During orgasm, the body releases relaxing, feel-good neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and oxytocin.
For those who can, the results can be intense, mind-shattering pleasure that causes a variety of involuntary reactions in the body. However, our research tells us that not all women orgasm, which left us wondering:
How many women orgasm? Are there different types of orgasms? And what is the orgasm gap?
Below, we’re diving into the world of the female O to answer all this and more!
- What Is The Female Orgasm?
- How Many Women Orgasm?
- What Percent Of The Time Do Women Reach Orgasm During Vaginal Intercourse?
- Females Who Orgasm Regularly By Age
- What Is Anorgasmia? How Common Is The Inability To Orgasm?
- The Many Types Of Female Orgasms
- What Is A G-Spot Orgasm?
- What Is The Orgasm Gap?
Female Orgasm – Key Statistics
- Female orgasms last an average of 20 to 35 seconds
- 40% of women say their orgasms last up to one minute.
- 61% of women between 18 and 24 had an orgasm the last time they had sex.
- 70% of women in their 40s and 50s orgasmed the last time they had sex.
- Women take an average of 13 minutes to reach orgasm.
- More than 58% of women have faked an orgasm.
- Women who have sex with women have more orgasms on average than women who have sex with men.
- Women who have more sexual partners are more likely to have orgasms.
- 29% of women use a vibrator to orgasm.
- 48% of women need a partner’s help to orgasm.
- 70% of women orgasm when foreplay is included in sex.
- Most women achieve their first orgasm via masturbation, not from intercourse.
- 70% of women in committed relationships regularly have an orgasm.
- 25% of women orgasm consistently via vaginal intercourse.
- Only 25% of women report having an orgasm from intercourse within one year of having partnered sex.
- 36% of women need clitoral stimulation to reach orgasm.
- 86% of women in same-sex relationships regularly orgasm.
- 10% to 40% of women report trouble reaching orgasm.
- 10% to 15% of women have never orgasmed.
- 43% of women experience infrequent orgasms.
- 50% of women aren’t satisfied with their orgasms.
- Up to 60% of a woman’s ability to orgasm is genetic.
- 15% and 43% of women have multiple orgasms.
- 10% of women squirt when they orgasm.
- The orgasm gap is real – 95% of straight men report always or nearly always having an orgasm – Only 65% of women reliably achieve orgasm from intercourse.
- Women say they value their partner’s orgasm more than their own.
- Women who communicate with their partners about their sexual needs are more likely to have orgasms.
What Is The Female Orgasm?
Just like a man, arousal and sexual stimulation of the genitals can cause women to orgasm.
The female orgasm is a complex physical and emotional bodily response.
It can be described as a transient peak of intense pleasure, accompanied by involuntary contractions of the pelvic muscles and an altered state of consciousness.
- During orgasm, the brain sends out a wave of “feel-good” hormones, particularly a neurotransmitter called oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone.”
- The female orgasm lasts an average of 20 to 35 seconds.
- 40% of women say their orgasms last as long as 60 seconds.
- Brain imaging studies show increased activity in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and cerebellum during orgasm.
- Heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure increase during orgasm.
- Leading up to orgasm, the clitoris fills with blood causing it to expand in size.
- The labia may also swell with blood causing them to appear puffier than usual.
- Women often experience a “sex flush” during orgasm, where the skin on their face and chest turns pink or red due to increased blood flow.
- Some women may expel a clear fluid during orgasm called “squirting.”
How Many Women Orgasm?
Studies show that women differ significantly regarding their ability and tendency to attain orgasm.
So what helps one woman orgasm might or might not help the next woman.
However, one thing is sure: women’s ability to achieve orgasm tends to improve with age.
- Only 61% of women aged 18 to 24 had an orgasm the last time they had sexual intercourse.
- 65% of women in their 30s reported an orgasm during their last romp.
- 70% of women between 40 and 59 had an orgasm the last time they had sex.
- It takes women an average of 13 minutes of having sex to reach orgasm.
- Through masturbation, most women can orgasm in less than 8 minutes.
- 58.8% of women say they’ve faked an orgasm in the past.
- 29% of women use a vibrator to reach orgasm.
- 48% of women say they need a partner’s hand or mouth to help them orgasm.
- 70% of women say they frequently achieve orgasm during or due to foreplay.
- Women orgasm more often when they find their partner genuinely attractive.
- During a hookup, oral sex improves the chances of orgasm by as much as 48%.
- During an initial hookup with a new partner, only 11% of women orgasm.
- 16% of women reach orgasm during their second or third hookup.
- In 50 pornographic videos, only 18.3% of the women shown had an orgasm. On the other hand, male orgasms were shown 81.7% of the time.
- Most women under 35 say they experienced their first orgasm via masturbation.
- 70% of women in long-term relationships report regular orgasms.
- When having intercourse with casual partners, only 49% of women reach orgasm.
What Percent Of The Time Do Women Reach Orgasm During Vaginal Intercourse?
While every woman has the ability to orgasm during intercourse, not everyone does.
And while having an orgasm through vaginal penetration is sometimes blocked by mental obstacles, there are also medical conditions and medications that make achieving orgasm a challenge for some.
So just how many women can orgasm from intercourse alone?
- Only 25% of women consistently orgasm during intercourse.
- 46% of women say they almost always orgasm during intercourse.
- Only 4% to 6% of women achieve orgasm from vaginal penetration.
- Only 25% of women report orgasms during penetrative sex within one year of having sex with a partner.
- More than 36% of women say they need clitoral stimulation to help them reach orgasm.
- 38% of younger women orgasm during intercourse.
- It takes 6 to 20 minutes for most women to reach orgasm when having sex with a partner.
- 65% of straight women say they usually or always orgasm during sex.
- 86% of women in same-sex relationships report regularly having an orgasm during intercourse.
- 40% to 50% of women had their first orgasm during penetration after age 20.
Females Who Orgasm Regularly By Age
Below, we examine the percentage of women who can regularly achieve orgasm based on age.
As we can see, women between the ages of 35 and 44 orgasm with the most regularity.
| Age Group | Percentage Of Women Who Regularly Orgasm |
|---|---|
| 18 to 24 | 33% |
| 25 to 34 | 41% |
| 35 to 44 | 61% |
| 45 to 54 | 49% |
| 55 to 64 | 48% |
| 65 to 74 | 40% |
*all statistics from 2015
What Is Anorgasmia?
Anorgasmia is a documented medical disorder characterized by an individual’s inability to achieve orgasm.
However, it’s important to note that people of all different genders and sexualities, not only women, experience orgasm disorders.
How Common Is The Inability To Orgasm?
- Women diagnosed with anorgasmia have delayed, infrequent, absent, or less intense orgasms despite adequate arousal and genital stimulation.
- Trouble achieving orgasm is the second most common sexual problem reported by women.
- 10% to 40% of women report trouble or a complete inability to reach orgasm.
- Between 10% and 15% of women have never achieved orgasm.
- 14% of women under 35 have never achieved orgasm during intercourse.
- 43% of women experience infrequent orgasms.
- As many as 50% of women do not feel satisfied with the frequency they can achieve orgasm.
- Intimacy issues, relationship worries, socio-cultural factors, medications, and medical conditions can all cause anorgasmia.
- DNA and genes make up anywhere between 33% to 60% of a woman’s ability to orgasm.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy, changes in attitude, and decreasing anxiety are the best ways to treat anorgasmic dysfunction.
- There are currently no known pharmaceutical agents proven to increase a woman’s ability to orgasm.
The Many Types Of Female Orgasms
A wide range of erotic stimulation can induce the female orgasm, including both genital and nongenital stimulation.
However, unlike men, women can achieve several different types of orgasms.
Let’s take a look!
| Type Of Orgasm | Description |
|---|---|
| Vaginal Orgasm | Caused by indirect clitoral stimulation during intercourse and vaginal penetration. |
| Clitoral Orgasm | Caused by direct clitoral stimulation. |
| G-spot Orgasm | An orgasm caused by stimulation of the G-spot, which may result in the expulsion of a clear fluid mixed with urine from the urethra. |
| Blended Orgasm | Caused by a combination of clitoral and vaginal stimulation. |
| Anal Orgasm | An orgasm caused by anal stimulation or penetration. |
- Women experience a shorter recovery period than men, allowing them to experience multiple orgasms in a shorter period.
- Between 15% and 43% of women say they have multiple orgasms.
- 18% of Finnish women between 18 and 70 report multiple orgasms.
- Women can orgasm solely as a response to visual stimuli without any direct physical stimulation. This is known as an image-induced orgasm
- Women can sometimes achieve orgasm through stimulation of the nipples.
What Is A G-Spot Orgasm?
The Grafenberg spot, or G-spot, is a small, sensitive area located on the upper vaginal wall about one to one and a half inches inside the vulva.
During sexual arousal, a woman’s G-spot swells and becomes extra sensitive.
- A G-spot orgasm is often more intense than a vaginal or clitoral orgasm.
- G-spot orgasms may result in the expulsion of female ejaculate from the Skene’s gland, often referred to as squirting.
- An estimated 10% of women ejaculate when they have a G-spot orgasm.
- While all women have G-spot tissue, not every woman enjoys G-spot stimulation.
- Experts believe that all women can squirt. However, it’s estimated that only between 10% and 50% do.
What Is The Orgasm Gap?
The orgasm gap is the difference between the number of men and women who orgasm reliably and consistently.
- In the US, 95% of straight men report usually or always having an orgasm during intercourse.
- Only 65% of straight women reliably achieve orgasm from intercourse.
- In general, women value their partner’s orgasm more than their orgasm.
- Many cultural factors contribute to the orgasm gap between men and women.
- The best way to close the orgasm gap is better sex education and increased awareness surrounding female orgasms for men and women of all ages.
Factors That Contribute to The Orgasm Gap
There are a number of factors that contribute to the orgasm gap, including social and cultural factors, medical and psychological factors, and sexual practices. Here are ten factors that contribute to the orgasm gap:
- Stigma and shame surrounding female sexuality can lead to women feeling embarrassed or ashamed to express their sexual needs.
- Lack of sex education can leave women feeling confused or uninformed about their bodies and sexual desires.
- Cultural and societal norms that prioritize male pleasure and view female pleasure as secondary can contribute to the orgasm gap.
- Medical conditions such as endometriosis or pelvic pain can make it difficult or painful to achieve orgasm.
- Mental health issues such as anxiety or depression can interfere with sexual desire and response.
- Inadequate foreplay or lack of attention to female pleasure during sexual encounters can make it difficult for women to achieve orgasm.
- Misinformation or myths about female sexuality can contribute to misunderstandings and unrealistic expectations.
- Lack of communication between sexual partners about sexual needs and desires can make it difficult for women to receive adequate stimulation.
- Gender inequality in the workplace and in other areas of life can contribute to stress and anxiety that interfere with sexual desire and response.
- Negative experiences with sex, such as sexual trauma or assault, can make it difficult to enjoy sexual activity and achieve orgasm.
About Deon Black