70 Women Describe What an Orgasm Feels Like to Them
“Euphoria. Complete joy and pleasure building up until you reach the mind-blowing release of endorphins.”
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Few sensations are as distinct as orgasm: an all-encompassing euphoria that can even help you relax and fall asleep (hence why one woman we spoke to calls them “nature's Ambien”). But there’s actually a plethora of different types of orgasms, from internal ones to clitoral ones to the rare but coveted nipplegasm, with plenty of overlap in between (who's up for a gymgasm?), and what those orgasms feel like will vary significantly for each and every person.
"Almost any body part can create an orgasmic sensation (yes, even feet, stomach, etc.) though there will be variation from person to person and obviously some body parts are more erotic than others," says sex educator Carly S, founder of the blog Dildo or Dildon't and a product manager for Spectrum Boutique.
BTW, now feels like a good time to drop a friendly reminder that you don't need a partner to enjoy orgasms; your hands or vibrators may even be preferable as they allow you to relax and learn about your body in a pressure-free environment. When you explore your body alone, you can figure out exactly what you like, which makes it easier to communicate your preferences to a partner. "Many people just don't take the time to explore their bodies, and we don't inherently know what we like," Carly says. So go ahead and take this as full permission to be greedy when it comes to your pleasure.
As for what a female orgasm really feels like, it depends! Some orgasmic sensations, such as hard nipples, a throbbing clit, and that delectable relaxation are fairly universal experiences. But orgasms are not a one-size-fits-all experience, and expecting them to fit into one specific definition can hinder your ability to have and enjoy them. So, whether you're still basking in a post-orgasmic haze right now or are having a hard time getting there because of your anti-depressants (totally normal, and props to you for prioritizing your mental health), learning about the variety of ways people experience orgasm can help you feel comfier in your body. That's why we've asked 70 (yes, 70) women to explain what their orgasms feel like so we can all get better at getting off. (Spoiler alert: There are lots of mentions of volcanoes and other natural disasters ahead.)
“It’s an intense tingling pleasure that starts in my clitoris then spreads (somehow slowly and all at once) through my whole body, down to my toes and fingertips.”—Chelsea S., 30
“Euphoria. Complete joy and pleasure building up until you reach the mind-blowing release of endorphins. Clenching to hold onto the feeling until you finally give in and then the best feeling hits.” -Rebecca B., 24
“Sure, they feel good, but it's also like nature's Ambien because they put me right to sleep. I always masturbate when I'm having trouble falling asleep.” —Marisa, 36
“It’s like a volcano erupting after lots of seismic build-up.” —Max, 24
“When I come super hard, I swear I momentarily lose my sense of hearing afterward.” —Hannah, 30
“It depends how I come. For whatever reason, getting off from oral sex results in slow, rippling, full-body waves. But if I use my wand, it's an intense burst like a firework” —P., 28
“It’s mostly mental, more than physical. The first time I slept with another woman, I came just from rubbing against one another, which I didn't know was possible and never happened from sex with men.” —Kellie, 33
“It’s like a comforting warm blanket. So, like an electric blanket?” —Nicole, 40
“Coming, especially with a partner, kind of forces you to relinquish control and let your body take over, which I think is why orgasms are so intimate; you bond with the people who can get you off.” —Sally, 30
"It's a wave, like a tsunami, that builds and then washes over you, knocking you off your feet. Well, you're usually lying down, but you know what I mean," —Jillian, 39
“There’s a lot of pulsating for me, and a clenching of my vagina, like Kegels.” —Abbie, 26
“Having an orgasm reminds me that I am a goddess.” —Alice, 65
“Honestly the seconds just before it happens are almost painful. It’s like that drop in your stomach from a roller coaster and then all that tension explodes and shoots up the backs of your legs and everywhere else. Then for a while afterward you kind of just throb and pulse because your heart is beating so hard but you’re also so relaxed.”—Shannon N., 29
“It feels like a complete release but my body tenses. I feel myself contracting but for five seconds my brain goes blank, before I feel myself come back down to earth.”—Helen R., 27
"It's like a pot of water that boils over—a slow build with an eventual overflow of intense pleasure and pure bliss."—Zoey Z., 24
“It depends on what point of the orgasm you’re in. The beginning is exciting. You feel anticipation and pleasure that moves through your body at varying speeds and with varying intensity. In the throes of an orgasm, everything is tight and wound up, heightened but with a euphoric edge. At the completion of it all, it’s akin to the moment at the end of a massage—every nerve-ending is soft, every muscle relaxed. There’s a moment of just pure pleasure and peace.”—Amanda S., 34
“Right before you orgasm, it feels like you just can’t get a door open. Then when you orgasm, it’s like the door is flung open and a huge release or bright white light shines in.”—Reileigh T., 24
"An orgasm feels like you are trying to close the clasp on a necklace with long acrylic nails. It takes a while to get there, you struggle and you may scream, but in the end, it is the most satisfying feeling in the world."—Erin D., 24
“It feels like all of my nerve endings are being shocked by an electrical current that builds into a huge release physically and—if I’m in the right headspace—mentally.”—Christina K., 30
“The best orgasms I’ve had last at least one or two minutes when my partner continues a repetitive motion (or I do, if I’m on top). It feels like a rush of relief after being blocked. Sorta like a kinked water hose. The pressure and desperation for release builds and builds until it’s finally set free.”—Emily A., 26
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