Assuming that he isn't trying to make up for the fact that he is gay (which is very hard to do now that I know this), I would say, that the sexual content in this poem, doesn't necessarily refer to sex with a woman, but instead having sex to procreate, and not for enjoyment. (Once again, I see this as a difficult thing to do!) It sounds to me like he's just concerned with making more mini- Walt Whitman's for the world, more than anything else. When I read the paragraph above, it was this thought that seemed to be pointing itself out to me (as bright as a neon sign!).
In a strange way, it also sounds to me to be so completely egotistical-like the world needs more Walt Whitmans, that one wasn't enough for us to work with! It sounds like he is trying to do good for his country (his comrades) by wanting to produce more geniuses like himself, more talent, more conceit, so he is painfully expressing to us the means in which he proposes to do this ardous task! In song of myself, he was so engrossed with the human body, and connected with everything around him, and all the people in the world. Here it sounds like he is telling us that the best way to be grateful for, or revere the body, would be by creating another one. Women are the means to do this, and the end is the creation of another perfect body. Of course, he doesn't speak of pleasure of the process, no, no, that would be totally out of element for him, given the partner of course!