How Well Do You Know Your Orgasm?

How many orgasms can you have?

You can have more than one orgasm in a single sexual encounter, although it’s easier for women to accomplish than men. In the book Orgasms, Lou Paget breaks down three ways someone might have more than one orgasm. These are called:

1. Compound singles, in which there’s a distinct beginning and end to each orgasm. “Each orgasm is distinct and separated by a partial return to the resolution phase,” Paget explains.

2. Sequential multiples, which function kind of like aftershocks from the same experience. Or as Paget says, “Orgasms occur two to ten minutes apart with minimal reduction of arousal between them.”

3. Serial multiples, which feel like one continuous experience of pleasure. “Numerous orgasms are separated by mere seconds or minutes at most with no diminishment of arousal,” Paget notes. “Some women have this as one long orgasm with spasms of varying intensity.”

What's going on inside my body when I have an orgasm?

There is a whole lot we could cover here but for a very quick overview… If you’ve ever had an orgasm, you may have noticed sensitivity changes accompanied by a “head rush” sensation as you reach the peak (1). There’s a good reason for this: Heightened arousal causes your body to send more blood flow than usual to the lips, earlobes, nipples, and — you guessed it — your brain. This makes the external areas more receptive to touch and stimulation, while your brain experiences a boost in oxygen levels, Emily Nagoski explains in Come As You Are. The result is the euphoric sensation you experience when you orgasm.

Are there different types of orgasms?

There’s a bit of contention surrounding the notion of “orgasm types.” Some theorists believe that there are merely different ways of achieving orgasm, as opposed to unique types of orgasm. Others point out that different forms of stimulation contribute to unique sensations. However you choose to look at it, it can be interesting to explore the possibilities. Here are several ways that people with female sex organs can experience orgasms, as specifically outlined in by Lou Paget in her book Orgasms.

Female identifying orgasms

Clitoral

Clitoral: The most common type of orgasm, and unfortunately one of the most elusive, for a few key reasons. A lot of people learn sexual techniques from porn — which can teach them techniques that rarely work in real life.

“Flicking tongue scenes in porn rarely lead to orgasm,” Paget explains. “If the films showed what really works, they wouldn’t have a shot.”

Researchers, and by extension, the rest of society, have also long lacked an accurate understanding of the clitoris. Many people take it for what we can visually see, but many experts explain that what is visible is just the tip of the iceberg. It wasn’t until 1998 that Australian urologist Helen O’Connell discovered that “the clitoris is actually ten times larger than had been previously reported (2).” 

Vaginal

Vaginal: A much lower percentage of people experience this type of orgasm, which is purely from penetration of the vaginal canal, than those who orgasm from clitoral stimulation. Researchers go back and forth here, but it is estimated that around 10-15% of women have vaginal orgasms. So if your partner expects you to get off on penetrative sex alone, it’s not your fault if you can’t!

Nipple/breasts

Nipple/Breast: This one might feel like a myth, simply because partners often mishandle people’s breasts, especially if you’re a cisgender woman having sex with a cisgender man. To achieve the sensation, it's best to handle this area with sensitivity and build as you go. Just like with the clitoris, starting off with rougher grabbing motions can actually stop an orgasm from happening to begin with. Sucking, licking, and pinching are good alternative ways to stimulate.

Mouth

4. Mouth: Mouth orgasms are more common than you might think. In one study, an estimated 20% of people have reported having experienced one. Mouth activity can focus on anything from the lips to the roof of the mouth to the tongue (2). One method touted by Paget is stimulation of the frenulum, or the “line” of skin from the gum to the lip above your front teeth: “As he sucks on her upper lips, she sucks his lower lip and visualizes the subtle channels that run from the frenulum,” she suggests, adding that people who want to explore this kind of stimulation should focus on going back and forth along this area.

Anus

5. Anus: Anal penetration can stimulate the clitoral legs for people with vaginas, causing a pleasurable sensation and resulting in orgasm.

Urethra

6. Urethra: The so-called “U-spot orgasm” has grown in cultural popularity. Stimulating the urethra and the area directly above it can produce orgasm. However, some argue that the U-spot orgasm is just a clitoral orgasm in disguise, given that the urethra and clitoris are so close to each other in a person’s anatomy. 

Fantasy

7. While rare, these are orgasms produced from the mind without physical stimulation — and Lady Gaga has said she has experienced a fantasy orgasm. If you are interested in trying this yourself, Layla Martin created a video in which she says movement of energy can create an orgasm without stimulating the body.

Female sex organs aren’t the only ones with surprise pleasure zones. There are also several ways that people with male sex organs can experience orgasm:

Male Identifying

Penis

Penis: The most well-known type of male orgasm, achieved by the stimulation of the nerves along the shaft. Typically, this occurs when someone ejaculates, but this isn’t always the case.

Prostate/Anus

Prostate/Anus: You can stimulate a person’s prostate and anus by penetration as well as other forms of stimulation, such as licking. You’ll most frequently see pop culture and media associate this kind of orgasm with same-sex male relationships, but it’s important to note that heterosexual men can experience these orgasms as well.

Nipples