Genes affect women's ability to reach orgasm

Women who have difficulty reaching an orgasm can blame it on their genes. Like heart disease, anxiety and depression, there is a genetic basis to female orgasm, as well. Reaching an orgasm could be a way for women to assess whether a man would make a good long-term partner. It may also increase fertility, according to some theories. Other studies have attributed differences in the ability to achieve an orgasm to cultural, religious and psychological factors. The researchers from the St. Thomas' Hospital in London studied 1,397 pairs of female twins and found huge variations when they surveyed them about sexual problems. The variation in ability to achieve an orgasm could be explained by an underlying genetic variation. There is a biological underlying influence that can't be attributed purely to upbringing, religion or race. It was found that one in three women, or 32 percent, said they never or infrequently had an orgasm, and 14 percent said they always had an orgasm during intercourse. More women were able to get an orgasm during masturbation, with 34 percent always reaching orgasm. The frequency of orgasm was higher for identical twins with a partner and by themselves, which suggests a clear genetic influence. There is something biological that explains some of this large variation between women and many genes could be involved, the researchers believed. If scientists could discover which genes and how they function, it could potentially pave the way for future therapies to treat women who cannot reach orgasm. But the researchers said that orgasm is a very complex process that is poorly understood. Little research has been done because it is still a taboo subject.