I read this in a paper yesterday how lack of orgams could be in the genes
Women who have problems achieving an orgasm may be genetically programmed to weed out worthless men who are no good in bed, new research suggests.
A study comparing identical and non-identical twins found that the ability of a woman to climax during sex is largely genetic.
While 14 per cent of the women studied had an orgasm every time they made love, one in three never or seldom did.
Scientists think there must be a reason for this wide variation in women which probably has an evolutionary origin. Men, in contrast, almost always orgasm - surveys show that only two per cent fail to do so.
A leading theory is that, far from being a defect, the failure of some women to orgasm regularly is actually a refined mate-selection tool.
Only men who are most skilled in the art of sex, physically attractive, or psychologically compatible will be able to make them climax.
These are the men they are most likely to stay with, and who would also be expected to make the best long term partners.
Women who orgasm too easily may really be the ones with the problem, the theory suggests. They are more likely to be satisfied with men of inferior quality.
The research, conducted by scientists at St Thomas's Hospital in London, also raises the prospect of unlocking the genetic secrets of the female orgasm.
"If we had the funding now, it might take us three years to find some of these genes," said Professor Tim Spector, director of the hospital's Twin Research Unit, who led the study.
Finding genes
Knowing what genes play a part in the female orgasm would pave the way to designing drugs that could help women to climax during sex.
However, Professor Spector said there could be "hundreds" of genes involved and it would be at least 10 years before any such drugs are developed.
The findings were published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters.
Professor Spector's team carried out DNA tests on a total of 4,037 women, aged 19 to 83, about half of whom were identical and half non-identical twins.
Only identical twins share all their genes, and the traits that go with them. Comparing identical and non-identical twins is therefore an ideal way of identifying purely inherited features.
The women were also sent a confidential survey containing personal questions about sex.
A total of 32 per cent of the women reported never or infrequently experienced an orgasm during sexual intercourse, and 21 per cent during masturbation. Only 14 per cent said they "always" had an orgasm during sex.
Genetic comparisons showed that 34 per cent of the variation during intercourse was inherited.
In the case of masturbation, 45 per cent of the differences between women who could and could not achieve an orgasm was due to genes.
Prof Spector said these were bound to be very low estimates due to the inevitable errors caused by having to rely on answers to intimate questions.
In reality, genes were almost certainly the "greatest single factor" involved in orgasm. Asked how much of an influence they were likely to have, he said: "If you forced me to guess, I would say 60 per cent."
The female orgasm was still a subject shrouded in mystery, said he said.
"There's so little research on the female orgasm; it's a taboo subject," he said. "It's very difficult to get funding for it, and for some reason it's treated very differently to male impotence."
Surveys had shown an enormous gulf between women and men with respect to orgasm.
Women had five to 10 times more difficulty achieving orgasms than men, and while it took an average of 12 minutes for a women to climax the average time for men was two-and-a-half minutes.
"Why is there this biological difference between the sexes?" said Prof Spector. "The fact that it's heritable suggests that evolution has a role."
Orgasms promote fertility
One theory was that orgasm promoted fertility, he said. Studies had shown that women were slightly more likely to have an orgasm during periods of the month when they were fertile.
There was also some evidence that uptake of sperm was increased when a woman had an orgasm.
However, if this was the only explanation, all women would be expected to have orgasms.
"The other theory is that orgasm is a mate-selection tool," said Prof Spector.
"It's a way of women assessing men on their sexual prowess or ability which in a way is a marker of whether they're likely to be a good long term mate or not.
"The theory goes that if a man is considered powerful enough, strong enough, or thoughtful enough, in bed or in the cave, then he's likely to hang around as a long-term partner and be a better bet for bringing up children."
The genes involved in female orgasm could work on a number of levels, he said.
They could affect a woman physically, causing variations in the G-spot, the angle of the vagina, or the clitoris.
Genes could also work psychologically to alter a woman's confidence or mood, or they might vary the activity of enzymes or hormones.
