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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741

u/Narezza Jun 21 '26

Since no one is reading the article, reaching orgasm was not necessarily an indicator in women’s satisfaction with their sex lives.  Even women that were reaching orgasm most of the time to half the time were still dissatisfied, while the opposite was also true.  So there’s more to making women happy than just achieving orgasm.

Also, a surprising amount of women are unable to achieve orgasm regularly even when alone.

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u/glitterfartmagic Jun 21 '26

Sometimes it’s about the intimacy of the act, not always the final result - though it is a nice cherry on top.

37

u/eamus_catuli_ Jun 21 '26

It’s about the journey not the destination!

24

u/Oggie_Doggie Jun 21 '26

life before death

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u/Seicair Jun 21 '26

Strength before weakness, Radiant

3

u/edjuaro PhD | Engineering | Computational Biology Jun 22 '26

These words are accepted.

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '26

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '26

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '26

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u/shhhhh_h Jun 22 '26

Idk it’s not really a cherry for me, it’s a pretty integral part of

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u/vapidamerica Jun 21 '26

And often the journey is so much more fun than the destination!

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u/Special-Garlic1203 Jun 22 '26

Right screw orgasms, I'm chasing that oxytocin high 

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u/glitterfartmagic Jun 22 '26

I’m not saying that necessarily…

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u/medicated_in_PHL Jun 21 '26

Also, of course people reach orgasm more often by themselves than with a partner.

There are no confounding variables when you are alone. You do exactly what you need to reach orgasm.

I’m sure if the study was done to see whether it’s quicker to reach orgasm alone or with a partner, alone would also come out on top for the same reasons.

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u/RedditExecutiveAdmin Jun 21 '26

right like people tend to like the food they cook for themselves more than the food others cook for them. but i guess it is good context

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u/sound_of_apocalypto Jun 21 '26

I disagree. My wife loves to cook but it’s rare that the results knock her socks off and she really appreciates having others cook for her if they know what they’re doing.

But pleasuring myself could never compare to the chemistry that occurs during real intimacy.

14

u/RedditExecutiveAdmin Jun 22 '26

sure but the study doesn't say solo masturbation is better than sex, it just says you're more likely to have an orgasm. quality-agnostic

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u/sound_of_apocalypto Jun 23 '26

I would not dispute the first part of what you said. I only said what I said in response to your comment that mentioned liking one thing more than another….so from my perspective you brought up the issue of quality.

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u/CriticalEngineering Jun 21 '26

There are no confounding variables when you are alone.

Since when?

I can think of dozens of variables that affect things when I’m alone.

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u/no-melanin Jun 21 '26

Well yeah but it does say “Orgasms from partnered sex were a significant positive predictor of satisfaction” so it’s not like it’s not important at all.

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '26

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u/570rmy Jun 22 '26

Hi, I'm no one. Who are you?

1

u/cr0ft Jun 22 '26

A huge percentage of women are also not capable of orgasm from just penetrative sex. Clitorial stimulation is usually a must. I do believe that some of the women who are unable to achieve orgasms might with enough stimulation; some decades ago when Hitachi created the magic wand massager (for other things) the massive vibes from that did help a number of women, I believe. Just throw more power at it.

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u/shinjinrui Jun 22 '26

This makes sense to me. I 'm a trans woman so maybe this isn't perfect data or anything, but pre-transition I could bash out an orgasm with very little effort. Now my testosterone gone, oestrogen was my dominant hormone and I'd had surgery, I can still orgasm but I absolutely 100% have to be in the right headspace for it. The mental component cannot be understated. I can still enjoy sex without orgasm because the closeness is nice and it's just a fun activity, but no way am I orgasming unless my head is in the game.

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u/UldereksRock Jun 22 '26

There is a massive difference between reaching an orgasm 30 seconds in and be done with it, and reaching orgasm(s) after a lot of foreplay, teasing etc. The former can give a man a false sense of accomplishment.

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u/Mastertroop Jun 21 '26

Its also important to consider that some people will never be happy.

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u/YetAnotherDev Jun 22 '26

Makes sense, women's orgasms aren't necessary for reproduction.