National orgasm day is coming - are you ready? The UK celebrates national orgasm day on the 31st July and we are eagerly awaiting its arrival. Sadly it’s not a day that grants us a day off work, however it’s an exciting time to raise awareness about all things orgasms with an aim to de-stigmatise sexual pleasure and to tackle issues with experiencing satisfying orgasms - whether through masturbation or through sexual activity with a partner. 

With this in mind, let’s find out more about the orgasm gap, what causes orgasm problems in females, what causes orgasm problems in men and where to get help if you have an issue with orgasms.

What is the orgasm gap?

The orgasm gap is a social phenomenon that argues that a sexual inequality exists between men and women in terms of satisfying orgasms. Research over the last two decades have consistently shown that men frequently have more orgasms than women in heterosexual encounters, showing that this sexual inequality may be due to many factors, including cultural ignorance of the clitoris, pornography favouring male orgasms or lack of education focussed on sexual pleasure. Therefore, on this national orgasm day it’s never been more important to raise awareness about the orgasm gap, with an aim to celebrate female orgasms as well as the benefits that arise from having an orgasm. 

To find out more about orgasms, click here. 

What causes orgasm problems in females? 

Female orgasm problems are extremely common, especially in older women. The NHS states one third of young and middle-aged women are affected by sexual problems, with a staggering 50% of older women being affected.

There are many factors that may cause orgasm problems in women. Firstly, it may be that the female genitalia is not being stimulated properly - the clitoris may be touched too hard, or too soft, or not the right way, or even not touched at all. That's why it’s important to talk to your partner to find out what they like or don’t like and how they like to be touched. One way of finding this out is by asking your partner how they like to touch themselves as this may give you an indication on the rhythm, speed and pressure your partner likes.

Other factors may include;

• Sexual performance anxiety
• Depression or other mood disorders
• Previous traumatic sexual experiences 
• Relationship problems
• Hormone changes or issues, such as the menopause
• Some types of medication, including selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Some women may never have experienced an orgasm, while others may have had orgasms in the past but are currently finding it difficult. 

What can cause orgasm problems in men?

For men, there may be many reasons that cause orgasm problems. Semen is created from sperm produced in the testicles as well as fluid from the prostate gland and glands behind the bladder while the orgasm happens just before the semen spurts out until the last semen is ejaculated. This means that problems in either area of men's anatomy may cause orgasm problems. 

Other factors may include;

- Premature ejaculation 

- Producing no semen or very limited amount

- Delayed ejaculation

- Erectile dysfunction

- Stress, depression or anxiety

- Medication

- Relationship problems

- Sexual performance anxiety

Where can I get help if I have an orgasm problem? 

If you are having problems with reaching an orgasm this national orgasm day, then it’s best to make an appointment with your doctor. If they suspect the reason might be psychological, they can refer you to a psychosexual counsellor or therapist who will work with you to treat the underlying psychological cause. 

The doctor will also check for any physical reasons why you might be finding it difficult to reach orgasm, for instance for female orgasm problems, it may be a problem with the pelvis. If it’s a pelvis issue, they may give you some pelvic floor exercises to do to help strengthen these muscles which may make having an orgasm easier.