Female Sexual Response: Possible Adaptive Functions of the Female Orgasm
Open Access
Author:
Matz, Ashley Paige
Area of Honors:
Anthropology
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
David Andrew Puts, Thesis Supervisor Timothy Michael Ryan, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Orgasm Adaptation Luteal Follicular Mate quality
Abstract:
Recent research suggests that female orgasm frequency may be related to mate quality in
romantic couples. In light of this, we recruited 66 heterosexual romantic couples in which the woman was not taking hormonal contraception. Both partners came in for an initial visit where we collected basic demographic information and took anthropometric and physiological measures related to mate quality. The majority of couples also participated in an online extended study in which they reported their sexual activity and perceived sexual experience by answering brief questionnaires every three days for up to two months. I predicted that there would be a significant three-way interaction between ovulatory cycle phase, relative male genetic quality, and female orgasm frequency. Contrary to this prediction, women reported more orgasms during the luteal phase.
