'The No. 1 Reason Women Gave Was Because It’s Fun'

Geez, I knew women were complex, but they have 237 different reasons to have sex? We cavemen? Heck, we don't need no stinking reason. Let's just do it!

Revenge. Pain relief. For health insurance benefits. Oh, yes, and for love.

Women have sex for many reasons - 237 actually, says psychologist Cindy Meston, co-author of “Why Women Have Sex.”

And if any of the findings in the new book, which she wrote with David Buss, surprise her, it’s the high percentage of women who have sex simply because they enjoy it.

“The No. 1 reason women gave was because it’s fun,” says Meston, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Texas in Austin.

“What was surprising to me is that physical gratification came before love and emotional commitment. There were no significant gender differences about why men and why women have sex.”

Meston and Buss authored the 2007 study, “Why Humans Have Sex,” and their second book, being billed as the new Kinsey Report, according to the London Evening Standard, is female-focused. The authors conducted more than 1,000 interviews with women ages 18 to 86, the London Standard reported.

Revenge is another reason women have sex, Meston says. It could be as a way to retaliate against a cheating mate, or as a way to get revenge on a former BFF who has stolen away her boyfriend. By employing what the authors call “jealousy evocation” tactics, a woman manipulates men into thinking that she’s particularly desirable by having them think other men want her.

Mate poaching is covered, too. As Buss explained to Salon.com, “Men and women who are high in mate value tend to get snapped up. Not always, but they are often in relationships. What that means is that you often hear women complain there are no eligible men.”

The solution? Women turn to mate poaching as an option, Meston explains.

Of course, men come into the discussion, too. Usually, Meston says, “Physical gratification is touted as the reason men have sex.” But in their study, equal numbers of men and women gave this as a reason.

As for what women like in a man? “Women like tall men, V-shaped torsos and deep voices,” Meston told Salon.com. “All of these attributes are symbolic of high testosterone. These give symbols of status, power, earning potential and strength.”

Hmm. I'm tall, have a deep voice and a v-shaped torso. Guess that makes me the total package.