What is the role of sexual desire in the subjective experience of orgasm?

What is it about?

Sexual desire and orgasm are both components of the sexual response cycle. The latter is the final result of this cycle, it is a product of sexual stimulation. It is assumed that sexual desire constitutes a potential element of the orgasm experience. Precisely, this study aimed to determine the role that sexual desire has on the subjective orgasm experience. First, the authors examined the effect that sex and age, and the interaction of both factors, has on the subjective orgasm experience. Second, they analyzed the relationship of this experience with the sexual desire, in order to know the predictive ability of the different types of sexual desire (partner-focused dyadic sexual desire, for an attractive person, and in solitary) on the subjective orgasm experience in the context of sexual relationship. To carried out these objectives, 1,161 heterosexual Spanish adults who had been involved in a partner relationship were assessed. They were distributed into three age range (18-34, 35-49, and 50 years old or older). The participants completed the Orgasm Rating Scale (to assess the intensity of the subjective orgasm experience in the sexual relationship) and the Sexual Desire Inventory (to assess the intensity of the three types of the sexual desire). The obtained results indicated no significant differences between women and men regarding the intensity of their orgasm experience, and that this experience decrease as age increases. Even though there are differential nuances between men and women, both live orgasm experiences with their partners in a similar manner and feel it less intense as they get older. About the association between sexual desire and orgasm experience, only the partner-focused sexual desire predicted the subjective orgasm experience in the context of sexual relationship, this type of sexual desire explained the 21% of the subjective orgasm experience. It was striking that neither the dyadic sexual desire for an attractive person nor the solitary sexual desire have any relevance in explaining the subjective experience of orgasm in relationships.

Featured Image

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Why is it important?

These results have implications in the field of sexual health, specifically, they should be considered within the context of sexual therapy.

Perspectives