Note DC — Chapter XXI · SEX-HYGIENE FOR ADULTS

Soranus goes so far as to claim that conception cannot ensue if initus is not desired and longed for by the woman. Just as the man can have no ejaculation, or rather erection, without desire, so is conception impossible without it in the woman. Just as food, taken without appetite or with disgust, will not be properly digested, so the sperma can not be received by the womb, if inclination and lust are wanting during concarnatio.

This opinion is not borne out by experience, for we find that pregnancy does take place after concarnatio while the woman is in a natural or hypnotic sleep, in a chloroformed state, in drunkenness and in rape. These facts prove that pregnancy may follow concarnatio where the woman did not experience the least degree of libido.

But even if conception be possible without libido, the lack of the latter is a great impediment to impregnation.