Confinement.—Concarnatio immediately after confinement is as dangerous as during menstruation. It will be productive of even greater dangers than in ordinary menstruation.[CW] It is, therefore, an old rule that after a confinement a respite of at least six weeks should be had. In the first weeks after confinement, concarnatio leads to congestion of the muliebria and hence to inflammations. The organs must have time to return from their congested to the normal state. For this involution they need about two months, and during this time initus should be avoided.
Lactation.—During lactation the woman’s nerves are weaker than usual, and for that reason, concarnatio should be rarely indulged in.[CX] If concarnatio is too often practised during lactation, menstruation may return too early, prevent the secretion of the milk, and cause subinvolution of the uterus. Then there is always the danger of a new pregnancy, which will interfere with the process of lactation.
In nervous and excitable people very frequent concarnatio should be avoided at all times. The frequent genital irritation causes an increase of sexual excitability which is detrimental to their health. Such people should avoid everything that tends to increase sexual excitability, as, e. g., the immoderate use of alcohol and meat, very rich and highly seasoned food and carbonated waters. The best criterion for them whether they are indulging too much in sex-activity is their own state of health. If initus is succeeded by languor, depression or weakness, it has been indulged in too frequently.
Spatium temporis concarnationis.—The normal duration or length of time necessary to remain in initu before the orgasm is reached is different in different individuals but is somewhat in control of the individual. It must not be too rapid nor should it require too long a time. If both parties tend to come to the climax at the same time, it is best to follow the rule not to hinder the natural succession of the act. It is best to go with the current without trying to resist it. It is not hygienic to prolong the session beyond measure by artificial delays and by alternative entering and withdrawing. The subtleties may increase the libido of both mates at the time being, but they are fraught with peril.
As a rule the climax does not come at the same time in both mates. In the woman the orgasm is, generally, induced a moment later than in the man. The woman, therefore, must first be prepared initu. Non est marito cœundum priusquam conjugæ voluptas est illecta et vulva vaginaque humescunt secretionibus voluptificis. Præparatio partium consistit in osculis, contrectationibus et permulsionibus. Such dalliance has been decried by some ascetics as obscene and beneath a man’s dignity. But nothing is low if born of love. Qua re permulsio muliebrium a marito, contrectatio mammarum et ludus cum mamillis voluptificissimum erit et illicient conjugam.[CY]
In partial frigidity, the male must, apart from the preceding manipulations, have special regard to the expiration of the female excitation, even after congressus has begun.
Cum muliebria humescent, fascinum inserendum est as far as possible and the motion following be exceedingly slight, hardly more than a tremor, while the root of the mentulæ compressa est contra clitoridem. Deinde actio propria incipiat. Cum climax propinquet fascinum extrahendum et, si necessitas, abstergendum est. Tum actio resumenda est. This procedure may be repeated again and again until the female approaches her orgasm so closely that she will not permit detractionem any more. The climax will then be simultaneous in both mates.
The hygienic rule in regard to duration is hence briefly this: The man must adjust himself to the condition of the woman, so that both may reach the culmination at the same time.
Offspring.—The hygiene of the vita sexualis in relation to the offspring is of the greatest personal as well as social importance. The most favorable time for child-bearing is between the twenty-fourth and the fortieth year of the woman’s life. Before and after this time child-bearing is of disadvantage for the mother as well as for the child.
The interval between two confinements should be no less than two and a half years. Twelve months for lactation, nine months for reparation from the nervous strain of lactation, and nine months for the next pregnancy. The maximum number of children compatible with health should thus not exceed seven. The moderate bearing of children, despite its physiological expense, is conducive to health.