“More Orgasms, Less Anxiety? Exploring the Link Between Pleasure and Relaxation”
A new study led by researchers from the University of Essex has provided fresh insights into the intricate workings of female orgasms, uncovering a link between interoception—the awareness of internal bodily sensations—and orgasm frequency and satisfaction.
This research, among the first to focus on the healthy female orgasm rather than dysfunction, highlights the potential for women to enhance their well-being and improve relationship satisfaction through a deeper connection with their internal bodily experiences.
“Our study empirically demonstrates that women need to get out of their heads and into their bodies in order to have more frequent and satisfying orgasms,” says Megan Klabunde, the study’s corresponding author.
Interoception and orgasm
Interoception refers to an inward-looking sense that allows individuals to perceive and interpret internal signals such as heartbeats, breathing patterns, and touch sensations. The study found that women who demonstrated heightened interoceptive awareness were significantly more likely to experience frequent and satisfying orgasms.
“This study is important because most research looking at orgasms in women have focused on their dysfunction. Focusing only on orgasmic dysfunction in women is a problem because there is very little research demonstrating the normal process of orgasm for women, let alone demonstrating ways for women to enrich their orgasms,” explains Klabunde.
The researchers found that women achieved orgasms approximately 20% more frequently during solitary encounters than in partnered interactions. Interestingly, the disparity in orgasm satisfaction mirrored these rates, reinforcing the evidence of the “orgasm gap,” a well-documented phenomenon where women report lower orgasm rates during partnered sex compared to solo activities or those with same-sex partners.
Klabunde and her team uncovered several nuances in the relationship between interoception and orgasm. Specifically, certain dimensions of interoceptive awareness were associated with distinct aspects of orgasmic experience. For instance, the ability to notice internal sensations predicted orgasm frequency across both solo and partnered contexts.
Meanwhile, the capacity for attention regulation, or the ability to focus on bodily sensations, was linked to greater frequency and satisfaction of orgasms during solitary activities. Additionally, a trait known as “body trusting,” which reflects confidence in one’s bodily sensations, was strongly associated with orgasm satisfaction in both contexts.
Mindfulness, communication important for fulfilling sexual experiences
According to Klabunde, this study underscores the critical role that internal bodily awareness plays in sexual experiences. “It is important for women and their partners to trust the woman’s internal bodily experiences during sexual encounters,” she noted.
The researchers suggested that these findings could lead to practical applications for enhancing sexual well-being. By encouraging women to develop stronger interoceptive skills, such as mindfulness practices that heighten awareness of bodily sensations, individuals may achieve more fulfilling sexual experiences.
Moreover, the results emphasize the importance of open communication between partners to support a woman’s ability to focus on her internal experiences during intimacy.
Interestingly, the study also contributes to broader discussions about the orgasm gap, suggesting that the disparity is not solely due to women’s inability to achieve orgasm but may reflect the challenges of fostering satisfying orgasms in certain partnered contexts.
Source: Interesting Engineering
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“More Orgasms, Less Anxiety? Exploring the Link Between Pleasure and Relaxation”