Subjective Orgasm Experience in Mono- and Plurisexual Individuals: Is it Comparable

What is it about?

Orgasm is one of the core components of human sexual response and a key experience of sexual well-being. Traditionally, scientific research has focused on physiological aspects of orgasm and parameters such as its frequency or the ability to achieve it, paying less attention to how it is subjectively experienced. However, recent studies highlight the importance of subjectively evaluating orgasm as a multidimensional experience that includes affective, sensory, and cognitive components. To this end, instruments such as the Orgasm Rating Scale (ORS) have been developed to reliably measure the subjective orgasm experience. This new study aimed to examine whether the ORS measures the subjective orgasm experience equally in monosexual individuals (attracted exclusively to one gender) and plurisexual individuals (attracted to more than one gender). The research involved 1,975 adults who completed the ORS applied to the context of their sexual relationships. This scale assesses four dimensions of orgasm: affective, sensory, intimacy, and rewards. The authors examined whether the structure of the scale, the unit of measurement, and the interpretation of its items were equivalent between monosexual and plurisexual individuals. The results showed that mono- and plurisexual individuals interpret the items on the scale in a similar way and that the scores obtained are directly comparable. Furthermore, no substantial differences were observed in the overall experience of orgasm, suggesting that sexual orientation does not determine how this phenomenon is subjectively experienced. These findings reinforce the idea that orgasm is a shared psychological and physical experience, beyond sexual orientation, and provide solid evidence for the validity of the ORS in diverse populations.

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Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

Why is it important?

From an applied perspective, this work has important implications for both research and clinical practice, as it allows for the rigorous evaluation and comparison of the subjective orgasm experience across different populations. Ultimately, the study highlights the need to use validated instruments that are sensitive to sexual diversity in order to advance knowledge and promote comprehensive sexual health.

Perspectives