The subjective experience of orgasm and sexual satisfaction are two fundamental constructs of human sexual functioning, closely related to sexual well-being. The former refers to the psychological assessment of orgasm and can be studied based on four dimensions (affective, sensory, intimacy, and reward), while the latter refers to the affective response that arises from the evaluation of aspects related to sexual relationships. To date, few studies had investigated the impact of orgasmic experience on sexual satisfaction, especially in same-sex couples, and this relationship had never been examined considering the couple as the unit of analysis.
In a recent study published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, researchers Pablo Mangas, Juan Carlos Sierra, and researcher Reina Granados analyzed the dyadic relationship between both variables (i.e., how the subjective orgasmic experience of each member of the couple affects their own sexual satisfaction and that of their partner), also considering the mediating effect of satisfaction with the romantic relationship. This study involved 104 same-sex couples (48 male couples and 56 female couples) with recent orgasmic experiences. The results indicate a dyadic influence of the affective and sensory dimensions of the subjective orgasmic experience on sexual satisfaction only in male couples. Additionally, there is an impact on sexual satisfaction, especially in women, when there are discrepancies between the two members of the couple in these same dimensions of the subjective orgasmic experience (i.e., the greater the difference in subjective orgasmic intensity between both women, the lower their sexual satisfaction). Finally, the study concludes that satisfaction with the romantic relationship is a significant mediator between all dimensions of the orgasmic experience and sexual satisfaction in both types of couples. In other words, for the subjective orgasmic experience to have a positive effect on sexual satisfaction, the mediating role of satisfaction with the romantic relationship is required. The fact that satisfaction with the romantic relationship acts as a mediating variable between subjective orgasmic experience and sexual satisfaction has notable clinical applicability, as it provides insights for sexology professionals to pay attention to relational satisfaction when addressing exclusively sexual aspects such as orgasmic difficulties or sexual dissatisfaction. In sexual therapy, working with both members of the couple is fundamental when addressing sexual issues."
Reference:
Mangas, P., Sierra, J. C., & Granados, R. (2023). Effects of Subjective Orgasm Experience in Sexual Satisfaction: A Dyadic Analysis in Same-Sex Hispanic Couples. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2023.2295960