People assigned female at birth (AFAB or born with female genitals) have never been acknowledged for one of their greatest physical gifts: an amazing diversity of paths to orgasms. From body to psychology, they have delicious diversity in the types of orgasms they can experience.
While the penis has been one of the most scientifically studied organs of all time, for over a hundred years, doctors didn’t value the vulva as a worthy subject. Until then, cis-women were “scientifically” viewed as reproductive tools so husbands could procreate. Studies focused on their reproductive capacities and ignored their pleasure. The old scientists would be shocked to wake up in our world and see that the global market for sex toys was $50 billion in 2023.
We’re finally starting to get the scientific attention we deserve. New studies have given us a clearer picture of arousal and climax for women with vaginas. Unfortunately, it takes a sexologist to keep up with the studies. Most people remain unaware of the incredible diversity! For example, you may know about the G-spot. But did you know about the U-spot and the A-spot? Did you know that the types of orgasms women have are brain-centered, body-centered, and sometimes both? Or that a woman’s body can have dozens of types of orgasms?
Read on for a heady education on how women achieve orgasm through multiple pathways, both through the body and brain. We’ll focus on the body paths to orgasm in this first part of a two-part series.
Physical Types of Orgasms
When I was growing up, society still believed that vaginal penetration was enough to satisfy a female partner. They never discussed the role of foreplay, either. They saw sex from a male point of view. Since many women didn’t seem to enjoy sex, they declared that sex was primarily for male pleasure. Indeed, psychiatrists doubted that women derived pleasure from sex. Instead, they defined it as a woman’s marital duty, whether or not it felt good. Obviously, a lot of people were missing out on the joys of female orgasm!
Today, we know better. Women have a lusciously huge capacity for orgasmic pleasure. Indeed, there are dozens of ways to make a woman climax. It depends on the individual woman and how she is wired for pleasure.
The Clitoris
Traditionally, science touted the “vaginal” orgasm as the golden standard. But, finally, science got around to asking women about their lived experiences. That’s when they discovered that up to two-thirds of them never experienced vaginal orgasms.
Today, the standard bearer for the most common path to orgasm is the clitoris, the nerve-saturated flesh nub tucked behind the labia at the opening to the vaginal canal. Like a penis, it can be stimulated in near-endless ways, from fingers to toy, from very gently to a bit rough.
The Vagina
The vaginal canal is the standard path to orgasm for opposite-sex partners. For many women, their vaginal tissue is sensitive enough, and penetrative “fullness” feels pleasurable enough, that standard intercourse can bring them to climax. That said, see the above: not all people are wired for vaginal orgasms.
Types of Orgasms Inside the Vagina
G Spot:
You have probably heard of the “Grafenburg Spot” or G-spot. Located on the front wall of the vagina, a few inches away from the clitoris and inside the vaginal canal. This spot swells and becomes very sensitive. Judging by the number of “g-spot” stimulator toys available, obviously many women love the intense orgasm they get from stimulating that spot.
U-Spot:
The U stands for urethra (the tube you pee from). It’s easy to figure out its location if you have a vagina and watch yourself pee (use a mirror if that helps). It’s located between the clitoris and the vaginal canal. The tissue around the hole is extremely sensitive for most women. Nonetheless, some people love the sensation of gentle (very gentle!) stimulation there. However, while not everyone is U-Spot erotic, if your body is receptive to the stimulation, the U-spot can give you an orgasm.
A-Spot:
Deep inside the vagina, against the front wall of the canal, there is a small area called the anterior fornix erogenous zone (AFE) Called the A-spot for short (thank goodness! anterior fornix is a mouthful), note that it is clinically proven to be an erotic zone for women. Since it is buried inside, you can only reach it with fingers or toys held at a certain angle. The A-spot can also be stimulated by anal sex or doggy-style entry.
V-Spot:
At the opening of the vaginal canal is a small area called the “vaginal vestibule”. At the bottom of this vestibule is a thin fold of tissue called a “forchette,” loaded with sensitive nerve endings. This is prime territory to induce climax with a finger, tongue, or toy as long as the stimulation is gentle so the tissue doesn’t get bruised.
O-Spot aka C-Spot:
Located right by the cervix, the O-spot is the source of vaginal pleasure and vaginal orgasm according to many physicians. The O-Spot’s sensitivity varies according to menstruation, at times feeling awesome and sometimes not so much. It’s hard to reach manually. You have to use caution to avoid hurting the cervix. Anal sex and deeply penetrative vaginal sex are usually how women experience orgasms from the O-Spot.
Types of Orgasms Outside the Vagina
Blended Orgasms:
Multiple body zones outside the genital area can give females enough pleasure to climax. When touched in concert, the blend of sensations can lead to orgasm. One example is when someone grinds (humping or scissoring) against female genitals while stimulating her nipples, anus, neck, or other erogenous zones on her body’s surface.
Nipple Orgasms:
According to a 2006 study, about 80% of women and 50% of men have high sexual sensitivity in their nipples. For some of those people with high sensitivity, adequate stimulation of the nipple heightens arousal and may result in nipple orgasms
Anal Orgasms:
Studies estimate that roughly 40% of women are stimulated to orgasm by anal sex. It is likely that deep penetration from the rear presses against the rectal wall that separates the vaginal canal from the anal canal, possibly stimulating the A-Spot or O-Spot. But some women are wired with super sensitivity in their anus. This makes anal penetration intensely pleasurable to them, even without great depth, and allows them to climax from the penetration itself.
CoreGasms:
All hail the mighty Kegel! You may have read about women who have orgasms during a gym workout or maybe you’re one of the lucky people who have experienced it. As far back as 1953, Alfred Kinsey determined that working on core muscles (specifically the pelvic floor, as you do in Kegels) can lead to orgasms.
The Many Types of Female Orgasm Will Keep Coming
There are so many ways to have orgasms that I have to split this post into two parts. Stay tuned for part 2, which focuses on non-physical stimulation. You’ll learn which types of orgasms are triggered by our most vibrant sex organ — the human brain. From fetish orgasms to porngasms, you’ll read about the impressive variety of orgasmic triggers in your brain.
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— AI image created with Unstable Diffusion —
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NEW THIS WEEK
I recently interviewed with Sleeping with Sonja, a rousing podcast on all things sexual. It was a blast. We were like two peas in a podcast! Have a listen: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_MXxB0OGWV/?hl=en