How important is orgasm for women?
Many women that find it difficult to orgasm, experience a sense failure, shame, guilt and anxiety, which in turn exacerbates the problem. Research findings suggest that these negative emotions are associated with the partner’s expectations or with the pressure imposed by him. Furthermore, studies show that only half of the women with orgasmic difficulties mentioned that they feel relative distress. These data suggest that orgasm is less important for women than it is for men. This view is supported by studies showing that that an orgasm is a sexual incentive for men more than for women. On the other hand, there are data supporting that achieving an orgasm is important for women. Women who felt that they could have an orgasm also felt more sexually integrated. A recent published study concluded that women who often had an orgasm, considered this experience as more important than women who rarely experienced it. This study shows that orgasm is important for women’s sexual satisfaction and that placing small importance on orgasm is associated with orgasm difficulties.
What is the role of sexual autonomy?
One hypothesis that connects all of these studies is that a woman’s focus on the partner’s expectations and his satisfaction is associated with difficulties achieving an orgasm. One factor that appears to be a link is women’s sexual autonomy.
Women that are more sexually independent experience the most pleasure
Also, compared with women with low sexual autonomy, those with high autonomy tend to be more involved, to have more variable sexual practices before penetration and also have a greater chance to orgasm either with or without clitoral stimulation.
Additionally, these women are more likely to continue to stimulate themselves (either alone or with partner) after their partner has reached orgasm.
From the above, it seems that both men and women tend to prefer sexual practices that they believe can help them achieve pleasure.
Graham CA (2010) The DSM diagnostic criteria for female orgasmic disorder. Arch Sex Behav 39: 256-270.
Sanchez DT, Kiefer AK, Ybarra O (2006) Sexual submissiveness in women: costs for sexual autonomy and arousal. Pers Soc Psychol Bull 32: 512-524.
