Mary Roach: 10 things you didn't know about orgasm | TED

TED2 minutes read

Orgasm is a reflex of the autonomic nervous system triggered by various stimuli, not just genital stimulation, as shown in various unusual cases. Scientific studies have debunked historical theories surrounding female orgasm and fertility, including the "upsuck" theory, using experiments and research on human and animal sexual responses.

Insights

  • Orgasm is not solely linked to genital stimulation but can be triggered by various inputs due to the autonomic nervous system's reflex, as evidenced by cases of women experiencing orgasm while brushing their teeth or through mental stimulation.
  • The historical "upsuck" theory, positing that female orgasm aids conception by drawing semen up through the cervix, was debunked by Masters and Johnson, who conducted experiments using artificial semen. This theory was further challenged by Kinsey's research, which revealed that the force of semen against the cervix does not significantly impact fertility, highlighting the complexity and diversity of scientific inquiry into human sexuality.

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Recent questions

  • What is the autonomic nervous system?

    The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary bodily functions.

  • What is the sacral nerve root?

    The sacral nerve root is the center for orgasm along the spinal nerve.

  • What is the "upsuck" theory?

    The "upsuck" theory suggests female orgasm aids conception.

  • What is the human sexual response cycle?

    The human sexual response cycle involves four stages.

  • What is the role of the autonomic nervous system in orgasm?

    The autonomic nervous system triggers orgasm through various inputs.

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Summary

00:00

Unconventional Orgasm Studies in Human Sexuality

  • The most diverting paper in The Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine is titled "Observations of In-Utero Masturbation."
  • Orgasm is a reflex of the autonomic nervous system, triggered by a broad range of inputs beyond genital stimulation.
  • Unusual cases include a woman having an orgasm while brushing her teeth and another who can think herself to orgasm.
  • The sacral nerve root is the headquarters for orgasm along the spinal nerve, and triggering it can induce an orgasm even in dead individuals.
  • A man's intractable hiccups were cured by sexual intercourse, leading to a case report titled "Sexual Intercourse as a Potential Treatment for Intractable Hiccups."
  • Historical beliefs include the "upsuck" theory, suggesting that female orgasm helps conception by drawing semen up through the cervix.
  • Masters and Johnson debunked the upsuck theory through experiments with artificial semen made of flour and water or cornstarch and water.
  • Sperm abnormalities due to prolonged retention in the body may explain why men evolved to be frequent masturbators.
  • Evidence of upsuck in the animal kingdom includes a Danish study showing increased piglet production through sow stimulation during artificial insemination.
  • Masters and Johnson's research on the human sexual response cycle involved an artificial coition machine for women, which has since been dismantled.

15:15

Kinsey's Semen Experiment: Debunking Fertility Theory

  • Kinsey conducted an experiment in the 1940s to debunk the theory that the force of semen against the cervix impacted fertility, involving 300 men in his lab, a measuring tape, and a movie camera. He discovered that in most cases, semen simply slopped out, but one man achieved a distance just short of eight feet, although his identity remains unknown.
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