Jun 8, 2023 02:50 PM
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023...-years-ago
EXCERPTS: Evolutionary biologists have traced the origins of masturbation to ancient primates that predate the first humans by tens of millions of years. [...] From an evolutionary perspective, masturbation appears costly, distracting, wasteful, even risky.
[...] Writing in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team describes how masturbation appeared common across primates of all sexes and ages...
[...] The scientists’ analyses found support for the idea that male masturbation boosted the chances of impregnating a mate. For example, a low-ranking male may masturbate just enough to increase their arousal before sex, meaning they inseminate their partner faster – and before a burly competitor has the chance to knock them off and spoil the fun. Masturbation could also help males to shed old sperm, leaving them with fresher, more competitive sperm for sex.
That was not the only apparent driver. The researchers found that male masturbation in primates rose in line with levels of sexually transmitted infections. One explanation could be that masturbation after sex helps flush the genital tract, reducing the risk of an infection taking hold.
Brindle said more data was needed to nail down the evolutionary drivers for masturbation in females. One idea is that masturbation before sex affords female primates some influence over which male gets them pregnant: by making the vagina less acidic, it becomes more hospitable to the chosen mate’s sperm... (MORE - missing details)
EXCERPTS: Evolutionary biologists have traced the origins of masturbation to ancient primates that predate the first humans by tens of millions of years. [...] From an evolutionary perspective, masturbation appears costly, distracting, wasteful, even risky.
[...] Writing in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team describes how masturbation appeared common across primates of all sexes and ages...
[...] The scientists’ analyses found support for the idea that male masturbation boosted the chances of impregnating a mate. For example, a low-ranking male may masturbate just enough to increase their arousal before sex, meaning they inseminate their partner faster – and before a burly competitor has the chance to knock them off and spoil the fun. Masturbation could also help males to shed old sperm, leaving them with fresher, more competitive sperm for sex.
That was not the only apparent driver. The researchers found that male masturbation in primates rose in line with levels of sexually transmitted infections. One explanation could be that masturbation after sex helps flush the genital tract, reducing the risk of an infection taking hold.
Brindle said more data was needed to nail down the evolutionary drivers for masturbation in females. One idea is that masturbation before sex affords female primates some influence over which male gets them pregnant: by making the vagina less acidic, it becomes more hospitable to the chosen mate’s sperm... (MORE - missing details)