title: First stirrings: cultural notes on orgasm, ejaculation, and wet dreams.
abstract: Both the findings and the limitations of numeric milestone research in sexology have a bearing on the pedagogical status of pleasure, as well as the cultural underpinnings of the notion of a psychosexual milestone. An overview is offered of international data pertaining to the chronology of three "milestones" in sexual autobiography: first orgasm (orgasmarche), first ejaculation (oigarche), and first wet dream (nocturnal emission). Methodological problems associated with the measurement of these variables are discussed. These problems are then situated in a culturalist perspective. It is concluded that orgasms are cultural artifacts in terms of their chronological occurrence as well as perceived salience, necessity, and "age appropriateness".
authors.affiliation: Berg & Dalseweg 209 k60, Nijmegen 6522BK, The Netherlands. diederikjanssen@gmail.com
authors.forename: Diederik F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Janssen
mesh_terms: D003075:Coitus; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004325:Dreams; D004542:Ejaculation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido; D008297:Male; D008418:Masturbation; D009948:Orgasm; D011627:Puberty; D012737:Sex Factors