The science of orgasm has finally come

Journal of Sex Research, July-August, 2009 by Brian D. Zamboni

The Science of Orgasm. By Barry R. Komisaruk, Carlos Beyer-Flores, and Beverly Whipple. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006, 358 pages. Hardcover, $16.50.

It has come, finally: a book about orgasm that does not focus on witty prose--or prose meant to be witty but, ultimately, devoid of meaning or information--nor on the sensationalism of multiple orgasms. The Science of Orgasm is an outstanding, well-written book covering everything a person might want to know about orgasm.

The book has 24 chapters addressing everything from aging and orgasm, to the use of Zestra[R] for women. The chapters are relatively brief, yet fairly comprehensive. The authors even link the history of Kinsey's work to contemporary research. Many research findings are summarized while highlighting unknown issues or unclear findings. For example, in discussing the relationship between the nervous system and orgasm, the authors discuss in detail the neurotransmitters that are linked to orgasm, but note that discerning the effects of illicit substances on orgasm in this system is complicated by limited research.

One of the most impressive aspects of the text is the authors' ability to communicate quite complex information in a succinct and clear manner. There is very little jargon impeding the reader's ability to understand the concepts at hand, making The Science of Orgasm very accessible to most college-educated lay people. This is not to say, however, that the book contains no technical information. The chapter on the genitalbrain connection, for instance, is heavier reading. Anyone who wants to learn about the different areas of the brain involved in orgasm will find these details in chapter 23.

In its attempt to communicate clearly, the book includes a number of features to facilitate reading. First, readers encounter several helpful diagrams. Some advanced texts in human sexuality (e.g., books that graduate students might use) do not offer any graphics, making it difficult to see or visualize relevant anatomical structures. The Science of Orgasm shows unique pictures of nerve endings and functional MRI brain scans, among other pictures. Undoubtedly, it would have been more helpful if some of these pictures had color. Also, some of the brain scans lack adequate resolution, making it difficult to discern specific brain structures. Despite these limitations, it is always better to have some pictures than no pictures.

Alongside the visual aids, another helpful feature is the summary paragraph at the end of some of the chapters that help readers articulate the "take home" message. Unfortunately, not every chapter has such a summary. To be fair, it can be difficult to summarize some types of information, such as counteracting the side effects of medication on orgasm. Yet, some effort at recognizing this challenge and saying a few words of conclusion would have been helpful.

Additional helpful features in the book include a glossary and index. It is refreshing to see so many citations throughout the book with a list of references at the end.

In addition to the aforementioned strengths, it is worthy of notice that the authors also devote time to discussing a holistic view of sexual health. One chapter explores the notion of whether orgasms are beneficial to a person's health. Similarly, although the authors discuss orgasm exhaustively, they also point toward the importance of having a flexible definition of sexual activity and "sexual success." In other words, although the text focuses on orgasm, the authors make it clear there is more to good sex than genital contact, penetration, or orgasm.

Despite its comprehensiveness, does The Science of Orgasm avoid specific topics? Possibly. Children, for instance, are essentially neglected, as are the controversial data reported by Kinsey on children and orgasm (i.e., the infamous Table 34). Some could argue this book has no place for Kinsey's data and the controversy in this regard. Others might ask whether it is important to learn about orgasms and children.

Although there is some discussion in the text about transsexuals and sex-change operations as they relate to orgasm, the book could easily be accused of a heterosexist slant. Yet, one might challenge whether the concepts covered would be any different for lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer individuals.

Any shortcomings of The Science of Orgasm reflect, mostly, the lack of research in this area and not the authors' efforts. This is an excellent resource for many types of professionals, and for laypersons as well. Reading this text, for instance, can help sex educators provide more complete information when teaching about human sexuality, may enable sex therapists ameliorate sexual concerns among clients, and may prompt sex scientists to further advance the research into human orgasm.

Reviewed by Brian D. Zamboni, Program in Human Sexuality, Department of Family Medicine & Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 1300 South 2nd St., Suite 180, Minneapolis, MN 55454; E-mail: bzamboni@umphysicians.umn.edu