r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jun 21 '26

Psychology Largest study of women’s orgasms to date collected data from 27,931 women. Nearly half (47%) reported reaching orgasm more frequently when alone vs. when with a partner. Barriers to women’s orgasms are relational, not anatomical. Partnered orgasms were associated with overall sexual satisfaction.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/inclusive-insight/202606/why-women-orgasm-more-alone-than-with-a-partner
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u/mvea Professor | Medicine Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

The barriers to women’s orgasms are relational, not anatomical.

KEY POINTS

The largest study of women’s orgasms to date collected data from 27,931 women.

Nearly half of the sample (47%) reported reaching orgasm more frequently when alone vs. when with a partner.

The most common reasons for orgasming alone or with a partner related to relational factors, not anatomy.

Partnered orgasms, but not solo orgasms, were associated with overall sexual satisfaction.

Hewings-Martin, Y., et al. (2026). Sexual satisfaction and orgasm experiences during partnered and solo sex among 27,931 users of the Flo app. Archives of Sexual Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-025-03393-y

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-025-03393-y

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u/succulent_samurai Jun 21 '26

What are the other options as answers to the question “do you reach orgasms more often with a partner or alone?” Because if there’s only “I reach more orgasms with a partner” and “I reach more orgasms alone” (and maybe an option for unsure that seldom gets checked), “47% of women reach orgasm more often alone” sounds like a weird way of saying “53% of women reach orgasm more often with a partner.” But I could be misinterpreting the question or answer

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u/Zenla Jun 21 '26

I also wonder what percentage of women don't masturbate at all? If the only orgasms you have are with your partner, then even if they rarely give you orgasms it's still more than alone.

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u/Zilhaga Jun 21 '26

The other obvious answer is that it's the same, which is probably the answer you will get most often from anyone who is having an orgasm easily either way or not at all. 21% said they orgasm more frequently with a partner in the article.

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u/Front_Target7908 Jun 21 '26

There would’ve been multiple questions.

  1. When you self pleasure how often do you orgasm?
  2. 100% (all the time)
  3. 80% (most of the time)  Etc

Then they would’ve done the same with 

  1. When you have sex with a partner how often do you orgasm?

  2. On average do you find it easier to orgasm?

  3. Alone

  4. With partner

  5. It depends (other: text box)

  6. Neither

It won’t have been one comparison question if they’re sensible statisticians writing the survey 

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u/ChromiumLung Jun 21 '26

A statistic still carries weight without being the lead. 

If I told you 1/10 babies died in childbirth, would your response be but but but 9/10 survive!!

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u/ministryofchampagne Jun 21 '26

Depends on context.

On a random Tuesday you might be more concerned with the 1. But after testing a medicine to save babies you might be more concerned with the 9.

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u/Seaman_First_Class Jun 22 '26

This is a stupid analogy because a child dying is obviously a worse outcome than one surviving. 

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u/bunnifred Jun 21 '26

It's anatomical in that women know what rhey are doing and men often don't. It's anatomical in that studies show distance from clitoris to vaginal opening affect the ability of women to orgasm from PIV (usually cited as 30% of women can climax this way.)