Note J — Chapter VIII · THE FUNCTIONS OF THE FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS

According to Bischoff, at the moment of the highest excitement the uterus is pressed down into the small pelvis, and the uterine orifice opens and receives the sperma by a kind of suction.

Eichstedt claims that the uterus, which is usually flattened in the sagittal direction, assumes a round, pear-shaped form during the excitement and for some time afterwards. In this way a real cavum uteri is produced, where previously only a virtual cavity existed. The vacuity then sucks in the sperma by means of aspiration like a pump.

Kisch says: During the orgasm the uterus descends deeper into the pelvis. It is assisted in its descent by the pressure of the abdominal muscles. The muscles of the uterus open then the uterine orifice, and the formerly flat opening becomes round. At the same time the uterine orifices of the tubes also open. Simultaneously the secretion of the cervical glands is expressed, and a suction of a small amount of sperma into the cervix ensues.

Rohleder says: The plicae palmatae of the cervix form an obstacle to the penetration of any fluid into the uterus. But during the excitement, this obstacle is overcome by the increased secretion of the cervical glands. At the same time the uterine orifices of the tubes, which are generally closed, open widely through the excitement and almost challenge the entrance of the spermatozoa.

Kristeller describes the secretion of a clear transparent mucus in the form of a cord about one to four millimeters thick and one to six centimeters long in the uterus of every mature woman, who never was pregnant. This cord is hanging out of the orificium externum uteri.

According to Wernich, a preparatory erection of the vaginal portion and of the neck of the uterus takes place in the beginning of the act. Then in the moment of the highest orgastic excitement, and almost simultaneously with the mutual ejaculation, the cervix becomes flabby and soft again. This sudden relaxation of the erected cervix is made possible by a particular arrangement of the nerves and causes the aspiration of the sperma. The erection of the lower part of the uterus during the sexual excitement has, therefore, almost the same importance for propagation as the erection of the penis for copulation. It serves the purpose of expelling Kristeller’s slimy plug from the cervix, in the moment of the highest orgasm.

Mundé has seen the gushing, almost in jets, of clear viscid mucus from the external os during evident sexual excitement, produced by the rather prolonged digital and specular examination, in an erotic woman. The lips of the external os alternately opened and closed, with each gasping emitting clear mucus, until the excitement, which was intentionally prolonged by gently titillating the cervix with a sound through a Sims speculum, reached such a height as to cause the woman to sit up on the table and thus end the experiment.

Beck (St. Louis Medical and Surgical Journal, Sep. 1872, p. 449) observed an orgasm while examining a woman with prolapsus uteri. The orifice of the uterus was just inside of the vulva and could be observed without a speculum. The woman was very prone, by reason of her passionate nature, to have an orgasm produced at the slightest contact with the fingers. The action of the uterus during the two observations was almost identical. The cervix of the uterus had been firm, hard, and generally in a normal condition, with the os closed so as not to admit the uterine probe without difficulty. But immediately when the orgasm began, the os opened to the extent of fully an inch, made five to six successive gasps, drawing the external os into the cervix, each time, powerfully and at the same time becoming quite soft to the touch. After about twelve seconds all was over. The os had closed again, and the cervix hardened. During the crisis an intense congestion of the parts could be noticed. The sensations experienced were described as being of the same quality as they ever were during coition. But they were not the same in quantity, the normal orgasm lasting longer.

Talmey (New York Medical Journal, June, 23, 1917) observed an orgasm while examining a case where the cervix was found to be of normal consistency, and the external os was just passable for a uterine sound. Suddenly the cervix became red, congested, and soft, and the sound within the uterine cavity began to execute certain movements, resembling pendulum swings. The os opened so wide as to admit the index finger besides the sound, and the cervical lips made three gasps, each time drawing the lips within the canal. After a few seconds the paroxysm was over.

These direct observations on the uterus by the last named American authors place the uterine action during the orgasm into the realm of scientific facts and entirely remove it from the province of theoretical speculation. The fact has been established beyond the shadow of a doubt that propagation is greatly facilitated by the suction-movements of the uterus during the orgasm.

This suction is also the cause why douches which are often recommended as anti-conceptional remedies must fail, even if they are made immediately after congress. By the uterine suction the spermatozoa are drawn within the uterine cavity and immediately removed from any action the douches could have on them. Hence when the female orgasm follows the male, as it usually does in the normal woman, anti-conceptional douches will always be a failure. Only when the female orgasm precedes that of the male, and the spermatozoa are left upon their own resources to reach the uterine cavity, then there is a chance to kill the spermatozoa by an immediate antiseptic, acid or bacteriocide douche.