Episode Summary
Executive Summary: Wendy Zuckerman interviews science writer Mary Roach about Bonk, exploring the awkward history and modern science of sex research. They discuss why sex was long ignored by science, the ingenuity of early researchers like Kinsey and Masters & Johnson, animal and human studies of orgasm and arousal, and how taboo still shapes funding, language, and public understanding.
Main Topics: Why sex became a scientific blind spot (Priority: 5/5): Roach explains that sex was historically excluded from mainstream physiology and medicine despite being a basic biological process, largely because of taboo and moral discomfort. The creativity and awkwardness of early sex research (Priority: 5/5): The conversation highlights how researchers used improvised tools and methods—penis cameras, attic labs, and staged observations—to study intercourse, ejaculation, and conception. Female orgasm and the 'upsuck' debate (Priority: 5/5): They examine the long-running question of whether female orgasm aids conception, including historical beliefs, pig studies, Masters & Johnson’s experiments, and newer research that still leaves the issue unsettled. Animal models and cross-species sexual stimulation (Priority: 4/5): Roach describes observing Danish pig insemination practices, where stimulation during artificial insemination improved fertility, and how animal findings influenced questions about human sexuality. Measuring arousal with technology (Priority: 4/5): The interview covers ultrasound, MRI, and vaginal photoplethysmography studies that reveal physiological arousal can differ from subjective experience, especially in women. Taboo, stigma, and the need for open discussion (Priority: 5/5): Roach argues that shame around sex and the anus suppresses research, funding, and honest medical conversations, which can harm health and understanding. What makes great sex (Priority: 4/5): The final discussion suggests the best sex is often found in committed relationships with empathy, communication, and attunement to a partner’s responses, rather than purely mechanical technique.
Key Arguments: Sex is a biological function that should be studied like any other, but cultural taboo kept it out of textbooks and labs for decades. Early sex researchers were unusually inventive because they had to build methods from scratch to answer questions no one else would touch. Female orgasm’s role in conception remains scientifically contested; historical 'upsuck' theories were tested and largely not supported, though some newer studies keep the debate alive. Animal research, especially in pigs, showed that stimulation can improve fertility, but those findings do not straightforwardly translate to humans. Physiological arousal and subjective arousal are not always the same, particularly for women, so self-report and body measures can diverge. Taboo around sex and the anus creates real medical consequences by discouraging people from seeking help or discussing symptoms openly. The best sex appears to involve empathy, communication, and mutual responsiveness, especially in couples who know each other well.
Data Points: Fertility improvement in pigs: 6% increase - Danish pig production researchers found that sexually stimulating sows during artificial insemination improved farrowing rates. Duration of pig ejaculation: About 5 minutes - Roach notes that boar ejaculation can last for minutes, contributing to the pig’s highly active sexual physiology. Female orgasm study sample size: 6 women - A recent study used six participants to test whether orgasm affected retention of a sperm stimulant. Retention difference in recent orgasm study: About 15% more retention - The study found more of the sperm stimulant remained when participants orgasmed, though it did not test actual pregnancy. Fetal self-stimulation observation: 15 minutes - A sonogram case report described a seven-month-old fetus apparently masturbating for about 15 minutes. Ultrasound sex experiment footage length: 2 seconds - Roach says the recorded ultrasound footage of her and her husband was extremely short and not very sexy. Historical research period: Early 20th century to mid-1900s - The transcript references John B. Watson, Kinsey, and Masters & Johnson as key figures in the development of sex research.
Pivotal Quotes: "We want them answered by scientifically trained students of sex." — John B. Watson (quoted by Mary Roach): Used to frame the historical argument that sex should be studied scientifically rather than left to moral authorities or amateurs. "The human body is kind of a foreign planet that is fun to play around on." — Mary Roach: Roach explains why she is drawn to body-focused science and unusual research topics. "You can ejaculate now." — Dr. Dung: Roach recounts the awkward ultrasound experiment in which she and her husband had sex in front of a researcher.
Implications: The episode shows that sex research is still constrained by stigma, but careful, open inquiry can improve sexual health, fertility understanding, and communication. It also suggests future research should better connect physiology, psychology, and real-world relationships.
About Science Vs
There are a lot of fads, blogs and strong opinions, but then there’s SCIENCE. Science Vs is the show from Spotify Studios that finds out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between. We do the hard work of sifting through all the science so you don't have to and cover everything from 5G and ADHD, to Fluoride and Fasting Diets.