While most people aim to have an orgasm every time they have sex, few think about what an orgasm actually is.
An orgasm is an extremely pleasurable feeling that happens at the height of sexual activity. People with penises and people with vaginas experience orgasms differently and they can both reach an orgasm through a variety of stimulation types. During an orgasm there are both physical and psychological changes that happen, including changes with potential health benefits. The release of the “bonding” hormone, oxytocin, that happens during orgasms, for example, may have protective qualities and a relaxant effect.
The most common description and understanding of human orgasms identifies the following stages:
-
Excitement or arousal
-
Plateau – an ongoing, repetitive motion that feels pleasurable
-
Orgasm – the burst of please and release of sexual tension
-
Resolution – a recovery period
These stages of sexual response can be found in both people with vaginas and penises.
Both vaginal and clitoral orgasms are accompanied by genital muscle contractions and full-body spasms that all build to an intense sensation of pleasure and release. Some people are capable of vaginal ejaculation during sex which is the squirting of fluid from the Skene’s gland. People with vaginas do not require a long recovery period after an orgasm and may have more than one climax during intercourse or masturbation. Clitoral and g-spot orgasms can last anywhere between 10 seconds to a minute but generally tend to be longer than penile orgasms.
Penile Orgasms
People with penises usually experience an orgasm when, as a response to sexual stimulation, semen spurts out of the penis head. The ejaculate contains sperm that is required for conception. Penile orgasms are also accompanied by muscle contractions and a very pleasurable sensation of sexual release. After an orgasm people with penises often require a certain time (few minutes to a few hours) before they can climax again, during this recovery period, the penis shaft and testicles shrink back to their normal, flaccid size.
Anal Sex Orgasms
People can also experience an orgasm during anal sex as the anus contains millions of nerve endings and it is an extremely erogenous zone for many so the stimulation of this area can feel very pleasurable.
Prostate Orgasms
People with prostates can also reach prostate orgasms. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located a couple of inches up, inside the rectum. The gland is fundamental in semen production and so its stimulation has health benefits as well as pleasurable outcomes. People with prostates can experience a full body orgasm when their P-spots are stimulated, and this type of climax doesn’t require a recovery period, so multiple orgasms can be achieved during one sexual session.
Achievement
A large part of achieving an orgasm is down to the human brain and the central nervous system as that is where attraction, arousal, and sensation all plays out. The sensitive nerve endings in people’s erogenous zones all connect back to the brain and so there are other forms of non-genital stimulation that may lead to an orgasm for certain people. Nipple stimulation, tickling, impact play, massage, foot worship and a host of other sexual play can result in a pleasurable sense of sexual release, even without the stimulation of the vagina, penis or anus.
Of course, orgasms are not the ultimate goal of sex and sex can be enjoyed without reaching a climax. As with any partnered sexual activity, the most important thing to remember is communication and continuous, enthusiastic consent which can both lead to a more satisfying, intimate and pleasurable experience for both partners.
