sulting from sexual intercourse in which the parties experience no
orgasm. The reason given being that conception in the first instance
taking place quickly, the spermatozoa are better nourished and more
vigorous. In my opinion this is merely a fanciful hypothesis which
needn't be taken seriously.

It will be found rather frequently that women of strong passionate
natures, with strong orgastic feelings, and normal in every way, fail
to become mothers. A careful investigation of their menstrual
discharge will show that _it is not because they failed to conceive_,
but because the impregnated ovum is expelled each time; in other
words, they have each month a miniature miscarriage. And these
miscarriages, or rather abortions, are due to the spasmodic
contractions of the uterus and its adnexae which accompany the orgasm.
In such cases I have advised the woman to try to remain passive during
the act, to repress the orgasm, and the results have in some instances
shown the wisdom of my advice. After conception has taken place, after
one period has been missed, the woman should abstain from intercourse
altogether or at least for two or three months until the fetus is
securely attached to, or ensconced in, the uterus.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

FRIGIDITY IN WOMEN

Meaning of Term Frigidity--Types of Frigidity--Large Percentage of
Frigid Women--Repression of Sexual Manifestations and Frigidity--
Frigidity and Masturbation--Frigidity and Sexual Weakness of
Husband--Frigidity and Dislike of Husband--Organic Causes of
Frigidity--A Frigid Woman May Become Passionate--Treatment of
Frigidity.

The word frigidity means coldness, and when a woman has no desire for
sexual relations or experiences no pleasure when she has sexual
relations, she is said to be frigid.

Some cases suffer only from lack of desire, others only from lack of
pleasure, and still others from both. In some cases the frigidity is
congenital, that is, the lack of desire with inability to experience
pleasure during the act is inborn. In most cases, however, it is
acquired, or is only temporary, and is due to various causes.
Frigidity is much more widespread among women than it is among men.
Some physicians claim it is present in fifty per cent. of all women.
This may be an exaggeration, but if we put the number at twenty-five
per cent. we will be quite near the truth.

The causes of frigidity in women are many, but here are the most
important ones: