Orgasm: What Is It, What Does It Feel Like, And How Long Does It Last?

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Medical News TodaySubscribeEverything you need to know about orgasms

Medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH — Written by James McIntosh — Updated on March 31, 2025

What is an orgasm?
What happens?
Duration
Health benefits
Types
Causes
Disorders
Common misconceptions
Summary

Many people regard the orgasm as the peak of sexual excitement. Orgasms usually result from sexual stimulation and involve the release of the hormone oxytocin and feel-good chemicals known as endorphins

A note about sex and gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Learn more.

Orgasms typically refer to a powerful feeling of physical pleasure and sensation.

This article explains what an orgasm is in people of different sexes. It also looks at why orgasms occur and explains some common misconceptions.

What is an orgasm?

A cork bursting out of a champagne bottle. — Martin Poole/Getty Images

An orgasm is when a person reaches peak pleasure. The body releases tension, and the perineal muscles, anal sphincter, and reproductive organs rhythmically contract.

Males will usually ejaculate when reaching an orgasm and females will experience vaginal wall contractions. Females may also ejaculate during sexual activity or when experiencing an orgasm.

»Learn more:About female ejaculation

Orgasm models

Sex researchers have defined orgasms within staged models of sexual response. Although the orgasm process can differ greatly between individuals, several basic physiological changes tend to occur in most incidences.

The following models are patterns that occur in all forms of sexual response and do not solely relate to penile-vaginal intercourse.

Master and Johnson’s 4-phase model

In 1966, researchers named William Masters and Virginia Johnson came up with a four-phase model:

excitement
plateau
orgasm
resolution

Kaplan’s 3-stage model

Kaplan’s model differs from most other sexual response models by including desire — most models tend to avoid including nongenital changes. It is also important to note that desire does not precede all sexual activity. The three stages in this model are:

desire
excitement
orgasm

What happens during an orgasm?

During an orgasm, people may experience an intense feeling of pleasure in the genitals and throughout the body. Orgasms can feel different for each individual.

After an orgasm, the face, neck, or chest may flush. People may also feel sleepy, relaxed, or happy afterward due to a release of endorphins.

For females

For females, the muscles in the vagina and anus may contract roughly once per second, for around five to eight times. Heart and breathing rates may increase.

Before and during an orgasm, the vagina may become wet, and it may even ejaculate this fluid. Research suggests the percentage of females who ejaculate can range from 10 to 70%.

Directly after an orgasm, the clitoris may feel more sensitive or uncomfortable to touch.

For males

For males, the muscles in the penis and anus may contract around once every second, between five to eight times. Heart and breathing rates may increase.

The penis may release around 1 to 2 tablespoons of semen. People may not ejaculate during an orgasm, but both usually occur simultaneously.

Directly after an orgasm, the head of the penis may feel more sensitive or uncomfortable to touch.

How long does it last?

Female orgasms may last for around 20 to 35 seconds.

Q:

How long does a male orgasm last?

Anonymous

A:

While the length of an orgasm varies for each individual, orgasms tend to last between 10–60 seconds.

Jennifer Litner, PhD, LMFT, CSTAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Potential health benefits of orgasm

Orgasms can help people to sleep better. Research from 2019 finds that orgasms achieved with a partner resulted in good sleep outcomes. Orgasms achieved through masturbation resulted in better sleep quality and reduced the time taken to fall asleep.

The body releases a hormone called oxytocin during an orgasm. Oxytocin may have a variety of health benefits, such as:

regulating anxiety
reducing the risk of heart disease
reducing the risk of cancer, such as ovarian cancer

In addition, there is some evidence that frequent ejaculation in males might reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Research finds that healthcare professionals diagnosed prostate cancer less frequently in those who had high ejaculation rates.

Types

There are many different types of orgasms, some of which are detailed below:

Clitoral orgasm: This is when an orgasm occurs due to stimulation of the clitoris. A 2019 article notes that 60% of female orgasms occur due to clitoral stimulation.
Vaginal orgasm: This is when an orgasm occurs vaginal stimulation.
Blended orgasm: This occurs when clitoral and vaginal orgasms occur together.
Anal orgasm: Some females experience orgasms during anal sex.
G-spot orgasm: An orgasm can occur as a result of stimulation of the G-spot.
Multiple orgasms: A person can experience a series of orgasms over a short time. Masters and Johnson note that females have a shorter refractory (recovery) period, which allows them to experience multiple orgasms in a shorter period of time.
Imagery-induced: Orgasms can occur as a response to imagery without physical stimulation.
Nipple orgasm: A person may reach an orgasm due to stimulation of the nipples alone. Stimulation of the nipples can activate the part of the brain that also activates with genital stimulation.

The above list is not exhaustive, and research is ongoing regarding the types of orgasms people can experience.

Can males experience multiple orgasms?

Males can experience multiple orgasms. Sporadic multiple orgasms will have intervals of a few minutes. Condensed multiple orgasms consist of two to four orgasmic bursts in the space of a few seconds to 2 minutes.

More research is required to understand what factors can affect a person’s ability to experience multiple orgasms.

The female orgasm

According to the Masters and Johnson four-phase model, the physiological process that takes place during female orgasm is:

excitement, during which arousal builds
plateau, during which arousal increases and levels off
orgasm, which causes intense feelings of pleasure
resolution, during which arousal diminishes

Unlike males, most females do not have a recovery period and so can have further orgasms with repeated stimulation.

»Learn more:Female orgasms

Causes

Orgasms typically occur as part of a sexual response cycle. They often take place following the continual stimulation of erogenous zones, such as the genitals, anus, nipples, and perineum.

Orgasms occur following two basic responses to continual stimulation:

Vasocongestion: This is the process in which body tissues fill up with blood, swelling in size as a result.
Myotonia: This is the process in which muscles tense, including both voluntary flexing and involuntary contracting.

People can experience an orgasm from stimulation other than in the genital area, such as the ears or nipples. Even mental stimulation can produce an orgasm.

Disorders

Orgasmic disorders can lead to distress, frustration, and feelings of shame, both for the person experiencing the symptoms and their sexual partner.

Although orgasms occur similarly in all genders, healthcare professionals tend to describe orgasm disorders in gendered terms.

Female orgasmic disorders

Female orgasmic disorders center around the absence or significant delay of orgasms following sufficient stimulation.

Doctors refer to the absence of orgasms as anorgasmia. This term can either refer to when a person has never experienced an orgasm (primary anorgasmia) or when a person who previously experienced orgasms no longer can (secondary anorgasmia). The condition can occur generally or in specific situations.

Female orgasmic disorders can occur as the result of physical causes, such as gynecological conditions or the use of certain medications, or psychological causes such as anxiety or depression.

Male orgasmic disorders

Male orgasmic disorder (male anorgasmia) involves a persistent and recurrent delay or absence of orgasm following sufficient stimulation.

Male anorgasmia can be a lifelong condition or one that happens after a period of regular sexual functioning. The condition can occur generally or in specific situations.

Male anorgasmia can occur as the result of physical conditions such as low testosterone, psychological conditions such as anxiety, or through the use of certain medications such as antidepressants.

Premature ejaculation

Ejaculation in males is closely associated with an orgasm. Premature ejaculation, where a male ejaculates sooner than they would want to, is a common sexual complaint.

Premature ejaculation may be due to a combination of psychological factors such as guilt or anxiety and biological factors such as hormone levels or nerve damage.

Common misconceptions

The importance that society places on sex — combined with our incomplete knowledge of the orgasm — has led to several common misconceptions.

Sexual culture has placed the orgasm on a pedestal, often prizing it as the only goal for sexual encounters. However, orgasms are not as simple or as common as many people would suggest.

All people reach orgasm during intercourse

In a 2016 study, 14% of women under the age of 35 had never experienced an orgasm from sexual intercourse. The same study reports that 9% of women surveyed, regardless of age, had never experienced an orgasm from sexual intercourse.

Other data in the study reported that only 38% of young women usually had an orgasm during intercourse, while 43% reported infrequent orgasms. In the United States, as many as 1 in 3 males 18–59 years old report having problems with premature ejaculation at some point in their lives.

Intercourse is the best way to achieve orgasm

Another misconception is that penile-vaginal stimulation is the main way for people to achieve an orgasm. While this may be true for many people, many more females experience higher sexual arousal following the stimulation of the clitoris.

Orgasms can occur in many ways. Orgasms do not necessarily have to involve the genitals, nor do they have to link with sexual desires, as evidenced by examples of exercise-induced orgasm.

People cannot achieve orgasm after gender affirming surgery

An additional misconception is that transgender people cannot orgasm after gender affirming surgery.

However, a 2018 study discovered that of participants who had undergone gender affirming surgery (GAS), with penile inversion vaginoplasty, and then had sexual intercourse, 55.8% reported their orgasms to be more intense than before the surgery. Of the participants, 20.8% reported no difference.

Ultimately, the journey to an orgasm is a very individual experience that has no singular, all-encompassing definition. In many cases, experts recommend avoiding comparison with other people or preexisting concepts of what an orgasm should be.

Summary

Orgasms can be different for each individual and do not only occur through sexual stimulation.

People of all genders can have orgasms, and transgender people can orgasm after gender affirmation surgery. Orgasms can release endorphins, which may cause an increased feeling of relaxation or happiness afterward.

People of any gender may also experience orgasm disorders, such as premature ejaculation or an inability to orgasm. If people have any concerns regarding their orgasms, they can speak with a doctor or sex therapist.

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How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Female orgasmic disorder. (n.d.)https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/orgasmic-disorder/
Hazare R, et al. (2019). Open access journal of oncology and medicine non-medical basis characterization of orgasm associated with approach sex can last up to 20 seconds to 15 minutes, eligible women individuals' poor transportation facility of private pharmacy institutions in Pune, India.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341426934
Herbenick D, et al. (2018). Orgasm range and variability in humans: A content analysis.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19317611.2018.1491920
Hess J, et al. (2018). Sexuality after male-to-female gender affirmation surgery.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5994261/
Kang, A., et al. (2019). Techniques and considerations of prosthetic surgery after phalloplasty in the transgender male.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC6626310/
Lastella M, et al. (2019). Sex and sleep: Perceptions of sex as a sleep promoting behavior in the general adult population.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC6409294/
Lerman B, et al. (2018). Oxytocin and cancer: An emerging link.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC6153127/
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Rider, J. R., et al. (2017). Ejaculation frequency and risk of prostate cancer. Updated results with an additional decade of follow-up.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5040619/
Rowland, D., et al. (2017). Phases of the sexual response cycle.https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1061&context=psych_fac_pub
Rowland, D., et al. (2017). Phases of the sexual response cycle.https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1061&context=psych_fac_pub
Sayin HÜ, et al. (2019). Neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of sexual desire, pleasure, love and orgasm.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333617725
What is anorgasmia (a.k.a. orgasmic disorder)? (n.d.)https://www.issm.info/sexual-health-qa/what-is-anorgasmia-a-k-a-orgasmic-disorder
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Medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH — Written by James McIntosh — Updated on March 31, 2025

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