Orgasm is an essential dimension of sexual health and human well-being. It is a phenomenon traditionally studied from a physiological perspective, with less attention given to the psychological. From this perspective, most of the research has investigated various self-reported parameters of orgasm (e.g., its frequency or how easy it is to obtain).
However, a less explored dimension is the subjective experience of orgasm (SEO), which focuses on the assessment of orgasm from a psychological point of view. Most available scientific evidence examines this component in heterosexual individuals. Thus, Juan Carlos Sierra, Laura Elvira Muñoz-García and Pablo Mangas, from the Human Sexuality Laboratory of the University of Granada (LabSex UGR), at the Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC) questioned how adults from the lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) community assess their orgasms during sexual relationships.
An analysis of the subjective experience of orgasm in sexually diverse people
The researchers published a study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, in 2024, with the goal of exploring the sexual dynamics in this population group. One of the most consolidated instruments to evaluate SOE is the Orgasm Rating Scale (ORS), which assesses the orgasmic experience using 25 adjectives distributed in four factors (affective, sensory, intimacy, and reward). This scale has been adapted to the Spanish population and validated in sexually diverse people.
They sought to explore how LGB people rate their orgasms within an interpersonal context. They included a total of 1,475 volunteers from the Spanish population, categorized into four groups based on sexual orientation, who reported recent orgasmic experiences (in the last three months) in shared erotic scenarios. This research made it possible to identify patterns and differences between the different sexual orientations. It was found that, in general terms, bisexual women and lesbians indicated greater orgasmic intensity compared to bisexual and gay men. Specifically, they evaluated the orgasms obtained in sexual relations as more intense concerning the physical sensations, the intimacy produced, and the gratification obtained from them.
Despite these clear differences in favor of the female gender, when it came to establishing rankings of the adjectives that best-defined orgasms in the different groups, it was observed that all of them coincided in the ones that best and worst described their orgasmic experience.
This study was intended to bridge a research gap, providing a diverse perspective that helps to reduce stigma and promotes a better understanding of sexuality in relational contexts. In addition, these findings have clinical applicability in areas such as LGBTIQA+ Affirmative Psychology, since the ORS scale has been established as a good tool to detect orgasmic difficulties in groups of different sexual orientations. This study contributes to the demystifying of prejudices and the promotion of a more inclusive approach to sexuality. Recognizing and respecting the plurality of orgasmic experiences not only enriches science but also strengthens the right of all people to thoroughly enjoy their sexual life.
Reference
Sierra, J. C., Muñoz-García, L. E., & Mangas, P. (2024). And how do LGB adults rate their orgasms in a relational context? The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 21(3), 255–261. https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdad170