A new Italian study of heterosexual adults has found persistent gender differences in orgasm frequency, with men reporting more frequent orgasms than women. The research also shows that, for both men and women, more frequent orgasms are linked to greater sexual arousal, a wider range of sexual activities, and a stronger desire for sex. The study, published in Sexuality & Culture, analysed 579 heterosexual adults in stable relationships in Italy.
Orgasm is described in psychological and physiological terms as an intense experience of sexual pleasure accompanied by bodily responses such as rhythmic contractions and hormonal activity. Although the underlying mechanisms are similar across genders, women in heterosexual relationships report orgasm less often than men, a phenomenon commonly referred to as the orgasm gap.
Researchers have suggested a range of explanations for the gap, including anatomical differences, stimulation patterns, stress, body image and sexual confidence. They also emphasise the role of relationship factors such as emotional closeness, communication, responsiveness and overall satisfaction, alongside broader cultural scripts about how men and women should behave and what they should derive from sex.
The Italian team chose Italy partly because traditional religious and cultural influences coexist with growing openness about sexuality and shifting gender roles. They set out to explore how often people orgasm and which factors are associated with orgasm frequency, considering relationship quality, non-coital sexual practices, and sexual habits.
Participants were 579 heterosexual adults aged 18 to 60, from across northern, central and southern Italy. Most were middle-aged, highly educated, employed, and had been with their partners for more than a decade. They were recruited via centres of the Italian Federation of Scientific Sexology and through an online survey.
Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and assessments of relationship quality and sexual attitudes using established scales, alongside questions about sexual history and functioning. Orgasm frequency was measured on a five-point scale from “almost always” to “never.”
As expected, men reported reaching orgasm more often than women. Their average fell between “almost always” and “usually,” closer to the former, while women averaged nearer “usually.” The authors note the difference could not be explained by age, education, employment, parenthood, or relationship status.
For both genders, more frequent orgasms were associated with easier sexual arousal, a greater variety of sexual activity, and a higher desire for sex. They were also linked to better relationship quality—specifically, greater emotional closeness, more time spent in conversation and shared activities, and overall happiness with the relationship. The links were somewhat larger for women, though the difference did not reach statistical significance.
The clearest gender difference involved sexual satisfaction. Among women, more frequent orgasms correlated moderately with higher satisfaction with the sexual relationship, enjoyment of the partner’s behaviour, ease of arousal and affectionate touch, while among men these links were weak or absent. Women who reported more oral sex and more sharing of sexual fantasies also tended to report more frequent orgasms, a pattern not observed in men.
For men, orgasm frequency was linked to anal sex, sex toys and engagement with erotic films, books and websites—practices not related to orgasm frequency for women. The authors caution that while these links may suggest men’s orgasms are tied to novelty and stimulation, the direction of these correlations does not neatly support that interpretation.
“These findings point to persistent gender differences in orgasmic experience and suggest that men’s orgasm is more strongly influenced by sexual novelty and stimulation, while women’s orgasm is more strongly associated with emotional and relational factors. A better understanding of these differences is essential for promoting more satisfying and equitable sexual experiences in couples,” the authors concluded.
However, the authors acknowledge that the paper’s conclusions about relationship quality and orgasm are not definitive. The study found no statistically significant gender difference in how relationship quality related to orgasm, with clearer disparities appearing across sexual satisfaction and specific practices.
The study notes several limitations: its design cannot establish causality, all data were self-reported, and orgasm frequency was assessed with a single question. Recruitment through sexology centres may have attracted participants unusually comfortable discussing sex, and the sample was predominantly middle-aged, highly educated, and in long-term relationships. The findings may not apply to LGBTQ+ adults, who were excluded from the analysis.
The paper, “Revisiting the Gender Orgasm Gap: Relational, Sexual, and Behavioral Correlates of Orgasm Attainment Among Cisgender Heterosexual Adults,” was authored by Cristina Civilotti, Giulia Di Fini, Vieri Boncinelli, Ivan De Marco, Camilla Branda, Gabriella Gandino, and Fabio Veglia.
