CHAPTER II

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE SEXUAL LIFE

Conspicuous among the factors that influence woman’s sexual life for good or ill, of course, is marriage. When the marriage is everything that it ought to be, particularly when both parties, and especially the husband, possess a happy insight into the problems of sex, there is at least assured to the wife the foundation for a healthy amative life. And so much depends upon this factor that it alone may be considered the bedrock not only of marital harmony, but of the woman’s physical, mental and spiritual well-being. That the man’s destiny also is inescapably bound up with these conditions is, of course, self-evident.

Proper sexual gratification--meaning regular indulgence of this urge, free from excesses--fulfills a need that has no real substitute in the life of the normally constituted woman. This is true even though some authorities may have over-emphasized the drawbacks of sexual abstinence. As a matter of fact, many women have overcome the problems of a celibate life with seeming serenity, and certainly with tremendous achievement to their credit. On the other hand, countless numbers have found it an insurmountable handicap, sometimes harboring disastrous results. So much depends upon the hereditary constitution, the bodily chemistry, and temperament of the individual, and also upon the environmental influences that have helped to mould the person’s life!

Often the inability to marry will make a deep impression on the mental life of woman, and in many cases lead to passionate desires and tormenting yearnings of an erotic nature. If promiscuous indulgence is resorted to, to relieve the distress, this generally leads to conflicts with the ethical ideals, or at least to distressing pangs of conscience from the realization that the social conventions are being defied.

In addition to this prolific source of mental disturbance, there is the possibility of physical impairment as a result of venereal diseases, or even of pregnancy, from the illicit relations.

Only too often occasional promiscuity leads to confirmed prostitution, which as a world-wide phenomenon is believed to be on the increase, even if segregated districts are on the decline in American communities.

Among the reasons attributed to the increase in prostitution are the growth of modern industry--particularly in countries formerly principally agricultural--with the consequent aggregation of population in the large towns and cities, the decline of the marriage rate, the necessity for the postponement of marriage, and universal military service in many countries.

In any event, while the sexual impulse is a factor in promiscuity, and the pathological sexual constitution is a factor in prostitution, it cannot be gainsaid that the economic motive--hunger, and the desire for better dress and adornment (in itself not an aspiration to be condemned)--is the greater incentive to this perilous life.

The world over, the poorest paid classes of workingwomen are shown by statistics to furnish the largest number of recruits to the ranks of prostitution. And during periods of unemployment and hard times, it is notorious that the number of women practicing occasional prostitution is greatly increased.

To recur to the subject of marriage, the question of the ages of the parties to the union is an important one. While there are exceptions to all rules, it is safe to say that, other things being equal, it is better that too great a discrepancy should not exist in the ages of man and wife.

In this connection, Kisch states: “Not only is the absolute age of the woman of importance in deciding on the advisability of marriage, but the relative ages of the proposed husband and wife must also be taken into account, first of all in respect of the wife’s possible fertility, and secondly in respect to her general health. The most suitable arrangement is that in which there is no marked difference in age. The husband may, and indeed in existing social circumstances almost necessarily is, somewhat older than his wife, as much perhaps as eight or ten years. But a very great disparity of age (in either direction) is a serious error. If a very young girl marries an elderly man, or a developed matron marries a young man, the true purpose of marriage is unfulfilled, the eternal laws of nature and all ethical principles are infringed. In the breeding of animals, the fundamental principle has long prevailed that the animals chosen for coupling should be well suited each to the other and should be in perfect physical condition; and breeders are also familiar both with the favorable influence of good environment and with the opportune crossing of distinct varieties. The same principles are equally applicable to the human race, neglected as they commonly are in practice.”

In several other of the Little Blue Books, (Nos. 653 to 657 inclusive) of this Rational Sex Series, I have discussed certain problems relating to marriage which inevitably intrude themselves, so it will be unnecessary to continue the discussion here. Among these questions--for the benefit of those who have not read the previous books--are: Frequency of Sex Relations, Intercourse During Menstruation, Intercourse During Pregnancy, Intercourse for Reproduction Only, Reciprocity in the Sex Relations, Overcoming Sexual Coldness, Wooing as a Psychic Preparation, Embryology, Hygiene of Pregnancy, etc.

Suffice to say that sexual hygiene entails a certain moderation in the physical expression of love, and also a certain constancy, as may be expected in a happy marriage. The wife acts wisely and in accord with her normal role in the sexual sphere in not acceding at once and unconditionally to her husband’s amatory advances leading to a repetition of the marital relations.

Modest reluctance and hesitancy on her part, with a prolonging of the love play which naturally follows, perfects the mental and spiritual state for the acme of enjoyment to be derived, as well as enhances the physical preparation for the act.

SEASONAL AND CLIMATIC FACTORS

There is no doubt that seasonal and climatic factors exercise a marked influence over the sexual development and erotic nature of women. The duration of sexual activity, for instance, is less in the women belonging to the countries of southern Europe than in those belonging to the countries of northern Europe. The data at hand indicate that in those climes in which ovulation begins sooner and menstruation first appears at an earlier age, the menopause or change of life also makes its appearance earlier; and that in those climates in which puberty is late in coming, the decline of sexual activity is similarly postponed.

In the mid-European climates, where puberty makes its appearance in girls at a comparatively early age, the first menstruation occurring between the ages of thirteen and sixteen--corresponding with the time of puberty of girls of the North American temperate zone--there is exhibited a more prolonged duration of the sexual life, of menstrual functional activity, than in the northern women in which menstruation begins late, between the ages of seventeen and twenty.

Extremely early appearance of the first menstruation--so early as to be altogether abnormal--has the same significance as the abnormally late appearance of menstruation. Both indicate that the sexual life will be of short duration.

It is observed, too, that in certain months of the year a definite increase in the number of conceptions continues to recur, which indicates that during these months a larger number of sexually mature individuals is more effectively using the sexual functions.

Some authorities have regarded this as the manifestation of a “physiological custom,” imminent in the physical constitution of civilized man, and inherited by him from his animal ancestors.

Rosenstadt explains the phenomenon in the following manner: “Primitive man inherited from his mammalian forefathers the peculiarity of reproducing his kind only during a certain definite period, the period of heat or rut. After humanity had entered upon this period, copulation was effected en masse, as was easy in view of the primitive community of sexual intercourse before the origin of marriage. In the course of his progress toward civilization, however, man began to reproduce his kind indifferently throughout the entire year, but the original physiological custom, in accordance with which reproduction occurred at definite seasons only, did not disappear, and persists, indeed, to a certain extent, even to the present day, as a survival of earlier mammalian life, and manifests itself in the annual recurrence in certain months of an increase in the number of conceptions.”

“The analogy in structure and function between the genital organs of the human species and those of other mammals (the female anthropoid apes do not merely exhibit from time to time a period of heat, but are subject to a more or less regular menstruation), which for the most part reproduce their kind only at certain definite periods, leads to the conclusion that in the human species also the sexual impulse may originally have awakened only at a particular season of the year, and that the persistence of this physiological custom in man, in spite of the fact that sexual intercourse occurs all through the year, and notwithstanding that the conditions necessary to awaken the sexual impulse are actually perennial, must be ascribed to inheritance.”

Other sexologists and biologists share this view, which finds support in ethnological investigations, and deductions derived therefrom, particularly as set forth by Kulischer and von Hellwald, who reasoned that the sexual relations of primitive man took place only at certain seasons, namely at spring and at harvest-time. This theory receives added probability from a number of actual and symbolical practices among different races.

MORTALITY OF MARRIED AND UNMARRIED WOMEN

A comparison of the mortality of married and unmarried women at different ages furnishes some significant observations. It is readily understood that the full evolution of the sexual life brings in its train the possibility of many dangers to a woman’s life. I have already commented upon the heavier burden which Nature has placed upon woman.

Between the ages of 20 and 25 years, the mortality of married women is in all races higher than that of unmarried women. The same holds true between the ages of 25 and 30 years, excepting in France, in which country the general practice of birth control methods causes maternity to cease at an early age, and thereby reduces the mortality tolls in this respect.

Kisch states that in Prussia, in a certain year, of every 10,000 married women between the ages named above, 21 died; of every 10,000 unmarried women, only two died.

In Holland, Belgium and Bavaria, this excess in the mortality of married women continues up to the age of 40 years; while in Prussia, from the age of 30 upward, the mortality of married and unmarried women is practically the same. In many countries, the mortality of married women at many ages exceeds even that of unmarried men.

On the surface, this would appear that marriage is a comparatively unhealthy institution to womanhood. Further reflection will show, however, that it is not primarily marriage in itself that jacks up the mortality of women during this period of greatest sexual activity.

There is every reason to believe, as well as incontrovertible evidence to prove, that regular, normal satisfaction of the sexual impulse is beneficial both to men and women, conducive to health, well-being and long life.

The young married woman, it must be remembered, is in a countless number of instances exposed to venereal infection, which the husband has carried over from his bachelor days (or nights). Then there is not only the question of mortality directly from venereal diseases to be considered from the woman’s standpoint, but the many secondary ailments or the undermining of the constitution that result from gonorrheal or syphilitic infection of the system. Any number of diseases which do not show this contributory factor in the mortality statistics have their genesis in, or receive an impetus from, venereal infection.

Furthermore, a woman whose system has been weakened, or her blood poisoned, or certain of her vital organs crippled by attacks of the _gonococcus_, or the _spirochaeta pallida_ of syphilis, suffers an additional handicap in pregnancy, parturition, and the subsequent stages of the puerperium.

There are, of course, also the domestic problems, many of which have their root in unfavorable economic conditions--trying to run a household on an insufficient budget. This is especially a hardship when there are several children to feed, clothe and educate on the salary or wage of the average man of our period. A situation of this kind to a sensitive woman, with ambitions for the future of her children, and a thought of the prospects of herself and husband in old age, is apt to lead to depression and nerve exhaustion in many cases.

The excessive mortality of married life, however, is chiefly due to venereal pathology, and in a lesser degree to cases of sexual ineptitude on the part of the husband. In regard to the latter, Kisch states: “Even coitus, in cases in which there is a great disproportion in size between the penis and the vaginal orifice, or when the organ is very rapidly introduced or the act is very roughly performed, may lead to injury to the vulva or the vagina, a fact to which a very large number of recorded cases bears witness.”

The lower mortality of married women above forty years of age, as compared with unmarried women at the same period of life, indicates the advantage to the former of the fulfilment of the sexual functions in the normal manner.

SOME ASPECTS OF PREGNANCY

While conception during any period of the month is known to be possible, it is generally agreed among authorities that the first days after menstruation are the most favorable for conception.

Statistical data covering a fairly wide scope show that as the date of the next menstruation period is approached, there is a continual decline in the frequency of conception. Just before the flow it rarely occurs.

Dr. Hensen, a reliable European authority, draws the following conclusions from the record of 248 cases in which the date of the fruitful intercourse was exactly known:

1. The greatest number of conceptions follow coitus effected during the first few days after the cessation of the menstrual flow.

2. When coitus is effected during menstruation, the probability of conception increases day by day as the end of the flow is approached.

3. The number of conceptions following coitus effected shortly before menstruation is minimal.

4. However, there is no single day either of the menstrual period or of the inter-menstrual interval, on which the possibility of the occurrence of conception can be excluded.

In human beings it is extremely difficult to tell the exact date of conception, if intercourse has been indulged in with more or less frequency, as is usually the case. Even when the date of coitus has been noted, if a specific act can be attributed to conception, there is no telling when fertilization takes place. The spermatozoon may not meet the ovum for several days, during which interval the male fertilizing element remains alive in the woman’s sexual organs. The longest survival of human spermatozoa so far known is three and one-half weeks.

The duration of pregnancy is nine calendar, or ten lunar months--or from 275 to 280 days. It is usually calculated as 280 days from the beginning of the last menstruation. As the expectant mother naturally wishes to know as nearly as possible the date of confinement, a table is shown on pages 26-27, which will be helpful for this purpose.

If the pregnant woman knows the day her last menstruation began, she can tell in a moment when confinement may be expected. There may be a variation of a few days, one way or the other, on account of the uncertainty of the time of fertilization--but the table will be found serviceable for general use.

The onset of pregnancy represents the acme of a cycle of profound changes in woman, with a wide range of emotional and psychic reactions.

Stratz, a competent authority as regards the subject of feminine beauty, affirms that a beautiful woman is most beautiful when the period of maximum beauty coincides in her case with the first month of her first pregnancy.

With the commencement of pregnancy, the processes of nutrition are accelerated, all the tissues are tensely filled, the skin is more delicately and at the same time more brightly tinted on account of the greater activity of the circulation, the breasts become firmer and more elastic. Thus the attractive characteristics of beauty at its fullest maturity become enhanced. This bloom lasts for a short time only, however, since the enlargement of the abdomen in the further course of pregnancy impairs the harmony of the figure, and the increasing demands of the embryo upon the woman’s own system detract from her normal appearance.

While pregnancy is, of course, a natural physiological process, and in most cases is concluded without untoward result, it nevertheless makes a deep impression on woman’s entire nervous organization. This is especially noticeable in the case of first pregnancy. It is perfectly obvious why this should be so, as the woman is filled with expectation and anxiety concerning an unknown event.

TABLE FOR CALCULATING THE DATE OF CONFINEMENT

|-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-- |Jan. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |Oct. | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-- |Feb. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |Nov. | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-- |Mar. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |Dec. | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-- |Apr. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |Jan. | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-- |May | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |Feb. | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-- |Jun. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |Mar. | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-- |July | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |Apr. | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-- |Aug. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |May | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-- |Sep. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |Jun. | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-- |Oct. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |July | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-- |Nov. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |Aug. | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-- |Dec. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |Sep. | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |-----|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--

_(Table continued)_

|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|----|---- |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 |Jan. |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |Nov. |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|----|---- |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 | | | |Feb. |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | | |Dec. |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|----|---- |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 |Mar. |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |Jan. |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|----|---- |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 | |Apr. |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |Feb. |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|----|---- |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 |May |21 |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |Mar. |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|----|---- |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 | |June |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |Apr. |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|----|---- |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 |July |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |May |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|----|---- |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 |Aug. |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |June |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|----|---- |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 | |Sep. |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |July |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|----|---- |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 |Oct. |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |Aug. |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|----|---- |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 | |Nov. |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |Sep. |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|----|---- |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 |Dec. |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |Oct. |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|----|----

NOTE.--Find in top line the date on which last menstruation commenced. The figure under it will indicate when confinement may be expected. If menstruation commenced January 20, confinement may be expected October 27, or one day earlier if leap year.

There is a virtual revolution going on within her organism, producing powerful impressions on her mental processes, and setting up currents of widely ramified physical reactions. Joyful hopes are cherished, distressing fears are felt, while automatically within her own being there is transpiring the physical aspect of creation.