Married Women Orgasm Way Less Than Their Husbands

If you're in a long-term relationship, you probably think you have a pretty good idea of what makes your partner come. But if you're under the impression that your mate is having an orgasm every time you have sex, you might be mistaken, my friend.

According to a recent study out of Brigham Young University, just 49% of married women said they consistently experience orgasm during sex, compared to a whopping 87% of married men.

The study looked at data from 1,683 heterosexual newlywed couples. The men and women were separately asked about personal orgasm frequency, their perception of how often their partner orgasms, and their relationship and sexual satisfaction.

How Many Calories Does an Orgasm Burn?

Having an orgasm is a powerful, full-body experience. Your muscles contract, your breath quickens, and you might even break a sweat.

Which is why you may have wondered at one point or another: How many calories does an orgasm burn? Your heart's pumping like you're running a marathon and you're clenching your core like you're busting out an ab workout, so it's got to be something, right?

Determined to figure it out, I put on my Sherlock Holmes cap and reached out to Dr. Uchenna Ossai, a pelvic health physical therapist and sex educator for LifeStyles Condoms. Here's what she had to say.

7 Ways to Give Her an Orgasm She'll Never Forget

Scientists gave us the data. Sex therapists gave us the how-to. The results: Science- backed ways you can be her orgasm donor.

1. PREP PROPERLY
Replace “inhibitors” (chores, kids) with “excitors”—early photos of you two, music, a scented candle, says sex therapist Ian Kerner, Ph.D. Tell her how great she looks in candlelight. Nicole Prause, Ph.D., found that body-negative thoughts curbed women’s arousal while they watched porn.

5 Sex Positions That Guarantee She’ll Finish With a Mind-Blowing Orgasm

We hope you’ve nailed down one or two sex positions that work best for her during sex—but how you end your romp can also make a huge difference when it comes to her orgasm.

Finishing with the same position every time you have sex is like having ice cream every time you want dessert. Will she like it? Sure, but there’s a whole slew of moves to be explored—and who knows, you might find a new one that you both love?

We asked Kat Van Kirk, Ph.D., a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist, to come up with some newer, sexier ways to top off a night in the sack. Here, five sex positions that practically guarantee an orgasm she’ll never forget.

The 7 Sexiest Things to Do With Your Hands

Remember when you felt sexually advanced if you'd reached second base?

Well, it’s time to bring your hands back into the bedroom—and not just as a tool for getting your girlfriend off.

“Hands can add so much creativity to sensuality,” says Marianne Brandon, Ph.D., author of Reclaiming Desire: 4 Keys to Finding Your Lost Libido. “Women really like to be teased, and hands are an important part of that intensity building.”

In other words, your digits are capable of sexual stimulation that your penis isn’t—you just have to know how to turn them into your own personal sex toys.

How to Give Her a 60-Second Orgasm

The only thing better than an orgasm is one that lasts for a full minute.

Yes, the 60-second climax really exists, according to Emily Nagoski, Ph.D., author of Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life.

It’s not typical—the female orgasm usually lasts 6 to 30 seconds, Nagoski says. But if her mood and your moves are right, her climax can keep going. Prolong her pleasure with six easy strategies.

For more ideas on how to have hotter sex than you ever imagined, check out The Better Man Project, the brand-new book from the Editor-in-Chief of Men’s Health. You’ll find more than 2,000 simple, effective tips on seduction, relationships, health, and fitness that will improve every aspect of your life!

10 Sex Positions That Practically Guarantee Her Orgasm

When it comes to having so-good-your-neighbors-hate-you sex, making sure you stimulate her clitoris is rule number one.

“Research shows it’s clitoral stimulation, not vaginal stimulation, that is the powerhouse of the female orgasm,” says sex therapist Ian Kerner, Ph.D., author of She Comes First.

Given that her clitoris can be anywhere from 2.5 to 4 centimeters away from her vaginal entrance, lots of sex positions won’t exactly do the trick, says Kerner.

How to Last Longer in Bed

You’ve tried crunching baseball stats. You've mentally replayed your last round of golf. You've outlined the steps to making your favorite sandwich. But the more you try to last longer in bed, the faster you finish—and you’re not alone.

“Premature ejaculation is a problem that affects almost every man at some point in his life,” says Thomas J. Walsh, M.D., a urologist at the University of Washington.

Dr. Walsh says there are primarily two methods if you want to last longer in bed: physical and psychological treatments. While physical remedies target the sensations you feel during sex, psychological solutions address your worry, stress, or other mental factors that may explain your quick trigger, Dr. Walsh explains.

The Easy Way to Help Her Orgasm Every Time

Let her mind wander: Fantasizing during sex may help her orgasm, finds a recent Belgian study.

Women who reported regularly experiencing the big O were more likely to imagine sexy scenarios while getting it on than those who had trouble finishing.

It’s possible that her erotic thoughts help keep her focused on feeling good, the researchers say. Women who have a hard time getting off tend to be more distracted during sex, according to the paper, while those who orgasm easily may be more tuned into their sensations.

14 Sex Myths—Busted!

Think you know a thing or two about sex? You may be right, but you may also be way off-base. Read on to see what widely accepted “truths” can use a bit of a refresh. Once you arm yourself with this intel, put it into action. She'll thank you—and you'll thank us.

Myth: Sex is better when you're young.
Reality:  Sure, sex when you’re young may be faster and more athletic, but most sexually active older adults report having the most satisfying, emotionally rewarding sex of their lives. "There's less emphasis on quick orgasms and more focus on sensuality, creativity, and emotional connection," says sexuality education consultant Melanie Davis, Ph.D, CSE. So don’t envy the young too much—you could very well be having a much better time.

Why You Should Never Ever Ask a Woman If She Had an Orgasm

For men, sex is all about the grand finale: the orgasm

But if you think women feel the same way, you’re mistaken, says Debby Herbenick, M.P.H., Ph.D., Men’s Health sex professor and associate director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University.

The truth is, only 56 percent of women report orgasming from intercourse alone, a study from Sweden found.

Instead, females tend to rate intercourse as more pleasurable based on the strength of the bond they felt with their partner—not by the strength of their orgasm, says Herbenick.

That’s why no man should ask his partner whether she had an orgasm. You may think you’re being a good guy by asking. After all, climaxing feels amazing, and you want her to experience that, too.

8 Tricks to Make Your Orgasm Even BETTER

If you learned a killer new workout that made your body feel incredible, you’d likely share it with your friends. But when it comes to sex, men aren’t as likely to trade tips. And that’s a shame. So we’ll get the sharing party started: After chatting with sexologists and pouring over the latest, hottest research, we found these eight ways to take your orgasm to the next level.

1. Touch your taint.

If you haven’t already been introduced, meet your taint—or your perineum, if we’re getting technical. It’s the stretch of skin between your balls and your butt, and it’s a one-way ticket to Pleasuretown.

The Easy Way to Help Her Orgasm Every Time

Let her mind wander: Fantasizing during sex may help her orgasm, finds a recent Belgian study.

Women who reported regularly experiencing the big O were more likely to imagine sexy scenarios while getting it on than those who had trouble finishing.

It’s possible that her erotic thoughts help keep her focused on feeling good, the researchers say. Women who have a hard time getting off tend to be more distracted during sex, according to the paper, while those who orgasm easily may be more tuned into their sensations.

6 Ways You Kill Her Orgasm

She’s right on the edge of ecstasy, and then you do something dumb in bed that derails her pleasure, throws her off her game, and ruins the rest of the night. Some maneuvers may seem innocuous, but they actually distract her from her ultimate endgame: achieving orgasm. Avoid these six sex moves at all costs.

(And while you're at it, look out for the 5 Signs You Might Be Bad in Bed—and discover how to change both of your sex lives for the better.)

5 Orgasm Myths That Are Just Not True At All

If you had to put your relationship status with orgasms on Facebook, admit it: It would probably say: It's complicated. Sometimes, you wind up sighing in frustration that you just can't finish, and others, the big O sneaks up when you least expect it. Orgasms are elusive enough without having to cut through the myths—and when it comes to climaxes, there are a lot of them floating around. Read through these common misconceptions so you can ditch them and get on your way to your best possible sex life.

Why She's Not Reaching Orgasm

Can’t get her

  off? Perhaps it’s more than lack of foreplay. 

Women with introverted personalities are more likely to experience problems in the bedroom than outgoing ladies, according to research published in the journal Sexual Medicine. In fact, more reticent respondents were also less open to new experiences. 

If your girlfriend leans more towards the quiet side, don’t worry: Providing her with emotional support can make her more satisfied with her sex life—and make it easier for her to climax, says study author Christina Crisp, M.D.