Are all orgasms created equal?

If you’ve ever had more than one type of orgasm, then you’d know that the answer is “no.” In fact, there are at least 10 types of orgasms, all with varying levels of pleasure.

This article will first define orgasms. I’ll also outline how orgasms differ between men and women. Finally, I’ll share with you the 10 different types of orgasms, including what they feel like and how you can achieve them… tonight.

What is an Orgasm?

An orgasm is the climax of sexual excitement, characterized by involuntary muscle contractions in the genitalia. It’s a pleasurable experience with varying levels of intensity and length depending on the form of stimulation.

What Are the “Types” of Orgasms?

When talking about orgasms, there is often discussion about the different types. That is, people will describe different sensations and intensities based on what has been stimulated and how.

That’s what we mean by “type” of orgasm, though even that can still be a ubiquitous term. Why? Because type of orgasm can be defined in numerous ways, including the structure that is stimulated (e.g. vagina, penis, clit) and the style of stimulation (e.g. multiple, blended).

The Sexual Response Cycle

There are four phases of the sexual response cycle:

1. Excitement
2. Plateau
3. Orgasm
4. Resolution

Both men and women experience all of the above stages. However, the physical characteristics can vary. Let’s discuss the traits and characteristics of each phase as it pertains to men and women.

The Male Orgasm

Let’s look at the specifics of the sexual response cycle as experienced by men.

Phase 1: Excitement

In both men and women, the following symptoms will occur during the excitement phase:

• Increase in heart rate
• Increase in respiration (breathing rate)
• Rise in blood pressure

In men, the excitement phase is further characterized by the hardening of the penis. The testicles will rise during this stage to accommodate erection, and the scrotum may tighten and thicken as the penis becomes erect.

Phase 2: Plateau

In both men and women, there will be a continued increase in heart rate and respiration as well as a rise in blood pressure. There will also be an increase in myotonia, or muscle tension, as excitement continues to build.

In men, rhythmic contractions will often begin at the base of the penis. The urethral sphincter will also close to prevent urine from mixing in with ejaculate. There may begin to be a release of pre-ejaculatory fluids.

Phase 3: Orgasm

In men and women, the orgasm is characterized by quick, rhythmic muscle contractions in the lower pelvic muscles. This includes the sexual organs and the anus.

In men, orgasms are most strongly associated with ejaculation. Each orgasmic pulse is accompanied by a stream of male ejaculate which diminishes as the pulses become less intense.

Phase 4: Resolution

In men and women, the resolution phase is characterized by muscle relaxation and a decrease in blood pressure. The body will calm down to its pre-excitement level.

In men, the penis goes from erect to flaccid. It does so in two stages, first from erect to about 50% erect and then to a fully flaccid state. This occurs during the refractory period in which men cannot generally achieve orgasm again.

The Female Orgasm

Now let’s see how the female sexual response cycle and orgasm differ from their male counterpart.

Phase 1: Excitement

In both men and women, the following symptoms will occur during the excitement phase:

• • Increase in heart rate
  • Increase in respiration (breathing rate)
  • Rise in blood pressure

In women, blood flow to the genitals increases (vasocongestion) so they become engorged. This includes the clitoris, labia minora, and vagina. The breasts may also slightly increase in size and the nipples harden. Finally, the vagina will begin to produce a self-lubricant.

Phase 2: Plateau

In both men and women, there will be a continued increase in heart rate and respiration as well as a rise in blood pressure. There will also be an increase in myotonia, or muscle tension, as excitement continues to build.

In women, the changes that occurred during the excitement phase continue. This means the vagina will continue to secrete lubrication, the clitoris will continue to engorge, and the nipples will continue to harden. The erogenous zones will also sensitize.

Phase 3: Orgasm

In men and women, the orgasm is characterized by quick, rhythmic muscle contractions in the lower pelvic muscles. This includes the sexual organs and the anus.

In women, the female orgasm is characterized by uterine and vaginal contractions. Overall, women experience a body-wide wave of pleasure that emanates from the groin. It’s also uncommon for women to ejaculate during orgasm, but it’s not impossible. You may notice a milky white fluid from the urethra. That’s female ejaculate.

Phase 4: Resolution

In men and women, the resolution phase is characterized by muscle relaxation and a decrease in blood pressure. The body will calm down to its pre-excitement level.

Unlike men, it’s possible for most women to orgasm again immediately after orgasm. There is no defined refractory period for women, though some will have difficulty orgasming if the clitoris is too sensitive.

10 Types of Orgasms

Here are 10 types of orgasms to expand your and your partner’s depths of pleasure.

1. Clitoral

Who: Women

A clitoral orgasm occurs from stimulation of the clitoris, either direct or indirect. This orgasm is considered to be one of the most intense thanks to the millions of nerve endings within the clitoris.

We’ll talk a bit more about indirect clitoral stimulation when we get to the g-spot and a-spot sections below. As for direct clitoral stimulation, the most common ways to do that are with fingers, a sex toy (like a vibrator), the tongue, or even the shaft of the penis during certain sex positions.

How to Have a Clitoral Orgasm

1. Get the vulva wet, either with natural lubrication fluids from arousal or artificial lube. Some women naturally lubricate more than others, so there’s no shame in subbing in artificial lube when necessary.
2. Use a finger or two to apply pressure in a repetitive pattern to the clitoris. If the clitoris is sensitive, start with light pressure and a slow pattern.
3. As climax builds, increase the pressure and speed. Continue until you climax.

2. Vaginal

Who: Women

A vaginal orgasm is one that occurs deep within the core. This is achieved by penetration, either with fingers, a penis, or a sex toy like a dildo or vibrator.

Vaginal orgasms aren’t as common as clitoral orgasms. Only 21% to 30% of women are able to achieve climax with unassisted intercourse (i.e. vaginal penetration without other forms of stimulation).

How can you increase her odds of climaxing with vaginal penetration? Try sex positions that target the g-spot and a-spot. You can also focus on stimulating other sensitive areas, like the clitoris or nipples.

How to Have a Vaginal Orgasm

1. Get the vagina wet, either with natural lubrication fluids or artificial lube. You can do so with foreplay or other arousal methods.
2. Insert a finger, penis, or sex toy into the vagina.
3. If using a finger or sex toy, play around with the angle by angling it up towards your belly button. If using a penis, explore sex positions until you find something you both enjoy.
4. Once you’ve found a spot that feels good, play around with various speeds and stimulation methods until the climax builds up.
5. Remember that not all women orgasm from vaginal penetration alone. You can also stimulate the clitoris for additional pleasure.

3. Blended or Mixed

Who: Men and Women

A blended, or mixed, orgasm is one that occurs when two types of orgasms occur simultaneously. This is most often associated with vaginal/clitoral orgasms, though other combinations can happen too. This includes penile/anal orgasms in men.

These kinds of orgasms are rare as they require perfect timing. That is, you or your partner must reach climax in both areas simultaneously.

You can increase the odds of this happening by making your partner responsible for one type of stimulation (i.e. vaginal, penile) while you handle the other type of stimulation (i.e. clitoral, anal). This way you can speed up or slow down as needed.

How to Have a Blended Orgasm

1. Get the vagina and the vulva wet, either with natural lubrication fluids or artificial lube.
2. Choose your main source of stimulation. For example, will you focus more on vaginal penetration or clitoral stimulation?
3. If focusing on vaginal penetration, then choose sex positions where you or your partner have easy access to the clitoris. If focusing on clitoral stimulation, then get a good dildo or vibrator for penetration.
4. Find a good rhythm that feels good to you. Focus on pulling back for forging ahead as you try to balance reaching climax from both stimulation techniques at the same time. This can be difficult the first few times, but you’ll eventually get the hang of it.

4. Penile

Who: Men

The most common type of orgasm in men, penile orgasm occurs due to stimulation of the penis. This is most often in the form of vaginal penetration though anal penetration, hand jobs, blow jobs, and sex toys can also have the same effect.

How to Have a Penile Orgasm

1. Ensure the penis is moist, either from your partner’s natural lubrication or an artificial lube.
2. The best way to achieve penile orgasm is by stroking the penis from the base to the tip. This can be done with a hand, a mouth, a vagina, an anus, or a sex toy.
3. Start with slow, measured strokes and slowly increase speed and intensity of the strokes.
4. As you or your partner gets close to climax, shorten the strokes so they’re largely focused on the tip. Adjust (or ask your partner to adjust) their technique as you get closer until you finally climax.

5. Anal

Who: Men and Women

An anal orgasm is one that can be experienced by both men and women. It occurs due to penetration, whether with a finger, a penis, or a sex toy.

What constitutes a true anal orgasm, though? Does penetration alone cause it? The truth is that anal orgasms are usually a prostate orgasm (in men) and an a-spot orgasm (in women).

That’s not to say that anal penetration alone can’t be satisfactory. But orgasm from anal penetration is only likely when the stimulation of one of the above structures also occurs.

How to Have an Anal Orgasm

1. Lubricate the anus thoroughly with lubricant. The anus doesn’t naturally lubricate, so be generous and don’t be afraid to reapply.
2. Insert a finger, sex toy, or penis into the anus.
3. If male, focus on the prostate which is close to the opening of the anus at the front wall of the rectum. If female, focus on an area about three inches in as this will be close enough to stimulate the a-spot.
4. You can use a finger to flick the spot, a vibrating sex toy, or a penis with various anal sex positions to hit just the right spot.

6. Prostate

Who: Men

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland in front of the rectum, just between the bladder and the penis. The prostate is found only in men. A prostate orgasm is one of the most intense orgasms for men.

A prostate orgasm can be achieved either internally with penetration or externally with stimulation of the perineum. From the inside, it feels like a fleshy bulb of tissue at the very front of the rectum. From the outside, you likely won’t feel it but you may feel the urge to pee. That means you’re hitting the right spot!

How to Have a Prostate Orgasm

1. Decide first if you’ll stimulate the prostate internally or externally.
2. If stimulating internally, lubricate the anus thoroughly with lubricant. Then insert a finger, sex toy, or penis into the anus. You want to focus on the opening of the anus to hit the prostate.
3. If stimulating externally, apply gentle pressure along the perineum. When you hit a spot that feels like you have to pee, that’s the prostate. Continue to massage the prostate with varying levels of speed and intensity until you reach climax.

7. G-Spot

Who: Women

The g-spot is the internal extension of the clitoris. It is found near the opening of the vagina, about an inch into the opening. The g-spot orgasm can be achieved in multiple ways, including vaginal penetration and anal penetration. It can also be one of the more intense orgasms for women, as it combines the sensitivity of the clit with the fullness of vaginal penetration.

To find the g-spot, insert a finger into the vagina. Hook your finger just past the opening and feel around for an area of tissue that feels fleshier than the surrounding area. That’s the g-spot!

A g-spot orgasm can take some intentional stimulation, such as with certain vaginal sex positions (like reverse cowgirl and the pushup) or with a g-spot vibrator.

How to Have a G-Spot Orgasm

1. Get the vagina wet, either with natural lubrication fluids or artificial lube. You can do so with foreplay or other arousal methods.
2. Insert a finger, penis, or sex toy into the vagina.
3. If using a finger, hook the finger inward and feel around for an area that feels fleshier than surrounding tissues. If using a sex toy, you may want to use one specifically for g-spot stimulation as others will not hit it correctly. The same goes for penises, it can be difficult to hit the g-spot directly.
4. Apply varying levels of pressure to the g-spot. Play around with different movements (e.g. tapping, circling, rubbing) to see what feels good to you.
5. Continue with varying levels of pressure and speed until you climax.

8. A-Spot

Who: Women

The a-spot is a spot at the very back of the vagina, near the cervix, that is particularly sensitive to stimulation. The a-spot orgasm is quite similar to the g-spot orgasm in sensation, though it may include more cervical pulsations.

The best sex positions that target this spot enable deep penetration, like doggy style, the horny mantis, and reverse cowgirl. The a-spot can also be hit during anal sex as the wall that separates the vagina and the anus is thin.

How to Have an A-Spot Orgasm

1. Get the vulva wet, either with natural lubrication fluids or artificial lube. You can do so with foreplay or other arousal methods.
2. Insert a penis or sex toy into the vagina. A finger may work, but it’d have to be quite long.
3. As the a-spot is deep within the vagina, just past the cervix, you need to get deep in there. Try different deep penetrating positions (e.g. doggy style, the bicycle) until you find one you like.
4. If with a partner, ask them to vary their speed and strokes dependent on what feels good. If using a sex toy, play around with different kinds of stimulation.
5. Continue with varying levels of pressure and speed until you climax.

9. Nipple

Who: Men and Women

While nipple stimulation is often portrayed as only pleasurable to women, nipple orgasms can happen in both men and women. This occurs with direct stimulation of the nipple.

To start, I recommend that you or your partner are particularly turned on. Otherwise, nipple play may feel a bit like sandpaper. Once properly aroused, though, the nipples sensitize making any type of touch electrifying.

To achieve a nipple orgasm, you have a few options. For some, all it takes is some stimulation with the fingers. For others, nipple sucking will get them there. For still others, you can even incorporate BDSM tools like nipple clamps for prolonged stimulation.

How to Have a Nipple Orgasm

1. Get fully aroused. You can do so with foreplay with or without a partner.
2. Start by slowing circling the breasts with your fingers. Work your way inward towards the nipples. You can also go in and then pull back and continue in that way for a few minutes to really get going.
3. Using your fingertips, gently circle your nipples in varying levels of speed and pressure. You can also try other techniques, such as pinching, tapping, and tickling.
4. As you play around with different techniques, focus on the sensations building up. This may feel uncomfortable at first, but if you continue you’ll feel more and more pleasure as the climax builds up. Continue until climax.
5. For extra fun, have a partner lick and suck your nipples. You can also use things like ice cubes, hot and cold lubricant, and feathers for additional sensations.

10. Multiple

Who: Women

Unlike men, who have a refractory period following orgasm, women are able to achieve multiple orgasms one after the other. This is achievable with intense and continued stimulation, though some women can orgasm multiple times from penetration, too.

Clitoral stimulation is the easiest way to get her there multiple times in a row. For some women, however, the clitoris can be too sensitive after one or two orgasms. In that case, you can target other areas like the g-spot or nipples.

How to Have Multiple Orgasms

1. Get the vulva and vagina wet, either with natural lubrication fluids from arousal or artificial lube.
2. Choose which area you’d like to stimulate. The clitoris is the easiest way to reach multiple orgasms, though you can experiment with the g-spot or even the anus.
3. If using the clitoris (as we recommend), use a finger or two to apply pressure in a repetitive pattern to the clitoris. If the clitoris is sensitive, start with light pressure and a slow pattern.
4. As climax builds, increase the pressure and speed. Continue until you climax.
5. Once you’ve climaxed, it’s okay to take a break for a few minutes. You don’t want to lose your momentum though, so the sooner you start back up the better. Once again, use a finger or two to apply pressure in a repetitive pattern to the clitoris. It will likely be sensitive, so start light and work towards the same intensity.
6. As climax builds, increase the pressure and speed. Continue until you climax.
7. Repeat as many times as you’d like!

Conclusion

Sex, orgasm, and pleasure – these are all very personal experiences. Everyone will have their preferences, and that’s okay!

Just have fun experimenting with the different types of orgasms – either by yourself or with a partner. You never know what you’ll learn about yourself if you go a bit outside of your comfort zone.