Women’s Orgasm and Its Relationship with Sexual Satisfaction and Well-being

Abstract

Purpose of review: Women’s orgasms have been subject to controversial discussions among scholars throughout history. Even today, narratives of women’s orgasm being complicated or less important (cp. to men’s) for their sexual functioning and satisfaction are prevailing and reflected in gendered sexual scripts. This review aims to compile evidence for the relationship between orgasm and sexual well-being in women. We consider orgasm’s role in women’s sexual pleasure, sexual satisfaction, and desire in the context of both casual and committed sexual encounters. Recent findings: Substantial evidence supports a significant link between orgasm and sexual pleasure, satisfaction, and desire in women. Orgasm has been identified as an important factor in predicting relational satisfaction as well as positive outcomes of casual sex. For instance, orgasming during casual sex completely accounts for the persistent gender differences researchers have observed in emotional and evaluative responses to casual encounters. Summary: As we cover in this review, there is no shortage of research demonstrating the myriad of favorable physical, psychological, and interpersonal associations with women’s orgasms across relational and sexual contexts. Because orgasm has continually surfaced as such a critical component of women’s positive sexual experiences, we argue the female orgasm should be taken seriously as a meaningful site of research on women’s well-being, and orgasm equality should be taken seriously in the pursuit of gender equality.