Orgasm Frequency Predicts Desire and Expectation for Orgasm: Assessing the Orgasm Gap within Mixed-Sex Couples

Wetzel, Grace M.; Cultice, Rachel; Sanchez, Diana T.

doi:10.1007/s11199-022-01280-7

Cited by 18 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Amy verbalizes a well-known phenomenon known as the orgasm gap (Andrejek & Heath, 2006 ; Bouchars, 2021 ; Mahar et al, 2020 ; Wade, 2015 ; Wade et al, 2005 ; Wetzel, 2023 ; Wetzel et al, 2022 ). Wade et al ( 2005 ) found among a sample of college students that women orgasm 39% of the time during penetrative intercourse versus men who do so 91%.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Caring, Chemistry, and Orgasms: Components of Great Sexual Experiences

Walker

Lutmer

2023

Sexuality & Culture

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Sexual satisfaction is important to individual well-being and relationship satisfaction, making it a research topic relevant for sex clinicians and relationship therapists. The current study adds to sexuality literature by asking participants questions about the factors involved in “great sex.” We conducted 78 interviews via email or phone with participants ranging in age from 18 to 69. The sample included a diverse range of sexual orientations and identities, and various relationship statuses. Three primary themes emerged regarding great sex: orgasm, an emotional component, and chemistry/connection. Though some participants equated an emotional aspect as love; most participants made clear the difference between love and emotional elements in sex. Many participants shared their belief that a man only invests in his female partner’s orgasm when he also invests in her emotionally. Thus, some women explained that the emotional component helped them be present enough to orgasm. Others explained the emotional component as trust and affection. Participants also elaborated to define chemistry, which they regarded as out of one’s control and impossible to manufacture. A smaller number of participants stated unequivocally the lack of necessity of an emotional aspect to great sex; they stated instead that physical connection trumped an emotional component.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wetzel, et al ( 2022 ) found that women who orgasm less often lower both their expectation and desire for orgasm. Further, Grace Wentzel explains “our expectations are shaped by our experiences.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caring, Chemistry, and Orgasms: Components of Great Sexual Experiences

Walker

Lutmer

2023

Sexuality & Culture

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“…We are simply comparing average perceptions. Two recent dyadic studies found that a substantial minority of men overreport their female partners’ orgasm frequencies compared to their partners' reports (25% and 27.5%, respectively; (Leonhardt et al, 2018; Wetzel et al, 2022). Future work should continue to look at orgasm perceptions within dyadic partnerships.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterosexual Young Adults’ Experience With and Perceptions of the Orgasm Gap: A Mixed Methods Approach

Wetzel

Sanchez

2022

Psychology of Women Quarterly

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The “orgasm gap” refers to the finding that cisgender men, on average, have more orgasms than cisgender women during heterosexual partnered sex. In the current research, we replicated evidence for several orgasm discrepancies across sexual contexts and assessed men’s and women’s perceptions of the orgasm gap. Our sample consisted of 276 heterosexual, cisgender, sexually active undergraduate students (56.52% women; M age = 18.84). We assessed participants’ self-reported orgasm frequencies with a familiar partner, with a new partner, and during masturbation, as well as participants’ perceptions of their partners’ orgasm frequencies. We found evidence for orgasm discrepancies between young men and women within contexts and for women across contexts. Additionally, men perceived the size of the orgasm gap to be smaller than women perceived it to be. We used qualitative analyses to assess participants’ perceptions of driving forces behind the orgasm gap and their responses could be grouped into five overarching themes: Sociocultural Influence, Women’s Orgasm Difficulty, Biology, Men’s Fault, and Interpersonal Communication. This qualitative data can inform education and advocacy efforts focused on improving orgasm outcomes for young women, particularly by disproving prominent biological justifications for orgasm difference and addressing relevant sociocultural concerns. Additional online materials for this article are available on PWQ’s website at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/03616843221076410 .

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“…How might the relative lack of orgasm for women affect the magnitude of the differences observed? We do not have a definitive answer, but it seems unlikely that this effect would be negligible, given ample research suggesting the importance of orgasm for sexual satisfaction (Costa & Brody, 2007; Gusakova et al, 2020; Piemonte et al, 2019; Sprecher et al, 1995; Wetzel et al, 2022).…”

Section: Are Sociocultural/contextual Factors Responsible For Gender ...mentioning

confidence: 96%

Can sociocultural and contextual factors explain gender differences in sex drive? A response to Frankenbach et al. (2022).

Conley,

Yang

2024

Psychological Bulletin

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Most theories predict, and most studies demonstrate, that men have a higher sex drive than women do. A spirited debate has emerged surrounding the origins of gender differences in sex drive; Frankenbach et al. (2022) commented on this controversy in the context of their impressive meta-analysis. We provide a different interpretation of these findings: Specifically, women get worse sex than men do. We argue that if the differences between the sex that women get and the sex that men get were accounted for, gender differences in sex drive would be reduced or eliminated completely. We focus more specifically on two factors that should be accounted for in future meta-analyses-narrow definitions of "sex" as penile-vaginal intercourse, and gender disparities in sexual violence-and additional factors that should be acknowledged when interpreting meta-analytic results-gendered cultural messages, respect from heterosexual partners, and sexual stigmatization. Public Significance StatementMost research finds that men have a somewhat higher sex drive than women do, when sex is defined vaguely. We address potential reasons for the difference: Women and men may be driven toward different types of sex, women experience substantially more sexual violence than men, messages from society are more permissive and positive toward men's sexuality than women's, heterosexual women are more likely to be disrespected by their partners than heterosexual men, and women are stigmatized for wanting sex.

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Orgasm Frequency Predicts Desire and Expectation for Orgasm: Assessing the Orgasm Gap within Mixed-Sex Couples

Cited by 18 publications

References 53 publications

Caring, Chemistry, and Orgasms: Components of Great Sexual Experiences

Caring, Chemistry, and Orgasms: Components of Great Sexual Experiences

Heterosexual Young Adults’ Experience With and Perceptions of the Orgasm Gap: A Mixed Methods Approach

Can sociocultural and contextual factors explain gender differences in sex drive? A response to Frankenbach et al. (2022).

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