Abstract
The aim of the present study was to find out if there is a relation between psychophysically assessed female olfactory abilities and two dimensions of sexual functioning, namely sexual arousal and orgasmicity. 90 partnered normosmic female university students aged 20-30 in the follicular menstrual phase participated in the study. Their olfactory abilities (sensitivity, discrimination and identification) were ascertained using the Sniffin' Sticks test and their sensitivity to 4,16-Androstadien-3-on was tested.
Moreover, perceived intensity and pleasantness of all the three 16-androstenes (4,16-Androstadien-3-on, 5α-Androst-16-en-3-one, 5α-Androst-16-en-3α-ol) were evaluated. The participants were administered the following self-report measures: Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R) and Odor Awareness Scale.
Controlling for participant age and relationship duration, the results show a positive association between the FSFI dimension of orgasm and both Sniffin' Sticks-assessed olfactory sensitivity (r = .02), the total score (r = .03) and perceived intensity of androstadienone (r = .02). Sexual arousal on FSFI was positively associated with perceived intensity of androstenol (r = .03).
Two other associations between olfactory measures and the FSFI dimensions emerged, namely that of perceived intensity of androstenol and sexual desire and satisfaction (both rs = .03). The SOI score was not a relevant predictor.
Finally, women who considered themselves better smellers (as assessed by the OAS) also scored higher on the two FSFI dimensions of interest (r = .03). The results of the present study argue in favour of the importance of the sense of smell for female sexual functioning but not for sociosexuality.