(144) The Orgasm Golden Quartet: Which Behaviors Best Predict Orgasm During Last Sexual Event Across Sexual Orientations?

Abstract Introduction It has been well established that there are multiple orgasm gaps: men orgasm more routinely than women during sexual activity, and lesbian women orgasm more routinely than other women. Furthermore, there is substantial variability in orgasm frequency among women. Objective Past research has identified a “golden trio” of behaviors linked to higher overall orgasm frequency for women: genital stimulation, deep kissing, and oral sex. However, that research measured the behaviors at the last sexual event but orgasm frequency over the past month. Methods The current study measured behaviors and orgasm during the last sexual event among 637 gay, bisexual, and lesbian participants along with 931 heterosexual participants recruited via online survey panels. Results Most women reported having an orgasm during their last sexual event (70%), including from oral sex (24%), manual stimulation of genitals (34%), sexual intercourse (46%), and/or vibrator/sex toy (14%; percentages exceed 100% because many women reported attributed their orgasm(s) to more than one behavior). In logistic regressions, the odds ratios for the strongest statistically significant predictors of women’s orgasms were manual stimulation of genitals (3.9), using a sex toy (3.6), receiving oral sex (2.9), and deep kissing (2.1), with anal sex (3.0) and vaginal intercourse (1.9) falling just short of significance. Most men (93%) reported an orgasm during their last sexual event, including from vaginal intercourse (78%), oral sex (18%), manual stimulation (16%), and sex toy (2%). Most men (88%) reported that their partner orgasmed, with most men attributing their partner’s orgasms to sexual intercourse (63%), followed by oral sex (32%), manual stimulation (31%), and sex toys (9%). The lesbian, gay, and bisexual participants reported the cognitions, emotions, and behaviors that occurred during their last sexual event. There were notable differences not only in orgasm frequency across the groups, but also in the predictors of orgasm. Conclusions These findings replicated the golden trio, and the addition of sex toys for the Golden Quartet when looking at women’s reported likelihood of orgasm. These findings highlight the importance of specific behaviors for women’s orgasm, and how differences across sexual orientations in these behaviors help explain the orgasm gap(s). Disclosure No.