Scientists from Indiana University, US, studied age-related disparities in orgasm rates from intercourse, across gender and sexual orientation. The study is published in the journal Sexual medicine.
Study: The lifespan orgasm gap: exploring the impact of age on orgasm rates. Image Credit: Aloha Hawaii/Shutterstock
Background
Orgasm is a psychophysiological response to sexual stimulation, characterized by muscular contractions, hormonal changes and a release of tension. It contributes significantly to sexual satisfaction and well-being. A lack of orgasm can lead to distress and relationship problems.
Variation in orgasm rate has been observed by gender and sexual orientation, with heterosexual women experiencing comparatively lower orgasm rates than both men and homosexual women. Such disparities could be associated with biological, psychological and sociocultural factors that influence sexual pleasure.
In this study, scientists determined differences in orgasm rates across adult age groups, genders, and sexual orientations.
Understanding these variations is crucial for addressing developmental influences on sexual health and designing interventions to improve sexual functioning across the lifespan.
Study design
The scientists analyzed data collected from eight cross-sectional surveys conducted in the United States between 2015 and 2023. The final analytical sample included a total of 24,752 participants aged 18 to 100 years old.
Participants’ responses about their average orgasm rates during intercourse were made on a scale of 0% to 100%. Information on participants’ age, gender, income, sexual orientation, and race or ethnicity was also collected from the survey data.
The scientists classified the participants into five age groups: emerging adults, young adults, early middle-aged adults, late middle-aged adults, and older adults. They determined the impact of gender and sexual orientation on orgasm rates within each age group.
Important observations
The average orgasm rate in the entire study population was 65%. The analysis revealed a negligible association between age and orgasm rate with a minimal effect size.
A moderate impact of age was observed on the association between orgasm rate, gender and sexual orientation. Specifically, age was found to be positively associated with orgasm rates among bisexual men, homosexual women, and homosexual men. However, the magnitude of the effects was small.
Among heterosexual participants, a nonlinear association was observed between age and orgasm rate. However, the effect size was small.
When considering middle, late, and older age groups, higher orgasm rates were observed among heterosexual participants than among homosexual and bisexual participants. However, no such association was observed in emerging adults and young adults.
Across genders, higher orgasm rates were observed among heterosexual men than among non-heterosexual men in the late middle age group. No such differences were observed in the middle-aged and older groups.
Across all five age groups, higher orgasm rates were observed among non-heterosexual women than among heterosexual women in the middle-aged group. However, no such differences were observed in the middle and old age groups.
In the older middle-aged group, higher orgasm rates were observed in bisexual participants than in homosexual participants. In their early 50s, orgasm rates were higher among gay women than among bisexual women.
When considering all five age groups, higher orgasm rates were observed in men than in women. While orgasm rates for men ranged from 70 to 85 percent, they were 46 to 58 percent for women. Overall, men’s orgasm rates were 22 to 30 percent higher than women’s.
Significance of the study
The study reveals persistent disparities in orgasm rates across the adult lifespan, ranging from emerging adulthood (ages 18 to 24) to older adulthood (ages 65 and older).
The study also found significantly higher orgasm rates among men than women, consistent with available literature.
The presence of such disparities in orgasm rates, also called the orgasm gap, could be attributed to sociocultural norms and inadequate sex education.
Among study participants, older gay and bisexual men as well as gay women reported higher orgasm rates than their younger peers. This suggests that an individual’s understanding of their sexual needs and preferences improves with age.
The persistent gender gap in orgasm observed across all age groups indicates that age does not exclusively influence the underlying factors associated with orgasm disparities.
As the scientists pointed out, the study results have significant clinical implications for health care providers, therapists and sex educators. The persistence of the orgasm gap highlights the need for a more inclusive approach in clinical practice and education to focus on discussions related to sexual health, addressing the specific challenges faced by sexual minorities and aging populations and emphasize mutual satisfaction to promote sexual well-being.
Longitudinal studies involving participants of diverse identities are needed in the future to more conclusively determine orgasm rates across the lifespan and to develop interventions to reduce orgasm disparities.