The Orgasm Gap: Straight Women Have the Fewest

D.L. Chandler
A new study across gender and sexual orientation finds that straight woman have the fewest orgasms (Photo: Getty Images)
A new study across gender and sexual orientation finds that straight woman have the fewest orgasms (Photo: Getty Images)

A study conducted between a trio of United States-based universities found that women who identify as heterosexual have fewer orgasms than their male and gay or bisexual female counterparts. Over 52,000 thousand people were observed in the study, which also mentioned how these women could achieve higher orgasm frequency.

The study, titled “Differences in Orgasm Frequency Among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Men and Women in a U.S. National Sample,” was published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. Researchers from Indiana University, Chapman University and Claremont Graduate University compiled the data of 52, 600 subjects.

They found that an alarming 95 percent of male subjects were able to achieve orgasm regularly when compared to 65 percent of straight women. Additionally, gay men achieved orgasm at a rate of 89 percent while bisexual men sat at 88 percent. Women who identified as lesbian achieved a rate of 86 percent orgasm success, and bisexual women came in at 66 percent.

Adding to the complexity of the study, researchers found that straight women rarely achieved climax from penetrative sex. The study suggests that oral sex and other activities heighten the chances of orgasm occurring. Other suggestions made for straight women were to ask for different positions, ask for what they need while in bed, flirting, having open talk about needs and much more.

A 2015 study suggested that women were having just as many orgasms as men, although the study conducted by the Skyn condom brand didn’t appear to have medical aims. Orgasm-training group OMGYES conducted a study in 2016 alongside Indiana University professor Dr. Debby Herbenick aimed at women achieving multiple orgasms.

A study published in the journal JEZ-Molecular and Developmental Evolution and overseen by Mihaela Pavličev of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Günter Wagner from Yale University looked into why women had orgasms, discovering that sexual stimulation keeps women fertile and had an evolutionary link with apes.

Related:

Is Sex Actually Better for Women in Their 40s (and Beyond)?

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