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Abstract
The review critically examines two functional claims involving the human female orgasm. The first is that it is involved in the transport of spermatozoa by its release of oxytocin to create uterine contractions that suck up more semen at a faster rate. There is no physiological evidence for this scenario and the published experimental studies with oxytocin do not mimic the conditions of natural coitus. There is no evidence that orgasm has a role to play in reproductive fitness. The second claim is that as penile-vaginal intercourse (PVI) and its induced orgasm is the only sexual arousal that involves possible reproduction, evolution has rewarded it, and not clitorally-induced arousal (which it punishes), with highly specific health rewards. Apparently these cannot be generated by clitoral stimulation, moreover, its employment previous to and even at the same time as PVI negates these health advantages. The studies rely not only on women's retrospective self-reports of the genital structures creating their orgasms, which are known to have an “ambiguity problems”, but also on correlations from which causality is claimed or inferred. They have not been confirmed by independent researchers. Despite all women having the same genital structures from which sexual arousal is generated and that orgasm is not involved in reproduction via sperm transport, it is more than surprising that evolution has apparently created a situation where the majority of women do not or cannot generate orgasms from PVI alone and are thus imbued with poorer physical and mental health. This is even more unexpected when it is known that PVI actually stimulates the clitoris through thrusting traction on its attached ligaments via the anterior vaginal wall.