Fact Checking the Female Orgasm(s)

Sexual pleasure is so much more than reaching orgasm. It is communication, sensuality, intimacy, exploration and joy. That being said, orgasms are a unique human experience that is, after all, the “climax” of the body's response to sexual stimulation. It doesn’t have to happen all the time, but when it does it is... well there’s no wonder we are all curious how to get more!

We all want the answers.

Female Sexuality and The Quest For Answers

Traditionally women had very few places to turn for advice about pleasure; and female sexuality has had a complicated relationship with science in the past. Pain disorders often go undiagnosed for years (it still takes on average, 7 years to get diagnosed for endometriosis though it affects one in ten women).

In addition to this the male body was seen as the blue print and the female body was seen, by nature, as “lacking” when it came to pleasure potential. Even the founder of psychoanalysis had most people believing that a clitoral orgasm signified a “sexual and psychological immaturity.”

It is no wonder then, that women may have felt disillusioned to look to science for pleasure advice. On top of this comes the pressure from women's magazines who state with conviction such claims as - there are over twenty types of female orgasms.

What, you haven’t had twenty different types of orgasm?

As Petra Boynton, a British scientist has been known to say, this misinformation and fetishizing of zones has led women to feel "dysfunctional.”

These days, working with scientists and female focused sex professionals is crucial to keep up with the growing demand of women wanting a pleasure-first sex re-education.

Afterall there is still so much to learn.

Breakthroughs such as urologist Helen Oconnell's mapping of the internal clitoris (which happened in the 90’s!) is finally becoming common knowledge. While more and more industries have a stake in female sexuality it is really important to look to specialists for the latest understandings and a 360 view of not only what but why we experience what we do.

What a time to be alive!

We spoke to a sexologist and gynaecologist to understand what science has learned from women's experiences so far and if “types” of orgasm do really exist.

Put the science to the test

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Play With Your Senses

Put the science to the test

Discover our new Human Touch texture

The Ballerina, our latest vulva vibrator, features a groundbreaking new texture, that mimics the Human Touch to bring you an elevated sensorial experience.

Play With Your Senses

The C-orgasm AKA The Clitoris

Size; this is one of the few topics that women haven’t had to think about in regards to sex. But as we learn more about the clitoris and its relationship with the vagina - more attention is being paid to the clitoris and its size.

Let's talk structure.

Often mistaken for the nub that protrudes from the vulva (that’s the glands), the clitoris is actually a much larger organ that mainly exists internally and contains 8,000 nerve endings. It also interacts with around 15,000 more in the pelvic region.

Structurally, the clitoris is a wishbone shaped organ that wraps around the vagina walls.

This has led to the question, if the clitoris is in such close contact with the vagina, can those really be classified as separate orgasms anyway?

Current popular belief – The size of the clitoris glans and its location (smaller + further away) from the vaginal opening, affects the women's ability to orgasm.

State of science - The scientific data at this point in limited on this topic.

In fact, there are only two clinical researches that reference it.

● Journal of Sexual Medicine: “Women with smaller-than-average vaginas (that's around 10cm) can struggle to orgasm”

● Wallen et al, 2014: “Women who had trouble climaxing had smaller clitorises that were positioned about 5 to 6 millimetres further away from the vagina than those who climaxed more often”

What our specialists say -

Popularly referenced on this topic is Dr Susan Oakley, an OBGYN at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. She has been quoted to say “perhaps a larger clitoris has more nerve endings, and perhaps with direct contact and stimulation the clitoris can have more sensation, resulting in orgasms,”

Speaking with gynaecologist Dr Jess for our upcoming podcast, we are reminded that the clitoris interacts internally with the vagina during penetration because of its band-like shape. She shared that; though bodily frication will indeed amount to causing a varying degree of indirect stimulation, the internal pressure will be stimulating the internal clitoris structure also. (which may be about 10cm long).

To conclude, even if you have a small clitoris gland; building a lot arousal, experimenting with different partner-sex positions and targeted stimulation externally and internal may help to induce clitoral orgasm.

The G- spot orgasm

If female sexuality ever had a defining pop-culture moment, then it would be the “discovery” of the G-spot. This mysterious and controversial zone, joined the list of female body parts so often fetishized in the media that we don’t even notice it happening.

First written about (that we know of) in the 1950’s by physician Ernst Gräfenberg; the concept of the G-spot became mainstream with the 1982 publication of The G Spot and Other Recent Discoveries About Human Sexuality by Ladas, Whipple and Perry. The book was heavily criticised by gynaecologists but this did not stop pleasure seekers from being captivated by the concept of a spot!

Current popular belief – The G-spot is a part of the vagina that is highly sensitive and triggers powerful orgasms. Located on the belly side of the vaginal wall, it can be stimulated with pressure just a few centimetres into the vagina. As if you were aiming toward one’s belly button from the inside.

State of science – Yet to be proved scientifically however,

● MRI images show that during arousal, the clitoral bodies enlarge and most probably the referral to G-Spot is actually stimulation of the clitoris internally.

● The G-spot could be an area located around the urethral sponge which is a collection of tissue and nerve endings that produces a fluid that helps lubricate the urethra

What our specialists say -

“As far as anatomy and physiology are concerned the G-spot cannot be recognized. From an anatomical point of view there are many more nerve endings in the lower third of the vagina than higher up and so is often much more sensitive” Says sexologist Cobi Reisman.

He adds, “something that never been considered but gain more attention is the quality of the vaginal tissue.”

Taking what we also know about the internal structure of the clitoris, it seems that the G-spot as we have been taught does not exist. However, from the current, though limited research, we are offered several possible alternatives as to why some women have experienced immense pleasure from this area.

The A-spot Orgasm

The Anterior Fornix is a region located deep in the vagina, tucked up against the front of the cervix and resting just above the bladder.

Current popular belief – The anterior fornix is an erogenous zone that triggers powerful orgasms. This deep orgasm is a source of spiritual and emotional release often talked about by sex coaches.

State of science – The Anterior Fornix Erogenous Zone is not backed by science.

However according to www.healthline.com, women who have had a hysterectomy report loosing sexual sensation higher into the vagina. This is believed to be because these women also had cervix removed.

This could be a very accurate indication of an erogenous zone near the cervix.

We do also know that sensitivity in this region of the vagina changes throughout the menstrual cycle due to the cervix becoming lower during our period and this may affect how deep stimulation is experienced.

Studies have shown that Anterior Fornix stimulation can cause rapid vaginal lubrication.

What our specialists say -

Dr Jess and Cobi Reisman both agree that for some women, deep vaginal penetration feels more pleasurable and possibly orgasmic while for others not at all. Examining up to twenty different vulva-owners a day, Dr Jess has heard that for many women deep penetration is very painful and is experienced as banging against their cervix.

The U-spot orgasm

Most vulva owners may never see their own urethra. It is a very small opening above the vagina opening and it is the exit for our urine.

Current popular belief – The urethral opening and surrounding area is an erogenous zone.

Are some people confusing the clitoris glans for the urethra or are the rest of us missing out on the most unsuspecting orgasm yet again?

State of science – Currently the U-spot orgasm is unproven

What our specialists say -

Cobi Reisman shares, “from what I have seen from my practice, this depends on an individual's learning experience and ability to experience pleasure from different regions of the genitalia.”

Echoing this Dr Jess that vulva owners get to know their unique pleasure spots on their vulva to find out for themselves. Her top tips are-

• Accept that there is no “normal” when it comes to a vulvas appearance beyond the parts every vulva owner has (labia minor, labia major, urethra, clitoris glans and vaginal opening).

• Look at your vulva in mirror or using the camera on your phone. Dr Jess points out that a photo allows you to zoom in (remember to delete this photo right away if you are worried about privacy) - it is for your learning only.

• Using your fingers get to know the textures and areas that feel pleasurable on the labia and the area around the vaginal opening which includes the urethra! Science certainly still has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to our female pleasure. That doesn’t mean however that we have to wait around for a right or wrong way to experience pleasure to be confirmed!

Thanks to both Dr Jessherin Sidhu of Insync Medical and Cobi Reisman MD, President European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM) for their insights.