Diurnal and Weekly, But No Lunar Rhythms in Human Copulation

Document Type

Article

Authors

John D. Palmer, University of Massachusetts
J Richard Udry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Naomi M. Morris, University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois

Abstract

Using the copulation times from 78 White married women, representing an aver­age of 72 reporting days per woman over a 12-month period, two expected prominent copulatory rhythms were found and described quantitatively. The daily rhythm is characterized by a major evening peak, which encompasses 58% of the daily copulations, and a minor peak in the morning. The weekly rhythm describes a rather constant copulatory rate during weekdays, with a large increase on weekends. The probability of orgasm was found to be significantly greater in copulations taking place after midday. Because of the long-time speculation that the moon plays some role in the timing of human love-making, the data were examined for such a relationship. None was found.

Recommended Citation

Palmer, John D.; Udry, J Richard; and Morris, Naomi M. (1982) "Diurnal and Weekly, But No Lunar Rhythms in Human Copulation," Human Biology: Vol. 54: Iss. 1, Article 13.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol54/iss1/13