The pubococcygens and female orgasm: a correlational study with normal subjects

The relationship of pubococcygeal condition to orgasmic responsiveness in 102 women from a university community was examined in a controlled, prospective investigation. Pubococcygeal strength was measured with a perineometer while responsiveness was assessed by a standardized interview yielding reliable measures of self-reported orgasmic response. Subjects whose responsiveness might have been impaired by such factors as alcohol consumption, inadequate stimulation, and high sexual anxiety were excluded from analyses. Excellent within-session but poor across-session test-retest reliability of the perineometer measures was noted. Initial Strength Contracting proved to be the most reliable measure. Though the majority of the parous women had performed Kegel exercises after delivery, parity was negatively related to pubococcygeal strength on most measures. Contrary to experimental hypotheses, pubococcygeal strength was not found to be positively related to frequency or self-reported intensity of orgasm. Furthermore, women with higher pubococcygeal strength did not report that vaginal stimulation contributed more to attainment of orgasm, nor did they rate vaginal sensations during coitus as more pleasurable. Only in the case of pleasurability of orgasm through clitoral stimulation was a significant, though low, relationship obtained. Possible factors contributing to the discrepancy between these findings and previous uncontrolled investigations are discussed, as are the implications of these findings for the use of Kegel exercises in the treatment of orgasmic dysfunction.