11 Wow-Worthy Orgasm Facts

Your ninth-grade biology teacher probably told you this: For reproduction purposes, only the male orgasm is necessary.

While he (or she) certainly had a point (male ejaculation, which accompanies orgasm, is necessary in order for sperm to make their way toward the woman’s egg), says Elisabeth Lloyd, PhD, a distinguished professor at Indiana University who has been studying the purpose of the female climax for some time.

Here’s what she found: The female orgasm is part of mate selection (a woman chooses her partner based on his ability to make her climax), and it promotes “pair bonding,” which means a couple is more likely to pursue parenting. Even if you’re not looking to partner up and make babies, it’s only fair for everyone to find sex satisfying.