Between Arousal and Orgasm: A Snapshot of the Masturbation Experience Among Young LGB Individuals

What is it about?

Orgasm is one of the pillars of sexual health and well-being, but much of the research has focused on its physiological dimension and parameters such as how often it occurs. Research is increasingly focusing on how orgasms are experienced subjectively, taking into account emotions, sensations, intimacy, and the gratification experienced. To measure these dimensions, the Orgasm Rating Scale (ORS) has become a reliable tool for exploring orgasm as a multidimensional psychological and physical experience. A recent study focused on how orgasm is experienced during solitary masturbation in young LGB people, a group that has been little studied to date. Seventy-six participants, both men and women, watched sexually explicit videos featuring actors and actresses of the same sex, while both genital response and subjective sexual arousal were measured. Using these measurements, the researchers explored the relationship between arousal and the four dimensions of ORS: affective, sensory, intimacy, and rewards. The results revealed gender-specific patterns. In men, the objective genital response (erection) was primarily responsible for explaining the affective and rewards dimensions of orgasm during masturbation. In other words, for men, the physical manifestation of pleasure is closely linked to how they feel emotionally and value the gratification produced by orgasm. In women, on the other hand, subjective arousal played a more relevant role: the rating of sexual arousal explained the sensory and intimacy dimensions of orgasm in the context of solitary masturbation, while the rating of genital sensations was negatively related to intimacy, reflecting the complex interaction between bodily perception and emotional connection in the female experience. These findings confirm that the Multidimensional Model of the Subjective Orgasm Experience (MMSOE) is valid in the LGB population in the context of masturbation, and reinforce the idea that differences in orgasmic experience depend more on gender than on sexual orientation. Furthermore, they underscore the importance of studying masturbation, a scenario that is still stigmatized, especially in women, and of recognizing it as a practice of self-knowledge and self-care.

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Photo by Divya Agrawal on Unsplash

Photo by Divya Agrawal on Unsplash

Why is it important?

From an applied perspective, these results are useful for LGBTIQA+ Affirmative Psychotherapy and sex education, allowing for a better understanding of how arousal translates into orgasm and how it can be addressed to promote a more fulfilling and healthy sexuality. Orgasm, far from being merely a physiological phenomenon, is a comprehensive experience that combines body, mind, and emotions, and deserves to be studied and valued in all its complexity.

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