The Orgasm Gap: Why Women Are Less Likely to Achieve Orgasm and What We Can Do About It

Alex
4 min readJul 14, 2023
Photo by Deon Black on Unsplash

The “orgasm gap,” a term initially coined by sexual health researchers, reveals a striking inequality in sexual satisfaction. It refers to the disparity in the frequency of orgasms between different genders during heterosexual encounters. Notably, women tend to orgasm significantly less frequently than their male counterparts. This article will explore the causes of this gap and suggest possible solutions to bridge it, all while shedding light on some unique and updated perspectives on the issue.

The Orgasm Gap: A Comprehensive Overview

In heterosexual encounters, men are reported to achieve orgasm on average about 95% of the time, compared to just 65% for women1. This 30% difference — known as the orgasm gap — has been well-documented across various studies, highlighting a concerning disparity in sexual satisfaction.

Root Causes of the Orgasm Gap

The reasons behind the orgasm gap are multifaceted, intertwining biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

Biological Factors

Biologically, women’s sexual response is more complex. The female orgasm is not strictly tied to reproduction, unlike the male…

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