There’s more than one way to play.
There’s a lot more to sex than the ‘ole in-out. Research shows that a good orgasm has the power to rewire the brain, releasing feel-good chemicals to enhance bonding between partners, including dopamine and oxytocin, while also boosting mental health.
Sexologist and journalist Jessica Toscano shared the secrets to achieving 15 different types of orgasms with Daily Mail on Saturday.
Toscano’s clients frequently come to her with pleas to help them have more frequent — and more fun — sexual experiences.
“They’re often shocked when I respond by asking what type of orgasm they’re chasing,” she wrote for the Mail.
An orgasm is broadly understood to be the final thrust of a sex act, as it were, which involves the contraction of muscles in the groin and a release of pleasure-inducing neurochemicals.
While most are familiar with the “predictable” male orgasm, resulting in ejaculation, the “mysterious” female orgasm continues to elude experts in every field of sex-based research related to sex, according to Toscano.
“Despite years of research, scientists still struggle to fully understand the complexities of female sexual pleasure, which is influenced by a variety of physical, emotional, and psychological factors,” she said.
“For women, the experience can vary greatly — meaning there’s still much to uncover about how and why they occur.”
Toscano’s list also includes non-sexual orgasms, which are achieved outside of sexual activity or unintentionally, including the most notorious example from adolescence: the “wet” dream.
The 15 types, according to Toscano, are:
Clitoral
The clitoris, located at the top of the vulva, is packed with over 10,000 nerve endings, making it one of the most sensitive sex organs in the whole body.
Vaginal
The vaginal orgasm is reached through internal stimulation. Only an estimated 20% of women can achieve this “euphoric” climax, according to Toscano.
Cervical
Studies have shown that when stimulated, the cervix, located at the top of the vaginal canal, lights up a separate part of the brain that can trigger a “much deeper” climax than vaginal or clitoral orgasms.
G-spot
Named for German-born physician and scientist Ernst Gräfenberg, who claimed the area as a key erogenous zone for women about 100 years ago, the elusive G-spot remains in question due to a lack of anatomical data, Toscano said. However, research has suggested that women do benefit from its stimulation.
Female ejaculation
Women can do it too: Also known as “squirting,” an estimated 10 to 54% of women are sometimes known to involuntarily release a clear liquid — a mixture of urine and secretions from the Skene’s glands — during a peak moment of pleasure.
Prostate
Some have called it the “male G-spot” for its ability to induce penile orgasm by massaging the organ, which can be reached a few inches inside the rectum.
Anal
Stimulation in and around the anus can prompt pelvic muscle contractions that enhance an orgasm, which some have said results in a “longer lasting” climax than other forms.
Nipple
Some women have reported experiencing the so-called “nipplegasm,” Toscano claimed, though she says most will enjoy nipple play in tandem with other forms of stimulation.
Blended
Double your pleasure with two or more forms of stimulation at once, Toscano recommended, particularly as different erogenous zones light up different parts of the brain.
Multiple
Make it a marathon with multiple orgasms: While it’s tough for men — fewer than 10% can do it without losing steam in between — women have been blessed with this sensual superpower, according to Tonsco
Erogenous
Outside of the major players — the genitals — stimulation of erogenous zones such as the neck, lips, and inner thigh can induce intense physical arousal on their own.
Energetic
This “non-sexual” form of orgasm arises from the mind amid an intense wave of sexual energy throughout the body without any physical stimulation involved.
Exercise
Ab muscles do more than support your core. Toscano wrote that an estimated 9% of people have experienced orgasm during a workout of their core muscles — though most reported were reported during their late teens and early 20s, a time when sex hormones are at a peak.
Breastfeeding
Though not considered sexual when offspring is involved, research has shown that women can experience pleasurable sensations while breastfeeding — and it’s certainly a popular theme in the kink community between consenting adults.
Sleep
An orgasm during sleep — a “wet dream” — is a form of energetic orgasm since physical touch isn’t necessarily required for it to occur. Though most often associated with puberty, vivid sexual dreams throughout life can trigger the same hormones associated with physical sex acts, inducing orgasms without direct stimulation.