|
|
|
|
Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph combining the symbols of the female and male sex organs and meaning coitus
|
|
|
The terms "coitus" and "coition" (lat. coire: to go together) refer to the insertion of the penis into the vagina - probably the most common form of sexual intercourse. It is also the only kind of sexual intercourse that can lead to the conception of a child.
There have been human societies where sexual contact between males and females was restricted to coitus, i.e. vaginal intercourse, without any preliminaries, variations, or improvisations. Such societies usually put a heavy emphasis on the procreative function of sex and discouraged all sexual pleasure, especially in women. Indeed, there are still some men even in our own culture who are interested only in the union of penis and vagina, and for whom any other loveplay is a ridiculous nuisance. Moreover, their coitus may never last more than a few seconds, and thus, apart from a quick orgasm, these men may find little sexual enjoyment. Their female partners, on the other hand, often remain completely frustrated. However, there are also some couples who turn their sexual intercourse into a slow, elaborate, and highly varied ritual. They may see coitus as only one among many ways of satisfying each other, but when they engage in it, they may do so for several hours at a time. In recent decades, the invention of reliable contraceptives has freed many men and women from the fear of an unwanted pregnancy. This, in turn, has increased their enjoyment of coitus.
|
