The Gender Orgasm Gap

[zoegirltx]

fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/the-gender-orgasm-gap/



Sex appears in my inbox at least once a month. We all occasionally wonder if we’re normal, especially when it comes to the most private parts of our lives. This week, after I received two questions from readers about their masturbation habits (something I’ve quantified before by age, frequency and relationship status), I decided to return to the original data source to see if I had missed anything.



I had — statistics on what makes women and men reach orgasm.



In 2009, the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB) asked 1,931 U.S. adults ages 18 to 59 about their most recent sexual experience. The topline findings show that men are more likely to orgasm than women — 91 percent of men said they climaxed during their last sexual encounter, compared with 64 percent of women.



But there seems to be a perception gap, too — at least among men. Eighty-five percent of men said their partners in that recent sexual encounter had reached climax, far higher than the percentage of women who said they orgasmed. That can’t simply be explained away by saying that the men were referring to different sexual partners. Most of these sexual encounters were heterosexual — 92 percent of men and 98 percent of women said their last sexual encounter was with someone of the opposite sex. So it seems like some of those men were wrong when they said their partners had orgasmed — either their egos are causing them to overestimate, or some of those women are faking it.



The survey also asked which sexual acts people had engaged in and whether they had experienced an orgasm during that encounter. It’s worth mentioning at this point that only people who reported a sexual experience in the previous 12 months were included in the survey — presumably because it might get tricky to accurately recall sexual encounters after a while, especially the forgettable ones.



For men, the results don’t vary much — they orgasmed around 90 percent of the time regardless of which sexual acts the encounter included. But for women, there were some big differences — 64 percent of women reported orgasms in encounters that included partnered masturbation (defined in the study as “masturbating with a partner, rubbing genitals together, dry sex, or humping”), while 81 percent orgasmed during encounters in which they received oral sex.





Anal sex appears to be the hands-down winner for both sexes — 100 percent of men and 94 percent of women say they orgasmed during encounters in which they received anal sex. However, these numbers are less reliable than the others cited in the chart because only 25 men and 31 women interviewed said they received anal sex during their last sexual encounter.



That’s not to say that anal sex, or any other sex act, worked on its own. Generally speaking, the more sexual acts that were performed during the last sexual encounter, the higher the probability that respondents would say they had climaxed. By the time they experienced five sexual acts in one session, both men and women said they had orgasmed more than 89 percent of the time. I should bloody well hope so after all that effort.

[aurora]

Aug 20, 2015 20:26:03 GMT -5 zoegirltx said:

... By the time they experienced five sexual acts in one session, both men and women said they had orgasmed more than 89 percent of the time. I should bloody well hope so after all that effort.

LOL

It is interesting that so many more men think their partner orgasmed than women said they had.

[lyssbobiss, Command, B613]

Maybe I should do a poll but can we talk about anal? Who are all of these people getting off from it? Even biologically it doesn't make sense to me because what even is getting stimulated? But everyone's reaching orgasm? At best, I'm just powering through whenever I try it. It's not really enjoyable. None of my girl friends I have talked to about anal have gotten off from it. Who the fuck is out there skewing all the data?

[eclaires]

Aug 21, 2015 5:10:55 GMT -5 lyssbobiss, Command, B613 said:

Maybe I should do a poll but can we talk about anal? Who are all of these people getting off from it? Even biologically it doesn't make sense to me because what even is getting stimulated? But everyone's reaching orgasm? At best, I'm just powering through whenever I try it. It's not really enjoyable. None of my girl friends I have talked to about anal have gotten off from it. Who the fuck is out there skewing all the data?

I think this is skewed in this article/study by the fact that if you are doing anal and orgasming, you are probably pretty in touch with your sexuality and doing other things to make it enjoyable. It just seems to me that anal - enjoyable anal - takes a decent amount of effort and know how. You're also probably pretty adventurous and experienced.

I personally have no interest in it and haven't tried it but I would think if it's working for you other stuff is going on besides just anal. Manual stimulation? Vibrator? Idk.

[lyssbobiss, Command, B613]

Aug 21, 2015 6:39:27 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Aug 21, 2015 5:10:55 GMT -5 lyssbobiss, Command, B613 said:

Maybe I should do a poll but can we talk about anal? Who are all of these people getting off from it? Even biologically it doesn't make sense to me because what even is getting stimulated? But everyone's reaching orgasm? At best, I'm just powering through whenever I try it. It's not really enjoyable. None of my girl friends I have talked to about anal have gotten off from it. Who the fuck is out there skewing all the data?

I think this is skewed in this article/study by the fact that if you are doing anal and orgasming, you are probably pretty in touch with your sexuality and doing other things to make it enjoyable. It just seems to me that anal - enjoyable anal - takes a decent amount of effort and know how. You're also probably pretty adventurous and experienced.

I personally have no interest in it and haven't tried it but I would think if it's working for you other stuff is going on besides just anal. Manual stimulation? Vibrator? Idk.

I could see that, I suppose. I mean, I guess if you're having regular anal sex, it would have to be a thing you enjoyed, which would make it more likely that you probably do get off during it. I feel like the wording threw me off a little bit there, like most people who responded said they were likely to orgasm during anal and I'm like "who ARE these people?"

[IIOY]

Aug 21, 2015 7:55:25 GMT -5 amber said:

Aug 21, 2015 5:10:55 GMT -5 lyssbobiss, Command, B613 said:

Maybe I should do a poll but can we talk about anal? Who are all of these people getting off from it? Even biologically it doesn't make sense to me because what even is getting stimulated? But everyone's reaching orgasm? At best, I'm just powering through whenever I try it. It's not really enjoyable. None of my girl friends I have talked to about anal have gotten off from it. Who the fuck is out there skewing all the data?

haven't you ever taken a really enjoyable shit? It's kinda like that, there's a lot of pleasure nerve endings in there.

Personally, all I feel after a giant shit is relief, unless the turd is the size of a baby and rips my asshole to shreds, in which case I skip around my bathroom, howling in pain.

[Deleted]

Aug 20, 2015 22:49:24 GMT -5 @domerjen said:

Maybe I'm not being imaginative, but 5 different sec acts? What are all of these?

Looks like it separates giving and receiving.

[origami]

Aug 21, 2015 7:55:25 GMT -5 amber said:

Aug 21, 2015 5:10:55 GMT -5 lyssbobiss, Command, B613 said:

Maybe I should do a poll but can we talk about anal? Who are all of these people getting off from it? Even biologically it doesn't make sense to me because what even is getting stimulated? But everyone's reaching orgasm? At best, I'm just powering through whenever I try it. It's not really enjoyable. None of my girl friends I have talked to about anal have gotten off from it. Who the fuck is out there skewing all the data?

haven't you ever taken a really enjoyable shit? It's kinda like that, there's a lot of pleasure nerve endings in there.

I have never orgasmed while shitting. Or came close. Is this a thing?

[IIOY]

Aug 21, 2015 8:10:54 GMT -5 amber said:

Aug 21, 2015 8:07:10 GMT -5 origami said:

I have never orgasmed while shitting. Or came close. Is this a thing?

well not orgasm, but derive pleasure from pooping? Hell yeah, sometimes it's the best part of the day.

Well, I've heard the joke that taking a dump is the second best feeling in the world, but the pleasure I derive is of the relief, not sexual, variety.

Anyway, more power to anyone who has this much fun taking a shit.  I suppose that is to be envied on some level.

[pescalita]

Aug 21, 2015 6:39:27 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Aug 21, 2015 5:10:55 GMT -5 lyssbobiss, Command, B613 said:

Maybe I should do a poll but can we talk about anal? Who are all of these people getting off from it? Even biologically it doesn't make sense to me because what even is getting stimulated? But everyone's reaching orgasm? At best, I'm just powering through whenever I try it. It's not really enjoyable. None of my girl friends I have talked to about anal have gotten off from it. Who the fuck is out there skewing all the data?

I think this is skewed in this article/study by the fact that if you are doing anal and orgasming, you are probably pretty in touch with your sexuality and doing other things to make it enjoyable. It just seems to me that anal - enjoyable anal - takes a decent amount of effort and know how. You're also probably pretty adventurous and experienced.

I personally have no interest in it and haven't tried it but I would think if it's working for you other stuff is going on besides just anal. Manual stimulation? Vibrator? Idk.

Bingo. I think this is it, and it's also driving the "more sex acts, more orgasms" stat. I mean, those people are not just ticking off each activity until they hit pay dirt. They know how to have fun, and they are good at it.

[lyssbobiss, Command, B613]

Aug 21, 2015 7:55:25 GMT -5 amber said:

Aug 21, 2015 5:10:55 GMT -5 lyssbobiss, Command, B613 said:

Maybe I should do a poll but can we talk about anal? Who are all of these people getting off from it? Even biologically it doesn't make sense to me because what even is getting stimulated? But everyone's reaching orgasm? At best, I'm just powering through whenever I try it. It's not really enjoyable. None of my girl friends I have talked to about anal have gotten off from it. Who the fuck is out there skewing all the data?

haven't you ever taken a really enjoyable shit? It's kinda like that, there's a lot of pleasure nerve endings in there.

Those enjoyable shits don't jump back up my asshole though. Like, the relief is in the fact that my momentary discomfort goes away, not that my ass is stretched.

[ttt]

Aug 21, 2015 9:00:15 GMT -5 TR said:

Am I reading that top chart wrong? Are 70% of women say they orgasm from GIVING oral sex? Or do they mean they orgasmed during a sexual encounter in which one part of it was giving oral sex?

Yeah I want to see some receipts. 

[wawa]

Aug 21, 2015 9:12:30 GMT -5 ttt said:

Aug 21, 2015 9:00:15 GMT -5 TR said:

Am I reading that top chart wrong? Are 70% of women say they orgasm from GIVING oral sex? Or do they mean they orgasmed during a sexual encounter in which one part of it was giving oral sex?

Yeah I want to see some receipts. 

Pretty sure it's the latter. So give oral May have just been item #3 on the agenda. Which makes sense to me. If I'm going to get there it has to be an "encounter" in which we're covering all our bases, not a 10 minute quickie. Give oral is probably in there. For a bit anyway.

[Mrs.Rad888]

Aug 21, 2015 8:17:33 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

i wanna know how an anal orgasm feels compared to clit or g-spot orgasm. i want some receipts.

If I orgasm during anal, it's a g-spot orgasm. I guess it's because the wall between the vagina and the rectum is thin enough that you get pretty much the same contact.

[pescalita]

Aug 21, 2015 10:44:30 GMT -5 wawa said:

Aug 21, 2015 9:12:30 GMT -5 ttt said:

Yeah I want to see some receipts. 

Pretty sure it's the latter. So give oral May have just been item #3 on the agenda. Which makes sense to me. If I'm going to get there it has to be an "encounter" in which we're covering all our bases, not a 10 minute quickie. Give oral is probably in there. For a bit anyway.

I'm also pretty sure 90% of men don't orgasm from receiving anal.

[ttt]

Aug 21, 2015 10:44:30 GMT -5 wawa said:

Aug 21, 2015 9:12:30 GMT -5 ttt said:

Yeah I want to see some receipts. 

Pretty sure it's the latter. So give oral May have just been item #3 on the agenda. Which makes sense to me. If I'm going to get there it has to be an "encounter" in which we're covering all our bases, not a 10 minute quickie. Give oral is probably in there. For a bit anyway.

That definitely makes more sense.

This is kind of a weird way to study it - I feel like it gives a lot less information than it should.

[omgzombies]

Aug 21, 2015 11:11:17 GMT -5 pescalita said:

Aug 21, 2015 10:44:30 GMT -5 wawa said:

Pretty sure it's the latter. So give oral May have just been item #3 on the agenda. Which makes sense to me. If I'm going to get there it has to be an "encounter" in which we're covering all our bases, not a 10 minute quickie. Give oral is probably in there. For a bit anyway.

I'm also pretty sure 90% of men don't orgasm from receiving anal.

I know of a couple that claim to have.  So it seems to be a thing. 

[omgzombies]

Aug 21, 2015 11:35:43 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

Aug 21, 2015 11:32:24 GMT -5 omgzombies said:

I know of a couple that claim to have.  So it seems to be a thing. 

the prostate is the g-spot for men. dont tell me all my gay porn lied to me. 

To be fair, both like to say rather inflammatory things to shock people, so they could certainly be full of shit.  But it doesn't seem to be something worth lying about.

[jlt19]

Aug 21, 2015 10:58:04 GMT -5 Mrs.Rad888 said:

Aug 21, 2015 8:17:33 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

i wanna know how an anal orgasm feels compared to clit or g-spot orgasm. i want some receipts.

If I orgasm during anal, it's a g-spot orgasm. I guess it's because the wall between the vagina and the rectum is thin enough that you get pretty much the same contact.

Maybe I should try this then, b/c I've tried everything I can think of to get a g-spot o and it's never happened. And this is definitely a bragplaint, but we'd have to use a dildo b/c DH is too big. We do have a hotel room tonight...

[pescalita]

Aug 21, 2015 11:42:33 GMT -5 omgzombies said:

Aug 21, 2015 11:35:43 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

the prostate is the g-spot for men. dont tell me all my gay porn lied to me. 

To be fair, both like to say rather inflammatory things to shock people, so they could certainly be full of shit.  But it doesn't seem to be something worth lying about.

It could happen! 90% though? I'm sure the sample size is skewing the data too.

[BlondeSpiders]

Aug 21, 2015 10:58:04 GMT -5 Mrs.Rad888 said:

Aug 21, 2015 8:17:33 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

i wanna know how an anal orgasm feels compared to clit or g-spot orgasm. i want some receipts.

If I orgasm during anal, it's a g-spot orgasm. I guess it's because the wall between the vagina and the rectum is thin enough that you get pretty much the same contact.

Yep. Same. The first time it happened it shocked the hell out of me.

[BlondeSpiders]

Aug 21, 2015 11:11:17 GMT -5 pescalita said:

Aug 21, 2015 10:44:30 GMT -5 wawa said:

Pretty sure it's the latter. So give oral May have just been item #3 on the agenda. Which makes sense to me. If I'm going to get there it has to be an "encounter" in which we're covering all our bases, not a 10 minute quickie. Give oral is probably in there. For a bit anyway.

I'm also pretty sure 90% of men don't orgasm from receiving anal.

Disagree. It's all about the prostate. If you had one, you'd be getting your dirt road plowed daily. Trust.

[pescalita]

Aug 21, 2015 17:13:36 GMT -5 BlondeSpiders said:

Aug 21, 2015 11:11:17 GMT -5 pescalita said:

I'm also pretty sure 90% of men don't orgasm from receiving anal.

Disagree. It's all about the prostate. If you had one, you'd be getting your dirt road plowed daily. Trust.

lol, I trust your expertise!

[redwino]

I have friends who say the orgasm they get from anal is the best ever. I would put them in the adventurist very in tune with their sexuality category.

I'm surprised the percentage of women who orgasm from oral isn't higher. I know we've talked about it here before but it still shocks me that it's not the fan fave for every woman.

[origami]

Aug 21, 2015 18:26:49 GMT -5 redwino said:

I have friends who say the orgasm they get from anal is the best ever. I would put them in the adventurist very in tune with their sexuality category.

I'm surprised the percentage of women who orgasm from oral isn't higher. I know we've talked about it here before but it still shocks me that it's not the fan fave for every woman.

they only asked about the person's most recent experience though, not which method is your favorite/most effective.

But also some men are shockingly bad at it.