The orgasm is a curious thing. What one person experiences as a mind-blowing full-body sensation, another may perceive as a subtle release of tension confined to a specific area.
This article covers some of the most common types of orgasms and gives a bit of background on each one.
What is an orgasm?
An orgasm is a complex physiological and psychological response to sexual stimulation. It’s often described as a peak of sexual pleasure and release, accompanied by intense physical and emotional sensations.
However, as certified sex educator and resident sexologist for Fleshy, Suzannah Weiss explains, there are exceptions to this definition.
“Some people say they experience orgasms in all different ways: through nipple stimulation, through breath work, and even just through the power of thought,” Weiss says. “Pelvic contractions may not accompany these orgasms, but they do elicit similar changes in the brain and hormone levels that genital orgasms do!”
5 Types of Orgasms
Pleasure is a spectrum, and there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to orgasms. While some people may be most familiar with genital orgasms, other common types include:
Clitoral Orgasm
According to a *groundbreaking* study published in The Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 37% of women need clitoral stimulation to achieve orgasm.
The clitoris is an intricate organ that appears as a small nub located at the top of the vulva (this is where we get “flicking the bean” from). But the clitoris isn’t just a tiny button on the vulva — it’s a complex network of nerve endings that extends up to four inches into the body.
A clitoral orgasm is the result of direct or indirect stimulation to the clitoris, either through manual or oral stimulation, using sex toys, grinding against a partner’s body, or even through certain positions during penetrative sex.
“People tend to describe clitoral orgasms as sharp, intense peaks,” says Weiss. “For someone with a penis, a penis-based orgasm is most similar to a clitoral orgasm, as the clitoris and penis develop from the same tissue.”