Sex

Apart from its other definitions, sex defined as human sexual intercourse is often associated with the male drive to achieve orgasm.  However, the male drive for orgasm may not always be the primary motive for sexual intercourse (as an example a marriage of convenience might induce sexual intercourse simply to produce offspring). Unlike other species, there is no defined estrus cycle for the human female (a time when the female is receptive to mating) .  The human female’s desire to copulate is based on very specific individual reasons, which might be a desire to become pregnant, or a sexual urge (desire for physical contact satisfaction with another person) or part of a female’s occupation.  Attempting to classify the human’s desire for sex, male or female, as an instinct or learned behavior is somewhat pointless.  The simple fact is that it exists, we all know what it is at a personal level and in general it garners much attention from Madison Avenue.

The Orgasm

The most fundamental difference between the sexes regarding orgasm is that males are most likely to achieve it during intercourse whereas for females, orgasm is most likely achieved during masturbation or oral sex.  The clitoris (female counter part to the male penis) is just not readily available for stimulation during ordinary sexual intercourse. The concept of a dual female system of orgasm: vaginal and clitoral, was rejected by the research of Master and Johnson. 

One might speculate that if both males and females achieved guaranteed orgasms during sexual intercourse, the human species would have long ago populated itself into extinction.  With that type of intensity, the species would require a major predator to keep it in balance with the rest of nature.   Given the reality of the unlevel orgasmic playing field during sexual intercourse, the question arises as to why would a female desire to copulate for reasons other than pregnancy or prostitution? The answer to the question may be that it is simply an opportunity to be held.  There is some evidence in animal research that physical contact is a major need among primates.  Clearly, it is a primary method to attract and maintain male attention as so cleverly depicted in the popular HBO TV show Sex and the City.