They get better with age…and 9 other interesting things you didn’t know about orgasms
Climaxing can be a confusing subject for many people but these surprising facts can shed some light on the whole thing
THE female orgasm can be a mysterious topic for both men and women but these enlightening facts can help expand your knowledge and clear up any myths.
Ranging from how much difference a condom really makes to which age group have the best orgasms - these are the things you really want to know about climaxing.
1. Orgasms get better as you get older
It's well-known that as you get older you may not have as much sex, but that's not to say the frequency or quality of your orgasms will suffer if you do maintain a good sex life.
As Dr. Herbenick tells"Orgasm becomes easier with age. As an example, while 61% of women ages 18 to 24 experienced orgasm the last time they had sex, 65% of women in their 30s did and about 70% of women in their 40s and 50s did."
Unfortunately the survey didn't revealed exactly why climaxing becomes easier with age, but we can assume that the fact you have more sexual experience can play a part.
Women who are confident with their bodies and in the bedroom are more likely to enjoy themselves in the bedroom.
And the trust and intimacy that comes with long-term relationships can also help improve sexual confidence.
2. Condoms don't affect the quality of your orgasm
It's a common belief that condoms can have a negative impact on the quality of your orgasm but this isn't the case.
Debby Herbenick, research scientist and author of says: "Women are equally likely to experience orgasm with or without a condom, dispelling myths that condoms don't make for good sex."
She continues to explain: "In fact, condoms may help a couple spend more time having sex, as a man doesn't have to 'pull out' quickly if he's worried about ejaculating too soon."
3. Orgasms can help relieve aches and pains
The myth that sex can cure a headache actually does have some truth it in, according to Lisa Stern, a nurse practitioner who works with Planned Parenthood and blogs at
"There is some evidence that orgasms can relieve all kinds of pain—including pain from arthritis, pain after surgery and even pain during childbirth," she explains.
She continues: "The mechanism is largely due to the body's release of a chemical called oxytocin during orgasm. Oxytocin facilitates bonding, relaxation and other positive emotional states."
However, it's unlikely the pain will be relieved for more than eight to 10 minutes.
4. Mixing it up in the bedroom can help you reach climax
If you're struggling to orgasm it can be worth engaging in a variety of sex acts, says Dr Herbenick.
"It is significantly easier for women to experience orgasm when they engage in a variety of sex acts as opposed to just one act," she says. "For example, vaginal sex plus oral sex would be linked to a higher likelihood of orgasm than either one of them alone. This may be because more sex acts mean that people spend more time having sex."
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5. You're not alone if you find it difficult to reach orgasm
As many as 1 in 3 women have trouble reaching climax and 80 per cent struggle to reach orgasm from just vaginal intercourse, so you're not alone if you're finding it difficult.
One tip Lisa Stern recommends is to try clitoral stimulation but if that doesn't seem to be working, there are medical treatments.
"Female sexual dysfunction (FSD), which encompasses the inability to orgasm, is very common—as high as 43%, according to some surveys—and has been a topic of much debate and medical investigation lately," she says. "For some women, topical testosterone therapies or some oral medications can be helpful, but few medical treatments have solid evidence behind them."
6. Finding your G-spot may help with reaching orgasm
The subject of the G-spot is a controversial one as some scientists claim it's an area of female genitalia that contains a lot of nerve endings, while others say it doesn't exist at all.
But if you're able to find yours, then you can help direct your partner to it, making it easier to reach climax.
As with a lot of women, the location won't be in exactly the same location but it's most often found inside the vagina and is described as having a "rougher texture."
7. Confidence can have an impact on the quality of your orgasms
Research from Indiana University has suggested the way a woman feels about her genitals can have a big affect on the quality of her orgasms.
But for anyone worried, Lisa reassures them:"As a women's health clinician, I can vouch for the fact that every vagina looks different and there is no 'perfect' way for a vagina to look.
"As long as your vagina is pain-free and you don't have any abnormal discharge, sores or other medical problems, you can consider yourself healthy and normal.
"It's important to treat yourself the way you would want others to treat you — send yourself healthy, positive messages about yourself and your body."
8. For some women reaching climax may take a while
It's not unusual for a woman to take longer than her partner to orgasm and often statistics show that females require at least 20 minutes of sexual pleasure to climax
"If you find that your partner often reaches orgasm before you do, there are ways to help him slow down," recommends Lisa.
9. There is an orgasm "gap" for men and women
Experts have admitted that while it's rare for a man not to climax, the case can be very different for women and a significant percentage of women report not having had a orgasm the last time they had sex.
"We still have an orgasm gap," notes Dr. Herbenick. "While 85% of men thought their partner had an orgasm during their most recent episode of sex, only 64% of women reported having an orgasm."
10. But in some cases women can have orgasms without genital stimulation
Often you might have heard of stories of women having an orgasm on a train. during a massage or a washing machine and while it's fairly rare it's not out of the ordinary.
"The reason for spontaneous orgasms during certain activities is twofold—increased blood flow to the genitals and vibration of or contact with the clitoris.
"The increased blood flow and the general relaxation of a massage can lead to orgasm sometimes, too," explains Lisa.
