Scientists might have worked out why we have orgasms - and it’s pretty depressing

A scientist believes she may have worked out why human beings evolved to have orgasms – and it’s rather mercenary.

She believes that we evolved to have orgasms as a ‘currency’ to keep partners interested.

Specifically, we might have evolved to have orgasms because humans respond well to rewards – and orgasms might keep couples together.

Dr Diana Fleischman of the University of Portsmouth says, ‘Think about how we often use tasty, high calorie food as a reward.

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‘All animals engage in behavior that has positive consequences and learn to associate reward with the stimuli that go with it, eventually finding those stimuli rewarding in their own right.

‘Orgasm and sexual pleasure are intensely fulfilling and when people experience sexual pleasure with another person they start to be rewarded by that person, their form, their smell, their voice, etc.

‘Their partner becomes a reward in their own right and ultimately this gives people leverage in relationships.’