Biological Purpose of Female Ejaculation

G.M. O’Brien, Human Biology (Physiology), University of New England, NSW 2351, Australia

TheorPhysiol 2, 1999

Female ejaculation (FE) might not have a purpose. But it does have identifiable value in biological terms. FE flushes the urethra; this helps to remove microbes that enter the urethra from the skin during sex, and cause cystitis/urinary tract infections etc when they get inside – sometimes called “honeymooners' cystitis”.

Clearly the details of paraurethral glands and FE are encoded in our DNA. Paraurethral glands are found in other species of mammals besides humans. Perhaps there has been no disadvantage to those who FE, and therefore no pressure that would remove the codes from our DNA over the generations and centuries.

One could even propose (without a shred of evidence, mind you) that for those who actively FE there would be a survival advantage (for their genes anyway):-

• Consider the probable rate of urinary tract infections amongst sexually active people before hygiene /sanitation /health services were readily accessible.
• Consider the reduced libido associated with urethritis (pain, burning when passing urine; urgent need to pee frequently even if the bladder is empty).
• Consider that women who ejaculate are likely to have fewer bouts of cystitis (due to the DIY* flush mechanism), so over the past few thousand years women who ejaculated have probably been more likely to engage in sex, so were more likely to become pregnant, passing on their genes, which included the genes for FE.

In contrast, those cave-women who did not ejaculate probably had lots of infections, leading to avoidance of sex, and their genes were not passed on.

* DIY = Do It Yourself

Ó G.M.O’Brien UNE 1999

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