To this day, we know a lot about orgasms . Physiological changes in the body during sexual intercourse , the benefits they bring to our health and the medical problems that make it difficult have been studied.
But in reality, this is a very subjective experience, and each person has a completely different perception of orgasms. And it is precisely the research on this psychological dimension that allows us to know what factors influence the intensity of the orgasm .
Following this direction, a study by the Human Sexuality Laboratory of the University of Granada (LabSex UGR) has determined that age, the search for sexual sensations, sexual satisfaction with a partner and desire are the main determinants of the intensity of orgasm in the context of a stable relationship. This original study has shown that in sexual relations not everything has to do with biological processes, but there are also social and cultural components of great weight.For the research, the couples had to describe their orgasmic experience from an affective, sensory, intimacy and reward point of view.
Thus, being more or less prone to sexual fantasies , being predisposed to sexually innovate or the greater or lesser attraction aroused by a partner in bed are fundamental factors when it comes to achieving more intense orgasms, according to the conclusions of the work carried out. at the University of Granada. And how do they measure it?
From the field of sexology, research is normally oriented to more clinical aspects, but this one in particular has been focused from psychology . Of course, validating some conclusions can be complicated when working with subjective perceptions, so it was necessary to create specific tools for this study. The psychologist Ana Isabel Arcos, one of the researchers, explains that “assessment instruments were used to measure psychosexual dimensions”, highlighting among them the Orgasm Rating Scale.
Being more or less prone to sexual fantasies and attraction to a partner affect the intensity of orgasm
“This instrument was adapted and validated in the Spanish population by our research group, and it has turned out to be reliable,” he adds. In a very summarized way, it consists of a questionnaire where 25 adjectives that describe the orgasmic experience are valued . These adjectives are divided into four dimensions (affective, sensory, intimacy and reward) that facilitate the evaluation of subjectivity, of the impression that person has about their orgasms. Thus, for example, it can be said if the experience has been “tender”, “exciting” or “calm” or not. In addition, the participants also answered sociodemographic questionnaires, on sexual functioning, and a scale of social support.
These questions, which do not have so much to do with sexual intercourse itself, have also made some trends evident. If the social context of each person influences how they develop, it is not surprising that it also comes to be reflected in sex. The clearest example is seen in religious beliefs . Previous studies have linked strong religiosity with more limited and less satisfying sexual activity; although it could not be confirmed with this research, because most of the participants were non-practicing.
The study
1,300 adults with a heterosexual partner for at least six months describe their last orgasmic experience
To better understand the factors that did stand out, it is important to know the sample. The study involved 1,300 adults, all with a heterosexual partner for at least six months. What was sought was not that they value their relationship in a generic way, but rather “their last orgasmic experience as a couple, without considering the method of stimulation to reach orgasm.”
It is important to take this into account because, as Arcos points out, the results could be completely different if other assumptions were taken into account. “I think the factors that have been associated with the psychological experience of orgasm may be different in different contexts, such as masturbation alone, or in same-sex couples.” They have not yet been able to corroborate this, but they are already working on studies with different population samples.
“The factors that influence orgasm may be different in masturbation or in same-sex couples”
In any case, it is more than likely that the results will change. The clue is given to us by this same study, in which differences have been detected between the psychological experience of men and women. Arcos says that “ the subjective experience of orgasm seems more complex in women , since it has been associated with a greater number of variables. Furthermore, the assessment of intensity is always higher in them”.
The female orgasm is a more complicated process than the male one, and there is no formula that works for everyone. Other research in this field has determined that the ability to experience orgasms varies greatly in each woman.
There is evidence that the perception of orgasm has a positive relationship with some sexual behaviors, such as the frequency of masturbation, lubrication, and sexual satisfaction. But leaving this aside, the most prominent factors, the ones that most affect the intensity of orgasms, have a very similar influence in both sexes.The frequency of masturbation has a positive relationship with the intensity of orgasms.
The four main aspects are the search for sexual sensations, satisfaction with a partner, sexual desire and age. The first refers to “a positive attitude towards sexual fantasies”, since being predisposed to seek new sexual experiences can intensify the enjoyment of orgasm. Regarding satisfaction and sexual desire, both go in the same direction; the more sexually satisfied a person is and the more their partner is attracted to them, the greater the orgasmic sensation will be.