Female copulatory vocalization
Encyclopedia
Female copulatory vocalization (“FCV”) is the tendency of some female primates
, including human women
, to vocalize in specific ways during sexual intercourse
and related sexual activity to express sexual pleasure
and to excite their sexual partners
as well as potential sexual partners. While males vocalize sexually as well, females typically do so much more frequently. Among women, FCV may take verbal
and non-verbal forms including breathing
heavily, moaning, crying out, screaming, “talking dirty
,” crying
, and laughing
. Researchers have noted that in at least some species, (for instance, Chacma Baboons
), the particular vocalizations used are unique to sexual activity.
reveals that the nature of the vocalizations vary depending on how close the females were to ovulation. This suggests that the females vocalize to announce sexual availability and fertility to males other than the one with whom she was copulating—an indicator of promiscuity (polygamy) rather than monogamy, and an invitation to engage in sperm competition
. The calls also carried information about the status of the male with whom she was copulating, thus presumably allowing other males to assess their likelihood of mating with the female.
; at orgasm her vocalization tends to become very rapid, with a regular rhythm that includes equal note lengths and intervals between notes, which men’s vocalization typically lacks. By exciting her man with her vocalizations and bringing about his orgasm at that point, she helps ensure that the seminal pool
is available for her cervix
to dip into as her vagina
relaxes after her orgasm.
On the other hand, recent studies have indicated that most FCV in women does not accompany their own orgasm, but rather their partner’s ejaculation
. The study showed that the man typically finds the woman’s vocalization sexy and highly exciting, and that the woman herself is aware of this. Most women in the study, furthermore, indicated that they vocalized during intercourse to make their man ejaculate more quickly, or to boost his enjoyment and self-esteem
, or both.
The reasons that women gave for wanting to force a quick ejaculation include the alleviation of the woman’s pain, fatigue, or even boredom, or simply to stay within some imposed time restriction for sexual activity. Reasons for wanting to boost the man’s self-esteem included reinforcing the pair bond
that intercourse helps to strengthen, and thus reducing emotional and sexual infidelity
and abandonment. The researchers note that all of these goals are apparently congruent with FCV in non-human primates.
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
, including human women
Woman
A woman , pl: women is a female human. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent...
, to vocalize in specific ways during sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
and related sexual activity to express sexual pleasure
Sexual arousal
Sexual arousal, or sexual excitement, is the arousal of sexual desire, during or in anticipation of sexual activity. Things that precipitate human sexual arousal are called erotic stimuli, or colloquially known as turn-ons. There are many potential stimuli, both physical or mental, which can cause...
and to excite their sexual partners
Sexual partner
Sexual partners are people who engage in sexual activity together. The sexual partners can be of any gender or sexual orientation. The sexual partners may be in a committed relationship, either on an exclusive basis or not, or engage in the sexual activity on a casual basis...
as well as potential sexual partners. While males vocalize sexually as well, females typically do so much more frequently. Among women, FCV may take verbal
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
and non-verbal forms including breathing
Breathing
Breathing is the process that moves air in and out of the lungs. Aerobic organisms require oxygen to release energy via respiration, in the form of the metabolism of energy-rich molecules such as glucose. Breathing is only one process that delivers oxygen to where it is needed in the body and...
heavily, moaning, crying out, screaming, “talking dirty
Dirty talk
Dirty talk is the practice of using graphic word imagery to heighten sexual pleasure before and during sexual intercourse. It is commonly a part of foreplay.Dirty talk can include vivid erotic descriptions, sexual humor, sexual commands and rude words...
,” crying
Crying
Crying is shedding tears as a response to an emotional state in humans. The act of crying has been defined as "a complex secretomotor phenomenon characterized by the shedding of tears from the lacrimal apparatus, without any irritation of the ocular structures"...
, and laughing
Laughter
Laughing is a reaction to certain stimuli, fundamentally stress, which serves as an emotional balancing mechanism. Traditionally, it is considered a visual expression of happiness, or an inward feeling of joy. It may ensue from hearing a joke, being tickled, or other stimuli...
. Researchers have noted that in at least some species, (for instance, Chacma Baboons
Chacma Baboon
The Chacma baboon , also known as the Cape baboon, is, like all other baboons, from the Old World monkey family. With a body length of up to 115 cm and a weight from 15 to 31 kg, it is among the largest and heaviest baboon species. The Chacma is generally dark brown to gray in color,...
), the particular vocalizations used are unique to sexual activity.
FCV in non-human primates
Several ideas have been advanced to explain the reason for FCV. Primate research suggests that FCV in baboonsBaboon
Baboons are African and Arabian Old World monkeys belonging to the genus Papio, part of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. There are five species, which are some of the largest non-hominoid members of the primate order; only the mandrill and the drill are larger...
reveals that the nature of the vocalizations vary depending on how close the females were to ovulation. This suggests that the females vocalize to announce sexual availability and fertility to males other than the one with whom she was copulating—an indicator of promiscuity (polygamy) rather than monogamy, and an invitation to engage in sperm competition
Sperm competition
Sperm competition is a term used to refer to the competitive process between spermatozoa of two different males to fertilize an egg of a lone female. Competition occurs whenever females engage in promiscuous mating to increase their chances in producing more viable offspring...
. The calls also carried information about the status of the male with whom she was copulating, thus presumably allowing other males to assess their likelihood of mating with the female.
FCV among women
Theories are more diverse in regard to women’s sexual vocalizing. On the one hand, researchers have noted some apparently communicative patterns in women’s FCV that suggest some parallels with the FCV or other primates, (including invitation to sperm competition given that women's sexual vocalization, as do those of other primates, serves as "copulation call" noticeable to other men and exciting to them if overheard). One study, for instance, has noted that a woman’s sexual vocalizations tend to become more intense as she approaches orgasmOrgasm
Orgasm is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure...
; at orgasm her vocalization tends to become very rapid, with a regular rhythm that includes equal note lengths and intervals between notes, which men’s vocalization typically lacks. By exciting her man with her vocalizations and bringing about his orgasm at that point, she helps ensure that the seminal pool
Semen
Semen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that may contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...
is available for her cervix
Cervix
The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall...
to dip into as her vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
relaxes after her orgasm.
On the other hand, recent studies have indicated that most FCV in women does not accompany their own orgasm, but rather their partner’s ejaculation
Ejaculation
Ejaculation is the ejecting of semen from the male reproductory tract, and is usually accompanied by orgasm. It is usually the final stage and natural objective of male sexual stimulation, and an essential component of natural conception. In rare cases ejaculation occurs because of prostatic disease...
. The study showed that the man typically finds the woman’s vocalization sexy and highly exciting, and that the woman herself is aware of this. Most women in the study, furthermore, indicated that they vocalized during intercourse to make their man ejaculate more quickly, or to boost his enjoyment and self-esteem
Self-esteem
Self-esteem is a term in psychology to reflect a person's overall evaluation or appraisal of his or her own worth. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs and emotions such as triumph, despair, pride and shame: some would distinguish how 'the self-concept is what we think about the self; self-esteem, the...
, or both.
The reasons that women gave for wanting to force a quick ejaculation include the alleviation of the woman’s pain, fatigue, or even boredom, or simply to stay within some imposed time restriction for sexual activity. Reasons for wanting to boost the man’s self-esteem included reinforcing the pair bond
Pair bond
In biology, a pair bond is the strong affinity that develops in some species between the males and females in a pair, potentially leading to breeding. Pair-bonding is a term coined in the 1940s that is frequently used in sociobiology and evolutionary psychology circles...
that intercourse helps to strengthen, and thus reducing emotional and sexual infidelity
Infidelity
In many intimate relationships in many cultures there is usually an express or implied expectation of exclusivity, especially in sexual matters. Infidelity most commonly refers to a breach of the expectation of sexual exclusivity.Infidelity can occur in relation to physical intimacy and/or...
and abandonment. The researchers note that all of these goals are apparently congruent with FCV in non-human primates.