Orgasms genetic?

[Squishor]

I thought this was interesting. I know that my mother and grandmother were both very sexual women, as am I (or at least I like to think so). I don't know about my great-grandmother, but I do know she was very "spunky." This is on my mother's side of the family - I can't comment about my father's side. Anyhow, I'm sure there is also a learning aspect, since I've heard so many stories of women who didn't have orgasms until taught (or they were able to break away from restrictive attitudes), and then everything changed for them.

What do you all think of this?

http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/06/08...eut/index.html

Report: Female orgasm in genes

Wednesday, June 8, 2005 Posted: 12:02 PM EDT (1602 GMT)

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Women who have difficulty reaching orgasm can blame it on their genes.

Like heart disease, anxiety and depression, scientists discovered in a study of 1,397 pairs of female twins that there is a genetic basis to female orgasm.

"We found that between 34 percent and 45 percent of the variation in ability to orgasm can be explained by underlying genetic variation," said Tim Spector, of the Twin Research Unit at St Thomas' Hospital in London.

"There is a biological underlying influence that can't be attributed purely to upbringing, religion or race."

Other studies have attributed differences in the ability to achieve orgasm to cultural, religious and psychological factors.

Between 12 to 15 percent of women don't have orgasms compared to about 2 percent of men. Males are also quicker at 2.5 minutes, while the average time it takes for a woman to reach orgasm is 12 minutes, according to Spector.

"Why is there this biological difference between the sexes? The fact that some of this is heritable suggests that evolution has a role," he told a news conference.

Spector suggested reaching an orgasm could be a way for women to assess whether a man would make a good long-term partner. It may also increase fertility, according to some theories.

In a study of identical and non-identical twins published on Wednesday in the journal Biology Letters, Spector and his team found huge variations when they surveyed them about sexual problems.

One in three women, or 32 percent, said they never or infrequently had an orgasm. But 14 percent said they always had an orgasm during intercourse.

"More women were able to orgasm during masturbation, with 34 percent always reaching orgasm," the researchers said in the journal.

The frequency of orgasm was higher for identical twins with a partner and by themselves which suggests a clear genetic impact, said Spector.

"There is something biological that explains some of this large variation between women," he said, adding that many genes could be involved.

If scientists could discover which genes and how they function, it could potentially pave the way for future therapies to treat women who cannot reach orgasm.

But Spector said orgasm is a very complex process which is poorly understood. Little research has been done because it is still a taboo subject.

Anatomical and biological features and psychological factors may all play a part.

[maleficent]

Interesting... I'm not so sure whether it's really genetics, or rather the environment in which a person was raised... If the momma and the grandma were not overly orgasmic, maybe it's because they had a different attitude towards sex (ya know, it's the woman's duty but they don't necessarily have to enjoy it( that attitude might get passed down to the females.

Unless it was men having the problem as well, I wouldn't be so quick to blame genetics.

Orgasms, in my experience, are 95 percent or more, mental... and very little physical... if you can't get past the mental -- it's just not happening... and that i don't think genetics is to blame.

[Redlemon]

A slightly different version of this report was in my local paper; I'll just highlight the end of the article, which was interesting:

Even if women do inherit an unfavorable genetic mix, as with many other conditions, it does not mean they are doomed, experts said. Many approaches can help most women enhance their ability to achieve orgasm.

"Factors influencing the ability to (reach) orgasm vary from woman to woman. What we do know is that psychologically women are more complex sexually," Sadock said. "For women, being in a relationship where they feel loved and feel secure, is a big factor. Other big factors are how they feel about themselves and about sex and what their first experiences were."

"Maybe there are some women ... who can never. That is a possibility, but that would be a small amount," Sadock said.

And even if they can't, that doesn't mean there's no joy for them in sex, Berman added. A survey she recently conducted found that among women enjoying satisfying sex lives, orgasm did not rate as a key element for fulfillment.

[Ustwo]

All sex is genetic to a great level, its vital to survival. If you don't want sex, your genes will not survive.

That being said how much is genetic vrs enviroment is very hard to explain. Were I not me but some other man less willing to 'explore' my wife may still not have had an orgasm, there are a lot of factors involved and as the report said...

But Spector said orgasm is a very complex process which is poorly understood. Little research has been done because it is still a taboo subject.

Amen to that.

[Charlatan]

I've been doing what I can to advance the research on this and will strive to do more...

Sorry for taking so long but I want to do a thorough job.

[eMOTIONal20]

AH HA! Finally something that could possibly explain why I've never had one. (Yes, I've NEVER had one).

Although it could just be my own issue. I need sex therapy.

[Catmandu]

Wow. That's some open-minded research. Women these days feel mine with asking theirs moms and grandmas about orgasms? More power to them.

[Squishor]

Catmandu, it looks like you're referring to my post...I'm not as much younger than you as you might think. I'll explain. My mother was of the "free love" generation and was very open with me about a lot of things, including sex. Although she didn't go into all the details with me, there is no doubt in my mind, let's just say that. My grandmother was of the WWII generation but had a bad habit of drinking too much bourbon on occasion and spilling details about her sex life. Although it was only a very few ocassions, they stuck in my memory because, you know, it was my grandmother. As for social background, my mother's side of the family was Irish Catholic, which is fairly repressive.

[snowy]

Yes, this makes sense--my mom is a very...happy woman sexually, as are most of the women on that side of the family (the things you talk about at family reunions when it's just the girls!). My grandmother on my father's side was evidently also a very orgasmic woman, or at least that's what my grandfather said (he was, quite simply, cool, open, and able to discuss such things) and memories my father has seem to support that claim.

I am a fountain of orgasms, and moreover, a very sexual person--and very comfortable with it. I think genetics play a part, but also the comfort level: my mom never talked with her mom about sex and she wanted it to be the opposite with us. Our family has always been very open about these things. So I think that plays into the psychology of it.

[Catmandu]

Squishor, I wasn't being specific to you. I was thinking that the whole concept of doing research on a subject like this was a little odd. Don't you think the results might be a bit skewed? I would think that the families willing to talk about it would also be the women more in tune with their sexuality.

By the way, Onesnowyowl's comment that she is "a fountain of orgasms"? I'm getting amazing visuals on that one.

[snowy]

Originally Posted by Catmandu

By the way, Onesnowyowl's comment that she is "a fountain of orgasms"? I'm getting amazing visuals on that one.

I've got an ex around here somewhere that can testify...

[ngdawg]

My mother, the most sexually most repressed and unknowledgeable woman I know, gave birth to three very orgasmic daughters. Bah.

[EULA]

Sudanese women (who have clittorectomies) have more orgasms than American women.

[hrandani]

That's fucking disgusting. Jesus christ. What the fuck is wrong with people and their genital mutilations.

Jews, Arabs, Mormons, Christians, Sudanese, whatever.

Stop fucking cutting shit off of people.

Damn.

[Luckless]

nice find. I am glad to know why my girlfriend is so hard to get some times. I guess ill just have to start hitting her mom (jk)

[Seeker]

From my experience, my ability to orgasm has mainly been subject to my state of mind. I am normally in control over whether I orgasm or not.

There have only been a couple of occasions that I have had an orgasm that I was not quite ready for... both were an extremely pleasant surprise!

Males are also quicker at 2.5 minutes, while the average time it takes for a woman to reach orgasm is 12 minutes, according to Spector.

Now I found this interesting as I know it doesn't take anywhere near 12 minutes for me to reach orgasm.. I may not be as quick as 2.5 but it could definately be inside 5 minutes. This can happen with a partner or 'manually'.

I honestly couldn't tell you about my mothers experiences or thoughts about sex. Any repression of sex that I can remember would have been displayed by my father.

I do not consider myself to be sexually driven, it is not my main focus in life. In saying this though, I have had a couple of relationships that were highly driven in the physical act, without these though I have not felt the 'need' or 'urge' to persue a 'replacement' to fill the void when said relationships lapsed.

I may be over-expanding on this subject.. I'm just playing around with the ability to orgasm v's the sexual drive. I get confused about my lack of drive... *sigh*