Is There Orgasm for Woman?

How to make your O a more powerful part of your life? It's just a simple, the more you learn, the more in tune you'll be with your body, and that can lead to bigger, better climaxes. Because knowledge, intensity and frequenc are the power. Read on for the sexy truth.

Every woman can orgasm.

True. "Except in very rare circumstances, the potential to have an orgasm is present in everyone," says Barry Komisaruk, Ph.D., a coauthor of The Science of Orgasm. So if you've never had one, it's possible that you simply haven't found the right earthmoving moves yet. High stress, past trauma, or antidepressants can also short-circuit the ability to peak, but don't give up hope: "Talk to a certified sex therapist if you're having difficulty," says Komisaruk (to find one, go to aasect.org). "They can help you pinpoint the underlying issue, and then recommend appropriate treatment."

The G spot is the secret to a great O.

Undecided. This is a tricky one. Some studies suggest that stimulating the G spot, a small area felt through the front wall of your vagina a couple of inches in, can lead to intense, whole-body orgasms. Experts say, however, that G-spot orgasms are by no means a sure thing. "Some women love G-spot stimulation and feel that it leads to deep and satisfying orgasms, but other women think it's unpleasant and gives them a sensation of having to urinate when it's first touched," says Beverly Whipple, Ph.D., sexuality researcher and coauthor of The Science of Orgasm. "It depends on the woman."

All women should climax through intercourse.

False. Studies show that about 70 percent of women don't routinely experience orgasm through intercourse alone. "There are tremendous individual differences in the way women's bodies are engineered and structured," says Komisaruk. "Because of this, for many women clitoral stimulation works better in eliciting orgasm than the 'wham-bam- thank-you-ma'am' approach to penetration." Looking to up the chances of getting off during the act? Because sensory information from four areas — the vagina, the clitoris, the uterus, and the cervix — contributes to orgasm, the more of these areas you stimulate, the more likely you are to have an orgasm, and the more intense it will be. Try using your hand (or your partner's) or a vibrator for added clitoral sensation during sex, or experiment with positions that offer deeper penetration to stimulate the cervix.

Practicing Kegels leads to a more powerful orgasm.

True. Kegel exercises involve tightening and relaxing, and thereby strengthening, the pubococcygeus (PC) muscle, which contains some of the nerve endings that provide pleasure to the vagina (find your PC muscle by stopping the flow of urine while you pee). Stronger PC muscles are directly correlated with orgasmic response, according to a Journal of Clinical Psychiatry study. "Part of the pleasure of orgasm may be our response to a series of muscle contractions," says Komisaruk. "So stronger muscles can lead to more pleasure."

Woman-on-top is the best position to ensure an orgasm.

False. "Some women love to be on top because they have control over the rhythm and can maximize clitoral stimulation by pressing up against their partner's pubic bone or reaching down to stimulate themselves," says Whipple. "But many women prefer rear entry or woman-on-top facing away from her partner because in both these positions, the man's penis directly stimulates the woman's anterior vaginal wall (close to the belly), which is more responsive to stimulation than the back vaginal wall." The bottom line, says Komisaruk: "The best position depends on personal preference and how you and your partner fit together as individuals."