It’s often seen as a taboo subject.
But a new study is finally lifting the lid on the female orgasm – and exactly what it takes to achieve it.
Researchers from the University of Essex surveyed 360 women about their sexual experiences.
The results revealed that women who climax more frequently have higher levels of a sense known as ‘interoception’.
This is is the ability to sense and interpret signals from inside your own body, such as your heart rate, breathing, hunger, and pain.
‘Women need to get out of their heads and into their bodies in order to have more frequent and satisfying orgasms,’ said Dr Megan Klabunde, who led the study.
‘Orgasms are more frequent and satisfying when a woman is able to focus on how her body is feeling.
‘This study is important because most research looking at orgasms in women have focused on their dysfunction.’
It’s often seen as a taboo subject. But a new study is finally lifting the lid on the female orgasm – and exactly what it takes to achieve it (stock image)
Women who climax more frequently have higher levels of a sense known as ‘interoception’. This is is the ability to sense and interpret signals from inside your own body, such as your heart rate, breathing, hunger, and pain (stock image)
Despite being widely considered the peak of pleasure, previous research has shown that when it comes to orgasms, women are missing out.
Last year, Durex surveyed 2,000 Brits on their sexual experiences, and found that men orgasm four times as much as women on average.
However, previous research on this so-called ‘orgasm gap’ has tended to focus on orgasmic dysfunction in women.
‘Focusing only on orgasmic dysfunction in women is a problem because there is very little research demonstrating the normal process of orgasm for women, let alone demonstrating ways for women to enrich their orgasms,’ Dr Klabunde said.
In their new study, the researchers set out to understand why some women are able to achieve more frequent orgasms than others.
The team enlisted 360 women, who completed questionnaires about their sexual experiences – both solo and partnered – and interoception levels.
The results revealed that women achieved orgasm approximately 20 per cent more frequently on their own.
What’s more, high levels of interoception were linked to how satisfying orgasms were.
The team enlisted 360 women, who completed questionnaires about their sexual experiences – both solo and partnered – and interoception levels. The results revealed that women achieved orgasm approximately 20 per cent more frequently on their own
‘The ability for women to focus their attention on their internal bodily sensations, and trust these sensations, was also associated with increased orgasm satisfaction,’ Dr Klabunde said.
‘Therefore, it is important for women and their partners to trust the woman’s internal bodily experiences during sexual encounters.
‘This is critical for fostering orgasmic satisfaction for both solo but also especially for partnered sexual contexts.’
The researchers hope the findings will boost sexual satisfaction for both women themselves, and their partners.
‘Better understanding the process to orgasm for women could lead to their increased well-being in addition to boosting relationship satisfaction for women and their partners,’ Dr Klabunde added.
