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Der Gender Orgasm Gap. Ein kritischer Forschungsüberblick zu Geschlechterdifferenzen in der Orgasmus-Häufigkeit beim Heterosex [The Gender Orgasm Gap: A Critical Research Review on Gender Differences in Orgasm Frequency during Heterosex]

Authors:
Nicola Döring at Technische Universität Ilmenau
Nicola Döring
M. Rohangis Mohseni at Technische Universität Ilmenau
M. Rohangis Mohseni
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Abstract

Introduction: Since the 1960 s, there has been debate in academia, the women’s movement, and the general public about the fact that women experience orgasms less frequently than men during heterosex as well as why, and additionally about if and how to close this gender orgasm gap. Within a bio-psycho-social model of sexuality, gender orgasm gaps are explained theoretically in very different ways. Objectives: The aim of this research review is to report the empirical findings to date on the size of the gender orgasm gap as well as to present and critically discuss the proposed practice measures intended to close it. Methods: In the course of a systematic literature search n = 20 empirical publications on the orgasm gap and an additional n = 16 original research papers promoting its closure were identified and coded (1982–2021). Results: The surveys included are based on the self-reports of N = 49 940 women and N = 48 329 men, and show that typically 30 % to 60 % of women report reaching orgasm during heterosex in contrast to 70 % to 100 % of men. Depending on the context of heterosex, the size of the orgasm gap varies from –20 % to –72 % to the disadvantage of women. The ten population-representative surveys presented yield a weighted mean orgasm gap of –30 % [95 % confidence interval: –31; –30]. The measures proposed in previous literature for closing the orgasm gap relate to personal factors, relationship factors, sexual interaction factors, and societal factors: Women are advised to strive more consciously for their own orgasm and to talk more openly about their sexual wishes in the relationship. In addition, women and men are advised to integrate more direct clitoral stimulation into heterosex and to demarginalize women’s orgasms socially. Conclusion: Based on the current state of research, there is a need to continue addressing issues around the gender orgasm gap in both research and practice. However, given the limited successes of recent decades, it also seems imperative to critically examine the approaches taken so far in the “battle for orgasm equality”. Open Access Full Text: https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/pdf/10.1055/a-1832-4771.pdf
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Döring, N., & Mohseni, M.R. (2022). Der Gender Orgasm Gap. Ein
kritischer Forschungsüberblick zu Geschlechterdifferenzen in
der Orgasmus-Häufigkeit beim Heterosex [The Gender Orgasm
Gap: A Critical Research Review on Gender Differences in
Orgasm Frequency during Heterosex]. Zeitschrift für
Sexualforschung, 35(02), 73-87. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1832-4771.
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Mohseni-2022_Review_Gender_Orgasm_Gap.pdf
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Preprint
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Full-text available
  • Oct 2021
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  • Feb 2022
  • INT J IMPOT RES
The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in depressive disorders in individuals not in pharmacological treatment. For this purpose, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis using the PRISMA guidelines, and the review was registered in PROSPERO (registration number CRD42020179709). Studies that evaluated sexual function and dysfunction in major depressive disorder (MDD) and persistent depressive disorder (PDD) were identified through searches in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, PsychINFO, Scopus, and Scielo. Twelve cross-sectional studies were eligible. In women with MDD, the pooled prevalence rates of sexual impairment were: 47.22% (95% CI: 34.86–59.58) for arousal; 65.30% (95% CI: 45.86–84.73) for desire; 36.98% (95% CI: 28.42–45.54) for lubrication; 34.17% (95% CI: 17.87–50.46) for orgasm; and 33.91% (95% CI: 17.48–50.34) for sexual satisfaction. In men, the sexual impairment prevalence rates were: 26.45% (95% CI: 12.26–40.63) for arousal; 40.32% (95% CI: 22.19–58.46) for desire; 32.07% (95% CI: 26.14–37.99) for erection; 35.27% (95% CI: 5.13–65.41) for orgasm; and 23.05% (95% CI: 13.60–32.51) for sexual satisfaction. Overall sexual dysfunction was found in 82.75% of women (95% CI: 74.71–90.78) and 63.26% of men (95% CI: 52.83–73.69). Our results show that various sexual functions are impaired in MDD, making imperative the systematic evaluation of these alterations by clinicians. Future studies should be conducted, especially in PDD, to elucidate the role of these disorders in sexual function.
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A Learning Experience? Enjoyment at Sexual Debut and the Gender Gap in Sexual Desire among Emerging Adults
Article
Gender differences in experience of first intercourse are among the largest in sexuality research, with women recalling less pleasure and satisfaction than men. This "enjoyment gap" has not been considered in explanations of gender differences in sexual desire. Yet, reinforcement and incentive learning features prominently in recent models of women's sexual desire, and nonhuman animal models demonstrate their impact at sexual debut. We examined whether women's lower sexual desire is explained by their gender or by gendered experience of enjoyment at sexual debut. Emerging adults (N = 838) provided retrospective accounts of physical (orgasm) and affective (satisfaction) enjoyment at (hetero)sexual debut. We replicated gender differences across behavioral, general, and multidimensional measures of trait sexual desire; however, they were contingent on experience and measurement method. When its cognitive multidimensional properties were appreciated, women's sexual desire varied with experience of orgasm at sexual debut and diverged from men's only when orgasm did not occur. Such effects were not observed for satisfaction, nor for men. Nor did effects of a control event - masturbatory debut - extend beyond solitary sexual desire. Findings underscore the importance of orgasm equality, and suggest its absence at sexual debut may play an unacknowledged role in differentiating sexual desire.
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Sexual pleasure during college students’ most recent partnered sexual experiences
Article
  • Oct 2021
Objective: We explored college students' sexual pleasure using a new self-report measure, the Body, Emotions, Sensations, Touch/Trust (B.E.S.T.) Scale of Sexual Pleasure. Participants: Data were from 3997 randomly sampled students with a partnered sexual experience. Methods: Students completed an online survey about their most recent partnered sexual experience. Data was collected in January 2020. Results: Students find the nonphysical aspects of partnered sex (e.g., emotions, trust, connection with partners) as pleasurable as physical aspects (e.g., behaviors engaged and received, bodily sensations). Self-reported arousal, wantedness, and emotional intimacy were the strongest correlates of male, female, and transgender/gender non-binary students' sexual pleasure. Few sexual behaviors were associated with sexual pleasure and only one - cuddling for women - was associated with greater sexual pleasure. Conclusions: Students find their partnered sexual experiences pleasurable. Students' sex may be more pleasurable when they feel ready for sex, desire sex, and feel close to their partners.
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Ejaculation Disorders in Male Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence
Article
  • Jul 2021
  • J UROLOGY
Purpose: Ejaculatory dysfunction (EjD) and erectile dysfunction after cancer treatment are clinically important complications, but their exact prevalence by various kinds of cancer site and type of treatment is unknown. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the available evidence and provide pooled estimates for prevalence of EjD and erectile dysfunction in relation to all cancer sites and identify characteristics associated with EjD in cancer patients. Materials and Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional and case-control studies. We searched four electronic databases (Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo and Embase) until 22nd July 2020. All retrospective or prospective studies reporting the prevalence of EjD in male patients with cancer were included in this review. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted calculating prevalence proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Prevalence proportions were calculated for the incidences of EjD by cancer site and type of treatment. Results: A total of 64 studies (a total of 10,057 participants) were included for analysis. The most common cancer sites were bladder, colon, testis and rectum. The prevalence rates of EjD after surgical intervention ranged from 14.5% (95% CI 2.2–56.3%) in colon cancer to 53.0% (23.3–80.7%) in bladder cancer. The prevalence rates of erectile dysfunction ranged from 6.8% (95% CI 0.8–39.1%) in bladder cancer to 68.7% (95% CI 55.2–79.6%) in cancer of the rectum. Conclusions: In a large study-level meta-analysis, we looked at a high prevalence of EjD and erectile dysfunction at various cancer sites and across different treatment types. Prospective studies of EjD and erectile dysfunction after various kinds of cancer treatments are warranted.
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