20 ' KARL AURAHAM
V
Frigidity is such an exceedingly wide-spread disturbance that
it hardly needs description with examples. On the other hand,
it is less well-known that the condition appears in varying degrees.
The highest degree, that of actual anassthesia, is rare; in these
cases the vaginal mucous membrane has lost all sensitiveness to
touch, so that the male organ is not perceived in sexual inter-
course, and its existence is therefore actually denied. The common
condition is a relative disturbance of sensitivity; contact is perceiv-
ed but is not pleasurable. In other cases a sensation of pleasure is
felt but does not go on to orgasm, or, what is the same thing,
the contractions of the female organ corresponding with the acme
of pleasure are absent It is these contractions that signify the
complete and positive reaction of the woman to the male activity,
the absolute affirmation of the normal relation of the sexes.
Some women desire gratification along normal paths but endea- 1
vour to make the act as brief and formal as possible. They refuse all enjoyment of any preliminary pleasure ; especially do they be- have after gratification as if nothing had happened that could make any impression on them, and turn quickly to some other subject of conversation, a book or occupation. These women thus give themselves up to the full physical function of the woman for a few fleeting moments only to disown it immediately afterwards.
It is an old and well-known medical fact that many women only obtain normal sexual sensation after a child has been born. They become, so to speak, only female in the full sense by way of maternal feelings. The deeper connection of this is only to be *
comprehended by the castration complex. The child was even |
at an early period the 'gift' which was to compensate for the V
missed penis. It is now received in reality, and thus the 'wound' is '
at last healed. It is to be noted that in some women there exists ^-
a wish to get a child from a man against his will; we cannot ^\-,
fail to see in this the unconscious tendency to take the penis from the man and appropriate it— in the form of a child. The otlier extreme belonging to this group is represented by those women who wish to remain childless under all circumstances. They decline any kind of 'substitute', and would be constantly reminded of their femininity in the most disturbing manner if they had children.
A relative frigidity exists not only in the sense of the degree of capability of sensation, but also in the fact that some women are frigid with certain men and sensitive with others.
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