(034) Are All Orgasms Created Equally Regardless of Age?
Authors: Hartmann D , Pfaus J , Wood E , Klinger L , Wang J 
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Female orgasm has been described as “a sense of throbbing once a second, due to rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles…”1. Physiologic measurement of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) activity has been reported utilized electromyography2 as well as rectal and vaginal pressure biofeedback. 3 None have reported on the specificity of PFM variability during arousal and orgasm or variability across the life cycle. Likewise, there’s been no correlation between these physiologic responses to the subjective nature of orgasm. While knowledge of neuroendocrinology and neuroimaging contribute to some understanding of the physiology of the sexual cycle, research on variability and correlation of physiologic responses of PFMs to the subjectivity of orgasm across is lacking.

Objective

The purpose is to objectively measure, compare, and correlate the following physiologic responses: a) time to orgasm; b) peak orgasmic force; and c) length of orgasm and correlate those findings with subjective orgasm characteristics utilizing the Orgasmic Rating Scale (ORS) (report to follow).

Methods

Objective data recorded by in-home users of Lioness (SmartBod Incorporated), an intravaginal, pressure biofeedback device capable of recording PFM activity in response to clitoral vibration. Arousal and orgasmic activity were recorded to users’ phones and a secure SmartBod server. Users were identified by a unique device number with no personal identifiers. Additional demographic data and ORS responses from 26 consenting users were collected and a secondary analysis of the data was performed by the first author. One-hundred-sixty-two biofeedback tracings were included in the review. Data was grouped according to age range, orgasmic type (volcano, avalanche, wave), and by length of time to orgasm regardless of age.

Results

Ages ranged from 21-60. 17/26 were nulliparous; 5 were peri- or post-menopausal. Review of age grouped data averages showed those 31-40 took the longest to orgasm (598sec) but produced the longest orgasmic response (30sec). Those 51-60 took the least time, 219sec, however created the greatest orgasmic force of 1425gm/f. When comparing averages of the 3 orgasmic types, volcano and avalanche patterns were equally dispersed among all groups with the 51-60s patterning only seen as wave. Those identified as having an avalanche pattern took the longest achieve an orgasm (30sec) but produced the longest orgasmic response (30sec). Those with the wave pattern produced the greatest peak force at 940.8gm/f. The median time to orgasm was 483 sec (8min). Those below the median in time (less time to orgasm) took 227sec (4min) on average to orgasm with peak forces of 783gm/f. Those above the median, on average took 789sec (13min) to reach orgasm when a peak orgasmic force of 722gm/ was produced.

Conclusions

Orgasmic patterns from this small sample of women suggest that those in the 31-40 age range have the longest orgasms and need the most arousal to get there; however, those in the 51-60 year range produced the great peak orgasmic force. Those with the avalanche patterned orgasm take the longest to get there as but have the longest orgasm. Taking less arousal time overall appears to create the strongest orgasmic response. This likely indicates that women in this condition are more sexually aroused to begin with.

Disclosure

Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: SmartBod.