We hear from Alice Child, Sexologist at sexual wellness platform SheSpot and Sex & Intimacy Counsellor, as she explains some of the different types of orgasm for women and people with vulvas. Spoiler - there are more than you thought!
Although I’m a great believer in enjoying the journey of sex and pleasure - not just focusing on the ‘destination’ of orgasm - there is no denying that orgasms can feel amazing. They also release all sorts of pleasure chemicals and neurotransmitters in our brain and body, meaning they are also beneficial for our health!
A lot of people ask me to define an orgasm, which is tricky as depending on who you ask (a sexologist, a doctor, a neuroscientist etc!) you will get numerous different definitions. And it is a hard thing to define given they often feel so different from one experience to the next - let alone for different people!
My definition is a build up of erotic tension & pleasure, that culminates in some form of release or climax. This is often accompanied with physical responses in your brain/body, such as pelvic floor muscle spasms, shortness of breath, making sounds, heart rate increases, and a flood of emotions and physical sensations.
As many of us have experienced, not all orgasms are the same. Some are powerful, some are gentle. Some last a long time, some are very quick. Some stay centralised to our genitals, others take over the whole body or come from somewhere else entirely. Some leave us feeling teary and emotional, others leave us with the giggles.
To help you get a slightly better understanding of ‘orgasms’, here are some of the different types of orgasm a woman or a person with a vulva can experience. This is not an exhaustive list, but gives you an understanding of how many ways there are of experiencing peak pleasure.
Enjoy!
Alice x
What are the different ways people can experience orgasms?
There are so many ways the body can build pleasure and reach orgasm, and many of them will surprise you:
- External Clitoral orgasms seem to be the most common, and given the head/glans of the clitoris has over 10,000 nerve endings and is the most sensitive part of the human body that's not too surprising! According to various studies, around 70-85% of people with vulva's say they need some form of external clitoral stimulation (stimulating the glans and shaft of the clitoris) in order to build arousal and reach orgasm. This means that during self pleasure or partnered pleasure people rely on external physical stimulation like:
- Hand stimulation / massage
- Stimulation from a vibrator / air suction toy / shower head etc.
- Pressure/grinding against a pillow/bed/body
- Internal clitorial orgasms - The clitoris is a whole network that runs under the surface of the skin - what you see on the outside of the body (the glans) is only the tip of the iceberg! The majority of the clitoris (it's 7-11cm in size) lives under the surface of the skin, branching out either side of the opening to the vagina and downwards in two ‘legs’ and two ‘bulbs’. The entire clitoris is very sensitive and fills up with blood during arousal, and can be stimulated both externally (eg vulva & labia massage) and internally (near the entrance to the vagina). Rather than just focusing on the tip, it's a great idea to stimulate the rest of the clitoris, vulva, and vagina too - this stops the glans becoming over sensitive and results in more full-bodied pleasure.
- G-spot (or g-crest / g-zone) orgasms - These are a type of internal vaginal orgasm, specifically stimulating the upper wall of the vagina (towards the belly button) with fingers, a penis or a toy. These can feel very intense. Stimulation here might also trigger squirting or female ejaculation which can be another form of peak pleasure experience (but isn't always an orgasm!)
- Cervix orgasms - Going deeper inside the vagina is the cervix, which can also lead to very powerful and intense internal orgasms. Sadly many people associate this part of their body with pain (not pleasure) during sex due to accidental 'bumps' in certain positions. Remember sex should NEVER be painful, and when we listen to our body, slow down, and build pleasure at our own pace, we can have even more pleasurable experiences.
- Blended orgasms - When we are getting great stimulation in two (or more!) erogenous zones, that's what is sometimes called a blended orgasm. For example, when we are having pleasurable penetrative sex while also stimulating the external clitoris.
- Anal orgasms - A very sensitive erogenous zone both externally and internally. Both external massage/rimming/stimulation and/or internal stimulation can trigger very very powerful orgasms.
- Orgasms in your sleep - Many people with vulvas orgasm in their sleep without any touch at all! Sometimes this is due to certain dreams/fantasies, but not always.
- Full bodied orgasms - Remember that our entire body can be an erogenous zone if we give it the right sort of time and attention. Don't just focus on the genitals. Imagine you are spreading that pleasure around your body. Don't be afraid to try new touch, move your body, make sounds, and breathe. This is how people start to learn how to build to more powerful full-bodied orgasmic experiences
- Nipple-gasms - A very sensitive erogenous zone for many. With practice, many people can have orgasms through nipple stimulation