8 Facts About the Clitoral Orgasm, Explained With Science Projects

August 7, 2015 / WIRED

Editor’s Note: While this article provides some very necessary information, it — like so many other sex education resources — still relies on cissexist language and frameworks, including gendering orgasms as “male” or “female” and referring to all people with vaginas as “women.” We want to acknowledge that people of all a/gender identities can have clitorises, experience clitoral orgasms, and benefit from this information.

Clitoral orgasms are still a mystery to many people – even those of us who have clitorises. But we deserve to know what brings our bodies pleasure.

So here’s some exciting and surprising info to expand your knowledge. And really, what could be more fun than learning about the body through science projects?

On second thought, this video might have a few ideas for what’s even more fun. Enjoy!

With Love,
The Editors at Everyday Feminism

Click for the Transcript

The male orgasm is an explosive affair, while the female orgasm happens behind closed curtains, so what do we know about it?

Well, with 8,000 nerve endings, the clitoris is definitely the star of the show. No wonder up to 70% of women require direct clitoral stimulation to achieve orgasm.

Yet, it’s not all about the clitoris. In one study, 20% of women reported having orgasms just from kissing, or performing oral sex on someone else.

Orgasms can even sneak up from behind, 94% of women who had anal sex, said they were able to climax. A lucky 10% of people have experienced orgasm from exercise, of those, 51% say it was abdominal exercise that did it.

What about purely vaginal orgasms? Kind of a myth. Research shows that they resonate from the clitoris, vagina, and uterus all working together. These three things make up the mythical G-spot. Great teamwork body.

But what goes on in her brain? After the big moment, oxytocin, prolactin, and endorphins are released, creating that nice relaxed feeling. However, at the same time, dopamine levels in the brain drop while prolactin levels increase. This drop can help the brain from wanting sex to the detriment of other necessary activities.

Even more fascinating, a woman’s pain threshold can increase up to 107% during orgasm, which may be linked to alleviating pain during childbirth, and orgasms do occasionally occur during childbirth, but only .3% of the time. A less stressful way of getting off, is to join the 53% of American women who have used a vibrator.

So now you know a little more about female orgasms, that great mysterious journey to the top of love mountain. Now go put your knowledge to use, alone or with a friend. Oh, and why not subscribe to Wired?

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