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The Science of Orgasm

The Science of Orgasm provides a Gestalt view of human orgasm through a careful review of the scientific literature around its physiology and disorders, in a practical way for a clinician or therapist. It is also a book that healthcare professionals can recommend to their clients to read. The authors validate the perspectives of researchers coming from different disciplines and pay particular attention to the factors that enhance or inhibit orgasm and related sexual functions.

The book methodically provides a summary of the published scientific evidence around the many facets of orgasm. It is less about the opinion of the authors and more about the clinical, biological and imaging research that sheds light on our understanding of orgasm and its disorders. This approach is consistent throughout the entire book. To make the reading more interesting, the authors provide many quotations by scientists, philosophers and authors that help the reader better understand the context and background. This is particularly evident in the last chapter, ‘Consciousness and orgasm’.

Each chapter provides an answer to a question or reviews a particular aspect of orgasm. The chapters can each stand on their own and they provide a coherent and sensible text that the reader does not have to read all the way through from the first page.

Although this book is a kaleidoscope of information, it does not let the reader forget that orgasm is a complex phenomenon with many different neurotransmitters, organs and systems involved in its creation and experience. The neurological model of orgasm in humans is summarised in pages 120–122. Here, there is re-emphasis of the importance of dopaminergic and serotoninergic systems in the brain in explaining the effects of medications, substances and diseases and how orgasm can be enhanced, delayed or inhibited.

One of the main strengths of this book is its practicality for a busy clinician. The effects of medications, hormones, diseases, alcohol, drugs and surgical operations on sexual function and orgasm are all matters that every clinician deals with quite regularly. Having an up-to-date, evidence-based summary is, therefore, extremely helpful. I found the tables on pages 125 and 132 very useful because they summarised the effects of antipsychotics and antidepressants on sexual disorders. Another distinctive aspect of this book is its coherence and natural flow. The authors are all prominent scientists in this field, with a brilliant record of publications and research. This has resulted in a methodical and systematic approach and a text that is very easy to read for someone who is familiar with reading research papers.

In my opinion, The Science of Orgasm is a must-have for every clinician or therapist with clients who suffer from orgasmic disorders. By seeing the multidisciplinary picture, the reader will understand the complexities of this fascinating phenomenon. They will also be able to assess and plan for the problems of their clients more effectively and with a good foundation based on evidence.

Sara Nasserzadeh, MSc, Psychosexual Therapist/PhD Candidate¹

^1. Middlesex University, London, UK

Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007
ISBN 9780801884900
Hardcover, 359 pages, £16.50

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nasserzadeh, S. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Nasserzadeh, S.