Doctors were kept occupied trying to invent evidence of and syndromes to curb the sinful and dangerous activity of masturbation. Not surprisingly many, if not most women didn't know they had a clitoris or where to find it.

The "progressive" few who did were influenced by Freud's theories, so viewed clitoral orgasm as "immature and undesirable". The only "valid sexual response" was the vaginal orgasm.

In contrast, earlier in history, female orgasm and sexual appetite were not always frowned upon. So called "primitive races" acknowledged sexual urges while many academics agree that "cavewomen" prior to the rise of patriarchal religions took the sexual initiative as much as men and sexuality was revered as a spiritual gift of connection with higher powers.

The ancient Greeks were the first to use the word orgasmus, meaning "to swell as with moisture, to be excited or eager". Orgasmic appetite was not seen as exclusively male and men were terrified "by what they perceived as women's insatiability and sexual energy."

Certainly, Ancient Greek women appear to have been avid masturbators. The making of the Olisbos (leather dildo) is frequently depicted and referred to in literature and art, was a specialised commercial industry round 500bc and was designed to be used with olive oil as lubrication.

Where are we today?
Statistics vary greatly, but studies such as the one conducted by the University of Chicago on American sexual practices, indicate that 40% of women between the ages of 25 to 50 suffer from sexual dysfunction. They also showed that around 10% of women never reach orgasm "whatever the situation or degree of stimulation".

Another study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviours conducted in 2001 on 27 500 men and women showed that 21% of all women did not find sex pleasurable. One third of the women lacked interest in sex, one third were unable to orgasm and the remainder said they only had occasional orgasms.

Thanks to the media, we are saturated 24/7 with sexual imagery, discussions about sexual pleasure, foreplay and orgasms. I believe much of this amounts to little more than white noise; women are still frequently sexually unsatisfied and many of us still yearn for Mr. Right (or Ms Right) to make the earth shake for us and "save us" from having to take responsibility for our own sexual satisfaction.

The mechanics of pleasure
Our orgasmic spasms usually involve an enormous amount of physiological activity but last only somewhere between a few seconds to a minute and consist of contractions at consistent 0.8-second intervals. The moment of orgasm is frequently accompanied by 'grunting, groaning and grimacing', "Genitals swell with blood, the pulse races, muscles contract involuntarily. Some people's mouths open. Others' faces contort. Many women's toes curl, we sweat, our heart pumps frantically and our breathing becomes fast and shallow." describes Jonathan Margolis, author of O: The intimate History of the Orgasm.

What makes the average of 12 minutes per year of bliss that some of us may achieve, the "explosive burst of 156mph nerve impulses that sends the creative, right side of the brain into spasm" into such a universal quest? I don't have a simple answer but euphemisms such as the French la petit morte (The little Death); offer a glimmer of insight the intensity of the experience.

I do know that orgasms "come" in as many shapes, sizes and colours as people do. No two orgasms are identical and remember, there is no "right or wrong" way to experience orgasm.

With 9 years of experience in writing and researching the field of female sexuality, Marina Green has become widely known as the champion of women's empowerment, health, wellness and sexuality.

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