title: Measuring sperm backflow following female orgasm: a new method.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human female orgasm is a vexed question in the field while there is credible evidence of cryptic female choice that has many hallmarks of orgasm in other species. Our initial goal was to produce a proof of concept for allowing females to study an aspect of infertility in a home setting, specifically by aligning the study of human infertility and increased fertility with the study of other mammalian fertility. In the latter case - the realm of oxytocin-mediated sperm retention mechanisms seems to be at work in terms of ultimate function (differential sperm retention) while the proximate function (rapid transport or cervical tenting) remains unresolved.
  
  
  METHODS
  A repeated measures design using an easily taught technique in a natural setting was used. Participants were a small (n=6), non-representative sample of females. The introduction of a sperm-simulant combined with an orgasm-producing technique using a vibrator/home massager and other easily supplied materials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sperm flowback (simulated) was measured using a technique that can be used in a home setting. There was a significant difference in simulant retention between the orgasm (M=4.08, SD=0.17) and non-orgasm (M=3.30, SD=0.22) conditions; t (5)=7.02, p=0.001. Cohen's d=3.97, effect size r=0.89. This indicates a medium to small effect size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This method could allow females to test an aspect of sexual response that has been linked to lowered fertility in a home setting with minimal training. It needs to be replicated with a larger sample size.
authors: School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; r.king@ucc.ie.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: King
authors: School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Dempsey
authors: Lecturer in Psychology at Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA.
authors: Katherine A
authors: KA
authors: Valentine
keywords: Evolution; Female Orgasm; Fertility; Insuck; Sperm Retention