning bedroom thespians!

Good acting to complete act in 37 seconds!

[linskyjack]

LOL!!!!!!! And thats on a slow day!

[moonmist]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Mulder

LOL--well then I hit the motherload of orgasm genes is all I got to say

Your married to Mulder, you need all the help you can get




ps.........i thought everything was Mulders fault !?!?

[XL Guru]

Not sure why some folks are still analysing the cause while others claim to already have the solution ...

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/story?id=235788&page=1

(Don't panic ladies, it doesn't involve Mulder).

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by XL Guru

Not sure why some folks are still analysing the cause while others claim to already have the solution ...

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/story?id=235788&page=1

(Don't panic ladies, it doesn't involve Mulder).

Guru--"Orgasmatron" is a code word here for "Mulder" in case you didn't know!

[Wino]

Originally Posted by Mulder

Guru--"Orgasmatron" is a code word here for "Mulder" in case you didn't know!

Or the code word for the best laxative known to man!

[izme]

Originally Posted by Mulder

Guru--"Orgasmatron" is a code word here for "Mulder" in case you didn't know!

Talk about a small subject

I mean the guy cries when he see's a cashew

*touche*

[XL Guru]

Originally posted by Mulder
Guru--"Orgasmatron" is a code word here for "Mulder" in case you didn't know!

Rilly -- perhaps folk are confusing "something that makes you moan" with "something that moans".

[moonmist]

Originally Posted by Mulder

Guru--"Orgasmatron" is a code word here for "Mulder" in case you didn't know!

Funny the silly little names men give to their.......ummmmmmmm..........well, you know. Quite the exaggeration there Mulder

[izme]

Originally Posted by moonmist

Funny the silly little names men give to their.......ummmmmmmm..........well, you know. Quite the exaggeration there Mulder

How about Mighty Mouse?