A rev(O)lutionary new study may have cracked the carnal code of the female orgasm.
According to researchers at the University of Essex, it’s down to something women can do — not men — that makes them more or less likely to achieve a big finish.
“This is critical for fostering orgasmic satisfaction for both solo but also especially for partnered sexual contexts,” said Dr. Megan Klabunde from the Department of Psychology.
According to their findings, women climax more frequently and experience more sexual satisfaction when they report high levels of interoceptive awareness or a deep sense of the internal condition of their bodies.
Out of the head and into the orgasm, so to speak.
Interoceptive awareness is similar to sensations that arise from the body, including hunger, nausea, heat, cold, and the sense of one’s heartbeat and breathing.
For purposes of the study, 360 female participants completed questionnaires that detailed their sexual activity and interoception levels. Participants were asked about partnered sex as well as masturbation.
Researchers found that women climaxed 20% more frequently and with more satisfaction during solo encounters.
Dr. Klabunde noted that women who noticed and responded to internal bodily signals — like heart rate, breathing, and touch sensations — climaxed more often.
“Our study empirically demonstrates that women need to get out of their heads and into their bodies in order to have more frequent and satisfying orgasms,” she said. “Orgasms are more frequent and satisfying when a woman is able to focus on how her body is feeling.”
The team noted that these high levels of interoception were in direct proportion to gratification.
“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.
Previous research has described female orgasms as “biologically elusive,” and lady Os were once thought to be irrelevant to normal sexual functioning.
That rhetoric has blessedly been debunked as recent studies show that climaxing plays a critical role in the sexual function of women. In addition to increased pleasure, desire and satisfaction, orgasms contribute to pair bonding and mate selection.
Orgasms are also critical to the overall well-being of women as regularly coming contributes to increased psychological and physical functioning. A good orgasm has the power to rewire the brain, releasing feel-good chemicals to enhance bonding between partners, including dopamine and oxytocin, while also boosting mental health.
Despite the myriad benefits of the female orgasm, most research has focused on orgasmic dysfunction.
“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,” Klabunde said.
She is hopeful the results of this study will be a pleasure boon for women who get their happy endings with or without 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.”
If you’re looking to further your own orgasmic potential, you may consider sparking up before you tune in. Earlier this year, a study revealed that cannabis can help women achieve more frequent and satisfying orgasms. Smoke up, get off, can dig.
