Do animals have sex for pleasure?

It is often assumed that animals do not have sex for pleasure, or otherwise that humans, pigs and possibly dolphins with one or two species of primate are the only animal that do. Sometimes, it is believed that animals mate only for reproduction. This belief is considered a misconception by some scholars. But Jonathan Balcombe an ethologist argues that the prevalence of non-reproductive sexual behaviour in certain species suggests that sexual stimulation is pleasurable. He also points to the presence of the clitoris (the most sensitive erogenous zone and normally the primary anatomical source of human female sexual pleasure) in some female mammals, and evidence for female orgasm in primates. On the other hand, it is impossible to know the individual feelings of animals, and the belief that non-human animals experience emotions similar to humans is a contentious subject.

According to the 2006 Danish Animal Ethics Council Report, (a body that examined current knowledge of animal sexuality) the following comments, mainly associated to common domestic animals were made:

“Even though the evolution-related purpose of mating can be said to be reproduction, it is not actually the creating of offspring which originally causes them to mate. It is probable that they mate because they are motivated for the actual copulation, and because this is connected with a positive experience. It is therefore reasonable to assume that there is some form of pleasure or satisfaction connected with the act. This assumption is confirmed by the behaviour of males, who in the case of many species are prepared to work to get access to female animals, especially if the female animal is in oestrus (heat period: the period of sexual receptivity during which ovulation occur and copulation can take place), and males who for breeding purposes are used to having sperm collected become very eager, when the equipment they associate with the collection is taken out”.

There is nothing in female mammals' anatomy or physiology that contradicts that stimulation of the sexual organs and mating is able to be a positive experience. For instance, the clitoris acts in the same way as with women, and scientific studies have shown that the success of reproduction is improved by stimulation of clitoris on (among other species) cows and mares in connection with insemination, because it improves the transportation of the sperm due to contractions of the inner genitalia. This probably also applies to female animals of other animal species, and contractions in the inner genitals are seen e.g. also during orgasm for women. It is therefore reasonable to assume that sexual intercourse may be linked with a positive experience for female animals.