sexuality
The orgasm – facts about coming
“Gender Orgasm Gap”: In heterosexual relationships, men orgasm more often than women. photo
© Christophe Gateau/dpa
It is considered by many to be the goal of human intimacy. What exactly happens in the brain during a sexual climax? And what about the orgasm gap between men and women?
The temperatures are rising, nature is waking up – spring fever not only increases people’s mood, but also supposedly increases their libido and the desire to flirt. A few facts about the upcoming spring Peak sexual desire:
What happens in the brain during an orgasm?
During sex, including orgasm, a lot of dopamine is released in the human brain. This so-called happiness hormone provides a kind of intoxication, sexual excitement and good feelings. The hormone oxytocin, also known as the cuddle hormone, is also released. It supports the feeling of closeness and security and also inhibits the release of the stress hormone cortisol.
Prolactin is also released. This hormone promotes, among other things, calming down and sleep and, especially in men, leads to a kind of stop of arousal after ejaculation. You then need to take a break before you are receptive to sexual stimuli again.
How long does an orgasm last?
In women, climaxes can generally last longer than in men. According to studies, a female orgasm can be felt for around 20 seconds or longer, while for men it is often over after a few seconds. But for them it happens faster: a few minutes are often enough to reach ecstasy, while for women a 2020 study said it takes around 13 minutes.
Who comes more often: women or men?
In short: In heterosexual relationships, men come more often. This gap between men and women is also called the “Gender Orgasm Gap”. A research overview from 2022 shows that in heterosex, between 30 and 60 percent of women typically come, while for men it is between 70 and 100 percent. The orgasm gap tends to close with increasing sexual experience.
The biggest differences occur during the first sex, where only 7 percent of the women surveyed came compared to 79 percent of the men. According to the evaluation, women are more likely to reach climax with regular partners than with casual acquaintances. This could be due, among other things, to the fact that men in committed relationships tend to make more effort to satisfy their partner.
Come several times?
Even though the phenomenon of being able to experience multiple orgasms is often only attributed to women, theoretically men can also have this experience. While the female body is quickly receptive to sexual arousal after climax, the male body first needs a recovery period. However, after a sufficient break, some men are able to come again.
Do women fake climaxes more often?
Faking an orgasm in heterosexual relationships is often considered a more feminine issue. According to a Hungarian research group, around 30 to 70 percent of women have simulated it at some point in their lives. According to the 2022 survey, uncertainty is the most common reason for this. Accordingly, many stated that they were afraid of being seen as “dysfunctional” otherwise. In addition, a large number of women said they wanted to avoid conflicts or strengthen their partner’s self-esteem.
But men sometimes just fake things too. The 18- to 29-year-old participants in a Canadian survey published in 2016 said they faked an orgasm during about every fourth sexual act in their current relationship, most often during vaginal sex. The reasons for this varied between, among other things, little experience, poor choice of partner, low desire and dissatisfaction with the relationship.
How does feeling change with age?
In principle, pleasure and sexual desire can last for a long time in everyone, but people experience orgasms less intensely in old age. According to medical knowledge, women and men are equally affected by this.
In addition, men’s erectile function also decreases significantly with age. In addition, the time it takes after ejaculation until the next possible erection increases. In women, the lubrication of the vagina when aroused is delayed as they get older.