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Orgasm is the conclusion of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, shared by both men and women. During orgasm, both men and women experience quick cycles of muscle contraction in the lower pelvic muscles, which surround both the anus and the primary sexual organs.
Orgasms in both men and women are often associated with other involuntary actions, including vocalizations and muscular spasms in other areas of the body. Also, a generally euphoric sensation is associated with orgasm.
Afterwards, orgasm generally causes perceived tiredness, and both men and women often feel a need to rest. This is recently attributed to the release of prolactin.[1] Prolactin is a typical neuroendocrine response in depressed mood and irritation.[2] A recent study at the University of Groningen has indicated significant differences in brain activity during the female and male orgasm.[3] PET scans showed that both the female and male orgasm 'shut down' areas in the brain associated with anxiety and fear (the amygdala). It was found that the male orgasm focused the brain on sensory input from the genitals more than a female orgasm.
male orgasm
During orgasm, a human male experiences rapid, rhythmic contractions of the anal sphincter, the prostate, and the muscles of the penis. These contractions typically force stored semen to be expelled through the penis's urethral opening. The process generally takes from three to ten seconds, and is usually considered highly pleasurable.
Orgasm is achieved after direct stimulation of the penis for a period of time. This stimulation can be caused by sexual intercourse, manual masturbation, fellatio, or a sensual vibrator. Any sexual stimulation of the penis may eventually result in ejaculation and orgasm.
As a man ages, it is normal for the amount of semen he ejaculates to diminish, and hence, the length of time the man sustains orgasm also diminishes somewhat. This does not normally affect the pleasurable feeling of orgasm, but merely shortens its duration.
Following ejaculation, a refractory period usually occurs during which a man cannot achieve another orgasm. This period can be anywhere from less than a minute to over several hours, depending on age and other individual factors.
Orgasmic sensation
As a man nears orgasm during stimulation of the penis, he feels an intense pulsating sensation of neuromuscular euphoria. These highly pleasurable rhythmic pulses begin with a throb of the anal sphincter and travel to the tip of the penis. The pulses eventually increase in both speed and in intensity as the orgasm approaches, building up to a final "plateau" of pleasure which is sustained for several seconds. This plateau is what is referred to as the actual orgasm. It is during this time that semen is ejaculated and may continue to be ejaculated for a few seconds after the euphoric sensation gradually tapers off. It is believed that the exact feeling of "orgasm" varies from one man to another, but all agree that it is highly pleasurable.
[edit] Male prostate orgasm
Some men are able to achieve orgasm through stimulation of the prostate gland. Men reporting the sensation of prostate stimulation often give descriptions similar to women's accounts of G-spot stimulation. Other men report finding anal penetration or stimulation of any kind to be painful, or simply that they derive no pleasure from it. With sufficient stimulation, the prostate can also be "milked". Providing that there is no simultaneous stimulation of the penis, prostate milking can cause ejaculation without orgasm. When combined with penile stimulation, some men report that prostate stimulation increases the volume of their ejaculation. Sperm move at a slow steady rate from the testes to the prostate where they are ready for orgasm. Sperm is then expelled though the urethra.
[edit] Dry orgasm
A dry orgasm is a male sexual climax that does not result in ejaculation. The term only refers to orgasms experienced by males, as female ejaculation during climax is less common. Males who experience dry orgasms can often produce multiple orgasms, as the need for a rest period, the refractory period, is reduced.[4] In fact, some males are able to masturbate for hours at a time, achieving orgasm again and again.[5]
Dry orgasms can be achieved deliberately by putting pressure on the perineum (the beginning of the urethra between the anus and testicles) immediately after orgasm. This will cause the urethra to be closed during ejaculation and thus no semen will leave the penis. This however may cause some pain in the testicles and around the anus. Damage may be caused to ejaculation-related parts of body including the ejaculatory ducts and vas deferens. This can also be done by contracting the same muscles directly after orgasm as those used to forcefully stop urination. This can take some practice, but many men who master it report longer, more intense orgasms, or even the capability of having multiple orgasms.
Dry orgasms may also occur in men who ejaculate multiple times in a short period such as an hour, after the first few ejaculations have used up the available stored seminal fluid. This condition is self-limiting, as after a few hours the supplies of seminal fluid will be replenished by the prostate gland and seminal vesicles.
Men who have had prostate or bladder surgery, for whatever reason, may also experience dry orgasms because of retrograde ejaculation.
Retrograde ejaculation is where the semen flows into the urinary bladder, rather than through the urethra to the outside.
The term "dry orgasm" is also used for a form of mind-body orgasm where the mind experiences orgasm without attempted ejaculation. This type of dry orgasm is one of the goals of Tantric sex.
[edit] Male multiple orgasms
It is possible to have an orgasm without ejaculation (dry orgasm) or to ejaculate without reaching orgasm. Some men have reported having multiple consecutive orgasms, particularly without ejaculation. In recent years, a number of books have described various techniques to achieve multiple orgasms. Most multi-orgasmic men (and their partners) report that refraining from ejaculation results in a far more energetic post-orgasm state[citation needed]. Additionally, some men have also reported that this can produce more powerful ejaculatory orgasms when they choose to have them.
One technique is for the man to put pressure on the perineum, about halfway between the scrotum and the anus, just before ejaculating to prevent ejaculation. This can, however, lead to retrograde ejaculation, i.e. redirecting semen into the bladder. It may also cause long term damage due to the pressure put on the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum. Other techniques are analogous to reports by multi-orgasmic women indicating that they must relax and "let go" to experience multiple orgasms. These techniques do not involve ejaculatory contractions or forced retention in the manner described above, but rather involves mental and physical controls over pre-ejaculatory vasocongestion and emissions. Sexual energy, though focused in the groin, can be channeled throughout the body. Anecdotally, successful implementation of these techniques can result in continuous or multiple "full-body" orgasms.[6]. Gentle digital stimulation of the prostate, seminal vesicles, and vas deferens provides erogenous pleasure that sustains intense emissions orgasms for some men. A dildo device (the Aneros) claims to stimulate the prostate and help men reach these kinds of orgasms.
Some young men have enough stamina, and may experience sufficient stimulation, that the penis never goes flaccid during the refractory period. Very soon after one orgasm, they may be erect and able to experience another orgasm.
Internet rumors and a few scientific studies have pointed to the hormone prolactin as the likely cause of the male refractory period. Because of this, there is currently an experimental interest in drugs which inhibit prolactin, such as Dostinex (also known as Cabeser, or Cabergoline). Anecdotal reports on Dostinex suggest it may be capable of eliminating the refractory period altogether, allowing men to experience multiple ejaculatory orgasms in rapid succession. At least one scientific study supports these claims.[7] Dostinex is a hormone altering drug and has many potential side effects. It has not been approved for treating sexual dysfunction. Another possible reason may be an increased infusion of the hormone oxytocin. Furthermore, it is believed that the amount by which oxytocin is increased may affect the length of each refractory period.
A scientific study to successfully document natural, fully ejaculatory, multiple orgasms in an adult man was conducted at Rutgers University in 1995. During the study, six fully ejaculatory orgasms were experienced in 36 minutes with no refractory period in evidence.[8] It can also be said that in some cases, the refractory period can be reduced or even eliminated through the course of puberty and on into adulthood. Later, P. Haake et al. observed a single male individual producing multiple orgasms without elevated prolactin response.[9]
When discussing the difference between orgasm and ejaculation in men, note that among those men who began masturbation or other sexual activity prior to puberty, many report having been able to achieve multiple non-ejaculatory orgasms. This capacity generally disappears with the subject's first ejaculation. Some evidence indicates that the orgasms experienced by men prior to puberty are qualitatively similar to the "normal" female experience of orgasm, suggesting that hormonal changes during puberty have a strong influence on the character of male orgasm.[10]
[edit] Human female orgasm
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A human female orgasm is preceded by erection of the clitoris and moistening of the vaginal opening. Some women exhibit a sex flush, a reddening of the skin over much of the body due to increased blood flow to the skin. As a woman comes closer to having an orgasm, the clitoris moves inward under the clitoral hood, and the labia minora (inner lips) become darker. As orgasm becomes imminent, the outer third of the vagina tightens and narrows, while overall the vagina lengthens and dilates and also becomes congested from engorged soft tissue.[11] The uterus then experiences muscular contractions. A woman experiences full orgasm when her uterus, vagina, anus, and pelvic muscles undergo a series of rhythmic contractions. The majority of women consider these contractions to be very pleasurable, although not all sexually active women experience this.
After the orgasm is over, the clitoris re-emerges from under the clitoral hood, and returns to its normal size in less than 10 minutes.
In a disputed study, female orgasm has been linked to education and income, with heterosexual women with post-secondary degrees more likely to reach orgasm than their less-educated counterparts. [12]
The study methodology has been quite disputed. It is based on a computer assisted phone survey of 19,307 Australians. In fact, the abstract of the research states: "Demographic and sexual history variables were comparatively weakly associated with orgasm." Linking demographics to orgasms was not the aim of the research. The actual study barely references the linkage between demographics and orgasm. [13] [14]
[edit] Female multiple orgasm
Unlike men, women either do not have a refractory period or have a very short one and thus can experience a second orgasm soon after the first; some women can even follow this with additional consecutive orgasms. This is known as having multiple orgasms. After the initial orgasm, subsequent climaxes may be stronger or more pleasurable as the stimulation accumulates. Research shows that about 13% of women experience multiple orgasms[citation needed]; a larger number may be able to experience this with the proper stimulation (such as a vibrator) and frame of mind. However, for some women, their clitoris and nipples are very sensitive after climax, making additional stimulation initially painful. Taking deep, rapid breaths while continuing stimulation can assist in releasing this tension. [15]
[edit] The evolutionary purpose of orgasms
Evolutionary biologists put forward several hypotheses for explaining the role of the female orgasm in terms of the reproductive process. In 1967, Desmond Morris first suggested in his pop-science book The Naked Ape that female orgasm evolved to encourage physical intimacy with a male partner and help reinforce the pair bond. Morris suggested that the relative difficulty in achieving female orgasm, in comparison to the male's, might be favourable in terms of Darwinian evolution by leading the female to select mates who bore the qualities of patience, care, imagination, intelligence and so forth, this in contradistinction to qualities such as size and aggression, which pertain to mate selection in other primates. Such advantageous qualities thereby become accentuated within the species, driven by the very differences between male and female orgasm. After all, were the male to be motivated by and taken to the point of orgasm in the same way as the female, those advantageous qualities would not be needed: self-interest would do the trick.
He additionally proposed that orgasm might facilitate conception by exhausting the female and keeping her horizontal, thus preventing the sperm from leaking out. This possibility, sometimes dubbed the "Poleax hypothesis" or the "Knockout hypothesis", is now considered as highly doubtful.
Other theories have been proposed based on the idea that the female orgasm might increase fertility. The 30% reduction in size of the vagina could, for example, help clench onto the penis (much like, or perhaps caused by the pubococcygeus muscles), which would make it more stimulating for the male (thus ensuring faster or more voluminous ejaculation). The British biologists Baker and Bellis have also suggested that the female orgasm may have an "upsuck" action (similar to the esophagus' ability to swallow when upside down), resulting in the retaining of favorable sperm and making conception more likely.[16] They posited a role of female orgasm in sperm competition.
A 1997 Learning Channel documentary on sex had fiber optic cameras inside the vagina of a woman while she was having sexual intercourse and experiencing an orgasm. During her orgasm, her pelvic muscles contracted, and her cervix dipped into a pool of semen in the vagina making conception more likely.[17]
The fact that women tend to orgasm more easily when they are ovulating suggests that it is tied to increasing fertility.[18]
Other biologists surmise that the orgasm simply serves to motivate sex, thus increasing the rate of reproduction and helping ensure the species' survival. Since males typically require less time than females do to reach orgasm, it potentially encourages a female's desire to engage in intercourse more frequently, increasing the likelihood of conception.
[edit] Orgasm as vestigial
The clitoris is homologous to the head of the penis, that is, the head of the penis and clitoris develop from the same embryonic structure. It has been claimed by some researchers, such as Stephen Jay Gould that the clitoris is vestigial in the female, and that female orgasm serves no particular evolutionary function.
Proponents of this hypothesis, such as Dr. Elisabeth Lloyd, point to the relative difficulty of achieving female orgasm through vaginal sex, and limited evidence for increased fertility after orgasm.
Feminists such as Natalie Angier have criticized that this hypothesis understates the psychosocial value of female orgasm. Catherine Blackledge in The Story of V has criticized the hypothesis from a more scientific standpoint, citing studies that indicate a possible connection between orgasm and successful conception.
Initially vestigial characteristics may subsequently become advantageous and positively selected for, rather than being merely non-disadvantageous. The hypotheses outlined above may propose different emphases but need not be seen as mutually exclusive. One might furthermore note that the intensity of female orgasm hardly suggests the absence of evolutionary motivation, as it were, and a merely vestigial set of circumstances. While often likened to the male nipple, for example, anyone who has experienced or witnessed female orgasm might well be tempted to regard such comparisons, when offered in support of the vestigial argument, as somewhat tenuous.
[edit] Genetic basis of individual variation
A 2005 twin study found that one in three women reported never or seldom achieving orgasm during intercourse, and only one in ten always orgasmed. This variation in ability to orgasm, generally thought to be psychosocial, was found to be between 34-45% genetic. The study, examining 4000 women, was published in Biology letters, a Royal Society journal.[19][20]
[edit] Vaginal versus clitoral orgasms
A distinction is sometimes made between clitoral and vaginal orgasms in women. An orgasm that results from combined clitoral and vaginal stimulation is called a blended orgasm. Many doctors have claimed that vaginal orgasms do not exist and that female orgasms are obtained only from clitoral arousal. Recent discoveries about the size of the clitoris - it extends inside the body, around the vagina[21] - complicate or may invalidate attempts to distinguish clitoral vs. vaginal orgasms.
The concept of the purely vaginal orgasm was first promulgated by Sigmund Freud. In 1905, Freud argued that clitoral orgasm was an adolescent phenomenon, and upon reaching puberty the proper response of mature women changes to vaginal orgasms. While Freud provided no evidence to support this basic assumption, the consequences of the theory were greatly elaborated thereafter, not least because many women felt inadequate when they could not achieve orgasm via vaginal intercourse that involved little or no clitoral stimulation. Freud's theories on this, and indeed many other biological subjects, were later largely proven false or based on supposition.
In 1966, Masters and Johnson published pivotal research into the phases of sexual stimulation. Their work included women as well as men, and unlike Kinsey previously (in 1948 and 1953), set out to determine the physiological stages leading up to and following orgasm.[22] One of the results was the promotion of the idea that vaginal and clitoral orgasms follow the same stages of physical response. Additionally, Masters and Johnson argued that clitoral stimulation is the primary source of orgasms.
A new understanding of the "vaginal" orgasm has been emerging since the 1980s. Many women report that some form of vaginal stimulation in concert with clitoral stimulation is essential to experiencing a fully satisfactory orgasm[citation needed]. Recent anatomical research has pointed towards a connection between intravaginal tissues and the clitoris -- it has been shown that these tissues have connecting nerves. This information, combined with the anatomical evidence that the internal part of the clitoris is a much larger organ than previously thought, could explain credible reports of orgasms in women who have undergone clitorectomy as part of so-called female circumcision (also called female genital mutilation). The discovery of the biological link between the clitoris and the vagina lends further credence to the belief that the clitoris is the 'seat' of the female orgasm and indicates that the clitoris is simply far wider-spread than the visible part most people commonly associate with it. It is possible, however, that some women have more extensive clitoral tissues and nerves than others, meaning that some women can achieve orgasm solely via direct stimulation of the external portions of the clitoris.
[edit] Spontaneous orgasms
Orgasm can be spontaneous, seeming to occur with no direct stimulation. Many people find this to be quite embarrassing but enjoyable. Occasionally, orgasm can occur during sexual dreams.
The first orgasm of this type was reported among people who had spinal cord injury (SCI). In spite of the fact that SCI very often leads to loss of certain sensations and altered self-perception, a person with this disturbance is not deprived of sexual feelings such as sexual arousal and erotic desires. Thus some individuals are able to initiate orgasm by mere mental stimulation.
Some non-sexual activity may result in a spontaneous orgasm. The best example of such activity is a release of tension that unintentionally involves slight genital stimulation, like rubbing of the seat of the bicycle against genitals during riding, exercising, when pelvic muscles are tightened or when yawning.
It was also discovered[23] that some anti-depressant drugs may provoke spontaneous climax as a side effect. There is no accurate data for how many patients who were on treatment with antidepressant drugs experienced spontaneous orgasm as most were unwilling to accept the fact.
Simultaneous orgasm
Simultaneous orgasm (also referred to as mutual orgasm) is a sexual climax achieved by partners at the same time during the intercourse. It is believed that during simultaneous climax a man and a woman can experience the highest point of sexual satisfaction.
Wilhelm Reich, an Austrian psychoanalyst, suggested in his works that orgasm is more intense if sexual peaks of both partners coincide. This happens when both partners are able to focus on their sensations as well as emotional closeness with each other.[citation needed]
Dr. Alfred Kinsey, one of the pioneer researchers on human sexuality, also emphasized that simultaneous orgasm is the most a couple can achieve in intimate relationships.[citation needed]
The existence of simultaneous orgasm is much disputed due to the peculiarities of male and female sexuality[26]. According to this belief male sexual response is much easier and quicker than the female's. That's why the usual way to reach synchronized orgasm is to delay ejaculation in men and hasten the climax in women.
Although simultaneous orgasm is desired by some couples, its achievement is usually the result of a coincidence and thus cannot be frequently met. The chances of coming to a sexual peak at the same time are quite low if it becomes a well-planned task and it requires a good knowledge of partner's responsiveness and synchronism of actions during the intercourse. Nevertheless, some couples do experience simultaneous orgasm on a regular basis.[citation needed]
[edit] Simultaneous orgasm and orgasmic dysfunction
Many sexologists claim that the problem of premature ejaculation[27] is closely related to the idea encouraged by a scientific approach in early twentieth century when mutual orgasm was overly emphasized as being an objective and a sign of true sexual satisfaction in intimate relationships. A focus that is brought to the subject of simultaneous orgasm raises the problem that a man becomes too concerned with delaying ejaculation, which in fact deprives the intercourse from the necessary spontaneity and thus only making simultaneous orgasm even more difficult to reach. When partners become more preoccupied with controlling and synchronizing their actions instead of enjoying the process, this may lead to sexual disturbance.
[edit] Controversy: Definition of orgasm
There is controversy surrounding male multiple orgasms and the female G-spot (vaginal, not blended) orgasms, because some feel that they do not fit the clinical definition of orgasm. Male multiple orgasms, while pleasurable, often do not involve involuntary contractions. Similarly, there are not always contractions in female orgasms resulting from stimulation of the G-spot alone, without stimulation of the clitoris. However, both of these sensations in the two sexes are extremely pleasurable and are often felt throughout the body, resulting in a mental state that is often described as transcendental. Vasocongestion and associated pleasure may approach that of a full contractionary orgasm. For this reason, some persons feel that these experiences can be accurately defined as orgasms. Others insist that orgasm is defined strictly by muscular contractions, and that these other sensations are too subjective to be quantified as orgasms.
[edit] Orgasmic dysfunction
The inability to have orgasm is called anorgasmia, ejaculatory anhedonia, or inorgasmia. In situations where orgasm is desired, anorgasmia is mainly thought of as being caused by an inability to relax, or 'let go'. It seems to be closely associated with performance pressure and an unwillingness to pursue pleasure, as separate from the other person's satisfaction. It was the psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich, in his 1927 book The Function of the Orgasm, who first made orgasm central to the concept of mental health and defined neurosis in terms of blocks to having full orgasm.
Though orgasm dysfunction in some people may have psychological components, physiological factors often play a more common role. For instance, delayed orgasm or the inability to achieve orgasm can be a common side effect of many medications.
Frequently women worry so much about the pleasure of their partner that it builds anxiety, which manifests as impatience with the delay of orgasm in the woman. This delay can lead to frustration as the woman feels sexually frustrated by not reaching the point of orgasmic sexual satisfaction.
For a variety of reasons, some people choose to fake an orgasm.
A recent Redbook survey shows that 52% of women regularly fake orgasms. Only 17% of women are likely to have an orgasm during sexual intercourse owing to the fact that the size and location of the clitoris mean that it often does not receive sufficient stimulation from intercourse alone. 43% of women report “some kind of sexual problem” – such as inability to achieve orgasm, boredom with sex, or total lack of interest in sex.[28]
If a male experiences erection and ejaculation but no orgasm, he is said to have Sexual anhedonia.
[orgasm" can refer to any peak of emotional intensity—a "climax" in the non-sexual sense. Used in this way, the speaker is comparing the "climax" to a sexual climax. It does, however, occur without a primarily sexual meaning in literature written prior to the sexual revolution:
^ Richters, Juliet. http://www.sexscience.org/uploads/media/JSR