Editing Orgasm (section)

==== Factors and variability ====
[[File:Phases of sexual arousal and female orgasm.png|thumb|right|Schematic representation of the phases of female sexual arousal and female orgasm]]
In women, the most common way to achieve orgasm is by direct sexual stimulation of the [[clitoris]] (meaning consistent [[Fingering (sexual act)|digital]], [[Cunnilingus|oral]], or other concentrated friction against the external parts of the clitoris). General statistics indicate that 70–80 percent of women require direct clitoral stimulation to achieve orgasm,<ref name="Rosenthal" /><ref name="Flaherty">{{cite book |author = Joseph A. Flaherty |author2 = John Marcell Davis |author3 = Philip G. Janicak |title = Psychiatry: Diagnosis & therapy. A Lange clinical manual |isbn = 978-0-8385-1267-8 |publisher = Appleton & Lange (Original from Northwestern University) |date = 1993 |page = [https://archive.org/details/psychiatrydiagno00flah/page/217 217] |quote = The amount of time of sexual arousal needed to reach orgasm is variable&nbsp;— and usually much longer&nbsp;— in women than in men; thus, only 20–30% of women attain a coital climax. b. Many women (70–80%) require manual clitoral stimulation... |url = https://archive.org/details/psychiatrydiagno00flah/page/217 }}</ref><ref name="Kammerer-Doak">{{cite journal |first1 = Dorothy |last1 = Kammerer-Doak |first2 = Rebecca G. |last2 = Rogers |title = Female Sexual Function and Dysfunction |journal = Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America |volume = 35 |issue = 2 |pages = 169–183 |doi = 10.1016/j.ogc.2008.03.006 |date = June 2008 |pmid = 18486835 |quote = Most women report the inability to achieve orgasm with vaginal intercourse and require direct clitoral stimulation ... About 20% have coital climaxes... }}</ref> although indirect clitoral stimulation (for example, via [[vagina]]l penetration) may also be sufficient.<ref name="O'Connell" /><ref name="Lloyd">{{cite book |author = Elisabeth Anne Lloyd |title = The Case of the Female Orgasm: Bias In the Science of Evolution |isbn = 978-0-674-01706-1 |publisher = Harvard University Press |date = 2005 |page = 53 |access-date = January 5, 2012 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=6GFNvA6TvlwC&pg=PA53 |author-link = Elisabeth Lloyd |archive-date = February 27, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230227065057/https://books.google.com/books?id=6GFNvA6TvlwC&pg=PA53 |url-status = live }}</ref> The [[Mayo Clinic]] states, "Orgasms vary in intensity, and women vary in the frequency of their orgasms and the amount of stimulation necessary to trigger an orgasm."<ref name="Anorgasmia">{{cite web |url = http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anorgasmia/DS01051 |title = Anorgasmia in women |publisher = [[Mayo Clinic]] |access-date = November 23, 2010 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140102052814/http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anorgasmia/DS01051 |archive-date = January 2, 2014 }}</ref> Clitoral orgasms are easier to achieve because the [[Clitoris#Glans|glans of the clitoris]], or clitoris as a whole, has more than 8,000 sensory [[nerve]] endings, which is as many (or more in some cases) nerve endings as are present in the human penis or [[glans penis]].<ref name="Di Marino">{{cite book |last = Di Marino |first = Vincent |title = Anatomic Study of the Clitoris and the Bulbo-Clitoral Organ |publisher = [[Springer Publishing|Springer]] |date = 2014 |page = 81 |isbn = 978-3-319-04894-9 |access-date = September 4, 2014 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=wKMpBAAAQBAJ&q=gbs_navlinks_s |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150318213354/http://books.google.com/books?id=wKMpBAAAQBAJ&dq=gbs_navlinks_s |archive-date = March 18, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="Carroll">See [https://books.google.com/books?id=5f8mQx7ULs4C&pg=PA271 pages 270–271] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021114159/https://books.google.com/books?id=5f8mQx7ULs4C&pg=PA271 |date=October 21, 2023 }} for anal sex information, and [https://books.google.com/books?id=5f8mQx7ULs4C&pg=PA118 page 118] for information about the [[clitoris]]. {{cite book |author = Janell L. Carroll |title = Sexuality Now: Embracing Diversity |isbn = 978-0-495-60274-3 |publisher = [[Cengage]] |date = 2009 |pages = 629 pages |access-date = June 23, 2012 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=5f8mQx7ULs4C&q=Sexuality+Now:+Embracing+Diversity |archive-date = February 27, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230227065106/https://books.google.com/books?id=5f8mQx7ULs4C&q=Sexuality+Now:+Embracing+Diversity |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last = Crooks |first = Robert |url = https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/456838969 |title = Our sexuality |date = 2011 |publisher = Wadsworth/Cengage |others = Karla Baur |isbn = 978-0-495-81294-4 |edition = Eleventh |location = Belmont, CA |oclc = 456838969 }}</ref> As the clitoris is [[Homology (biology)|homologous]] to the penis, it is the equivalent in its capacity to receive sexual stimulation.<ref name="Schünke">{{cite book |first1 = Michael |last1 = Schünke |first2 = Erik |last2 = Schulte |first3 = Lawrence M. |last3 = Ross |first4 = Edward D. |last4 = Lamperti |first5 = Udo |last5 = Schumacher |title = Thieme Atlas of Anatomy: General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System, Volume 1 |publisher = [[Thieme Medical Publishers]] |date = 2006 |isbn = 978-3-13-142081-7 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=NK9TgTaGt6UC&pg=PA192 |access-date = December 15, 2013 |archive-date = February 27, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230227065111/https://books.google.com/books?id=NK9TgTaGt6UC&pg=PA192 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="Francoeur">{{cite book |last = Francoeur |first = Robert T. |date = 2000 |title = The Complete Dictionary of Sexology |publisher = The Continuum Publishing Company |page = [https://archive.org/details/completedictiona0000unse_w1u0/page/180 180] |isbn = 978-0-8264-0672-9 |url = https://archive.org/details/completedictiona0000unse_w1u0/page/180 }}</ref>

One misconception, particularly in older research publications, is that the vagina is completely insensitive.<ref name="Pappas">{{cite web |last = Pappas |first = Stephanie |title = Does the Vaginal Orgasm Exist? Experts Debate |publisher = [[LiveScience]] |date = April 9, 2012 |access-date = November 28, 2012 |url = http://www.livescience.com/19579-vaginal-orgasm-debate.html |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161011211945/http://www.livescience.com/19579-vaginal-orgasm-debate.html |archive-date = October 11, 2016 }}</ref> In reality, there are areas in the anterior vaginal wall and between the top junction of the [[labia minora]] and the [[urethra]] that are especially sensitive.<ref name="Lief and Berger">{{cite book |last = Lief |first = Harold I. |editor-last = Berger |editor-first = Milton Miles |chapter = Discussion of the Paper by Helen Singer Kalplan |title = Women Beyond Freud: New Concepts of Feminine Psychology |isbn = 978-0-87630-709-0 |publisher = [[Psychology Press]] |date = 1994 |pages = [https://archive.org/details/womenbeyondfreud00milt/page/65 65–66] |access-date = July 22, 2012 |chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=By3n48Gqt_kC&pg=PA65 |url = https://archive.org/details/womenbeyondfreud00milt/page/65 }}</ref> With regard to specific density of nerve endings, while the area commonly described as the [[G-spot]] may produce an orgasm,<ref name="Rosenthal" /><ref name="Acton" /> and the [[urethral sponge]] (area in which the G-spot may be found) runs along the "roof" of the vagina and can create pleasurable sensations when stimulated, intense sexual pleasure (including orgasm) from vaginal stimulation is occasional or otherwise absent because the vagina has significantly fewer nerve endings than the clitoris.<ref name="Weiten" /><ref name="Sloane">{{cite book |first = Ethel |last = Sloane |title = Biology of Women |publisher = [[Cengage]] |date = 2002 |pages = 32–33 |access-date = August 25, 2012 |isbn = 978-0-7668-1142-3 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=kqcYyk7zlHYC&pg=PA32 |archive-date = February 27, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230227065037/https://books.google.com/books?id=kqcYyk7zlHYC&pg=PA32 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="Kilchevsky">{{br}}{{bull}}{{cite journal |title = Is the Female G-Spot Truly a Distinct Anatomic Entity? |journal = [[The Journal of Sexual Medicine]] |volume = 9 |date = January 2012 |pmid = 22240236 |doi = 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02623.x |vauthors = Kilchevsky A, Vardi Y, Lowenstein L, Gruenwald I |issue = 3 |pages = 719–26 }}{{br}}{{bull}}{{cite news |date = January 19, 2012 |title = G-Spot Does Not Exist, 'Without A Doubt,' Say Researchers |work = [[The Huffington Post]] |url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/g-spot-does-not-exist_n_1215822.html |access-date = March 2, 2012 |archive-date = March 10, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190310161629/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/g-spot-does-not-exist_n_1215822.html |url-status = live }}</ref> The greatest concentration of vaginal nerve endings are at the lower third (near the entrance) of the vagina.<ref name="Rosenthal" /><ref name="Weiten" /><ref name="Greenberg">{{cite book |vauthors = Greenberg JS, Bruess CE, Oswalt SB |title = Exploring the Dimensions of Human Sexuality |pages = 102–104 |isbn = 978-1-4496-4851-0 |date = 2014 |access-date = October 30, 2014 |publisher = [[Jones & Bartlett Publishers]] |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=hm3aTuANFroC&pg=PA102 |archive-date = February 27, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230227065038/https://books.google.com/books?id=hm3aTuANFroC&pg=PA102 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="Sex and Society">{{cite book |title = Sex and Society, Volume 2 |isbn = 978-0-7614-7907-9 |publisher = Marshall Cavendish Corporation |date = 2009 |page = 590 |access-date = August 17, 2012 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=YtsxeWE7VD0C&pg=PA590 |author = Marshall Cavendish Corporation |archive-date = February 26, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230226053114/https://books.google.com/books?id=YtsxeWE7VD0C&pg=PA590 |url-status = live }}</ref>

[[Sex educator]] Rebecca Chalker states that only one part of the clitoris, the urethral sponge, is in contact with the penis, fingers, or a [[dildo]] in the vagina.<ref name="Cornforth">{{cite web |first = Tracee |last = Cornforth |title = The Clitoral Truth. Interview with author and sex educator Rebecca Chalker |publisher = [[About.com]] |date = July 17, 2009 |access-date = April 21, 2010 |url = http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/sexuality/a/clitoraltruthin.htm |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160203174804/http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/sexuality/a/clitoraltruthin.htm |archive-date = February 3, 2016 }}</ref> Hite and Chalker state that the tip of the clitoris and the inner lips, which are also very sensitive, are not receiving direct stimulation during penetrative intercourse.<ref name="Cornforth" /><ref name="Hite">{{cite book |last = Hite |first = Shere |author-link = Shere Hite |title = The Hite Report: A Nationwide Study of Female Sexuality |publisher = [[Seven Stories Press]] |date = 2003 |location = New York, NY |isbn = 978-1-58322-569-1 |access-date = March 2, 2012 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=s3OZaVn2wfkC&q=The%20Hite%20Report%3A%20a%20Nationwide%20Study%20of%20Female%20Sexuality&pg=PP1 |archive-date = February 27, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230227065044/https://books.google.com/books?id=s3OZaVn2wfkC&q=The%20Hite%20Report%3A%20a%20Nationwide%20Study%20of%20Female%20Sexuality&pg=PP1 |url-status = live }}</ref> Because of this, some couples may engage in the [[Woman on top|woman on top position]] or the [[coital alignment technique]] to maximize clitoral stimulation.<ref name="Roberts">{{cite book |title = Sex |publisher = Lotus Press |date = 2006 |page = 145 |isbn = 978-81-89093-59-4 |access-date = August 17, 2012 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=zDS9kC03x2IC&pg=PA145 |author = Keath Roberts |archive-date = February 27, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230227065052/https://books.google.com/books?id=zDS9kC03x2IC&pg=PA145 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="Hurlbert">{{cite journal |title = The coital alignment technique and directed masturbation: a comparative study on female orgasm |journal = [[Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy]] |volume = 21 |pages = 21–29 |date = 1995 |pmid = 7608994 |doi = 10.1080/00926239508405968 |vauthors = Hurlbert DF, Apt C |issue = 1 }}</ref> For some women, the clitoris is very sensitive after climax, making additional stimulation initially painful.<ref name="Rathus">{{cite book |last1 = Rathus |first1 = Spencer A. |last2 = Nevid |first2 = Jeffrey S. |last3 = Fichner-Rathus |first3 = Lois |last4 = Herold |first4 = Edward S. |last5 = McKenzie |first5 = Sue Wicks |date = 2005 |title = Human Sexuality In A World Of Diversity |edition = Second |publisher = Pearson Education |location = New Jersey, USA }}</ref>

[[Masters and Johnson]] argue that all women are potentially multiply<!--do not change to "multiple"!--> orgasmic, but that multiply<!--do not change to "multiple"!--> orgasmic men are rare, and stated that "the female is capable of rapid return to orgasm immediately following an orgasmic experience, if re-stimulated before tensions have dropped below plateau phase response levels".<ref name="Dunn" /> Though generally reported that women do not experience a [[refractory period (sex)|refractory period]] and thus can experience an additional orgasm, or multiple orgasms, soon after the first one,<ref name="Rosenthal" /><ref name=soc>{{Cite web |title = The Sexual Response Cycle |website = UCSB SexInfo Online |publisher = [[University of California, Santa Barbara]] |url = http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/sexinfo/article/the-sexual-response-cycle |access-date = August 6, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725051823/http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/sexinfo/article/the-sexual-response-cycle |archive-date = July 25, 2011 |url-status = dead }}</ref> some sources state that both men and women experience a refractory period because women may also experience a period after orgasm in which further sexual stimulation does not produce excitement.<ref name="Schacter">{{cite book |title = Psychology |publisher = [[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan]] |date = 2010 |page = 336 |access-date = November 10, 2012 |isbn = 978-1-4292-3719-2 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=emAyzTNy1cUC&pg=PA336 |author1 = Daniel L. Schacter |author2 = Daniel T. Gilbert |author3 = Daniel M. Wegner |archive-date = February 27, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230227055134/https://books.google.com/books?id=emAyzTNy1cUC&pg=PA336 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="Weiner & Craighead">{{cite book |title = The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology, Volume 2 |publisher = [[John Wiley & Sons]] |date = 2010 |page = 761 |access-date = November 10, 2012 |isbn = 978-0-470-17026-7 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=pa5vKqntwikC&pg=PA761 |author1 = Irving B. Weiner |author2 = W. Edward Craighead |archive-date = February 27, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230227055138/https://books.google.com/books?id=pa5vKqntwikC&pg=PA761 |url-status = live }}</ref> After the initial orgasm, subsequent orgasms for women may be stronger or more pleasurable as the stimulation accumulates.<ref name="Rathus" />