Subjective Orgasmic Experience Across Context, Gender and Sexual Orientation

What is it about?

Orgasm is described as a sensation of intense pleasure that produces an alteration of consciousness combined with changes in the pelvic musculature and the resolution of sexual vasocongestion, generally accompanied by a feeling of well-being and satisfaction. This sensation derives from both physical and mental stimulation during sexual activity, meaning that in addition to physiological factors it includes psychological and social aspects. These latter aspects underline the need to consider the subjective experience of orgasm which is the subjective evaluation of the sensations associated with an orgasmic experience. Studying the subjective evaluation of orgasm contributes to the understanding of sexual satisfaction. Previous studies have shown that gender, understood as an individual characteristic that differentiates between men and women, is specifically related to the subjective experience of orgasm. For example, women report a more intense subjective orgasmic experience than men. On the other hand, sexual orientation appears to be another variable differentially associated with the subjective experience of orgasm. Specifically, in the context of sexual relationships, it has been found that the perception of orgasm is more rewarding for heterosexual men than for gay men and, in this sexual relationship context, orgasm is perceived as more intimate by lesbians than by heterosexual women. However, no previous studies have analyzed the subjective experience of orgasm in the context of masturbation by considering sexual orientation. Most research has studied the subjective experience of orgasm in the context of sexual relationships, but not in the context of masturbation. However, evidence that solitary masturbation and sexual relationships may be complementary and mutually reinforcing behaviors emphasizes the importance of studying the subjective experience of orgasm in the context of solitary masturbation. Previous studies have shown that the subjective experience of orgasm is more intense in the context of sexual relationships than in the context of solitary masturbation. The instrument known as the Orgasm Rating Scale was designed to evaluate four dimensions of the subjective experience of orgasm: affective (emotions experienced during orgasm), sensory (perception of physiological changes experienced during orgasm), intimacy (intimate aspect of the experience) and rewards (rewarding effect of orgasm). Examined the four dimensions of the subjective experience of orgasm, both in the context of sexual relationships and in the context of solitary masturbation, reported by heterosexual, bisexual and gay men and women. The study d was conducted with over 4,200 adults from the Spanish population. The results of this study show that in the context of sexual relationships, compared to solitary masturbation, the subjective perception of the affective, sensory and intimate aspects of orgasm is more intense. However, the dimension related to the rewarding effect of orgasm is perceived more intensely in the context of solitary masturbation. These results persist in men and in women, and in heterosexual, bisexual and gay people. Only in the context of sexual relationships a differential pattern was found between heterosexual men and women: women perceived orgasm more affectively, sensorially and intimately than men; and men had a more relaxing perception of orgasm than heterosexual women in the context of sexual relationships. Regarding sexual orientation, heterosexual, bisexual and gay people report differences among themselves in the emotions and physiological changes associated with orgasm in the context of solitary masturbation; and in the physiological changes and rewarding effect of orgasm obtained in the context of sexual relationships. In these dimensions, the perception of the subjective experience of orgasm is more intense in heterosexual people than in gay people. In addition, bisexual people report a similar subjective orgasmic experience to heterosexual people. That is, they report greater intensity than gay people in the emotions and physiological changes associated with orgasm obtained in the context of solitary masturbation and greater intensity of physiological changes in orgasm obtained in the context of sexual relationships. The rewarding effect of orgasm in the context of sexual relationships was perceived more intensely by heterosexual people than by bisexual and gay people.

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Photo by iStrfry , Marcus on Unsplash

Photo by iStrfry , Marcus on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study found important differences by context, gender and sexual orientation of the subjective experience of orgasm in each of its dimensions (Affective, Sensory, Intimacy and Reward), having previously demonstrated the measurement invariance of the Orgasm Rating Scaele. Therefore, the importance of considering both contexts (sexual relationships and solitary masturbation) when studying the subjective experience of orgasm and the need to approach its study from a gender and sexual diversity perspective is highlighted.

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