Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 20, No.

6, 1991

The Female Sexual Response Revisited:

Understanding the Multiorgasmic
Experience in Women

Carol Anderson Darling, Ph.D., I J. Kenneth Davidson, Sr., Ph.D. 2,4

and Donna A. Jennings, Ph.D. 3

Although it has been almost 20 years since recorded evidence of multiple or-
gasms among women emerged, there have been few recent investigations of
this phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to understand further the
female multiorgasmic experience in relationship to the method of stimulatory
activity, namely, masturbation, petting, and sexual intercourse. In addition,
single-orgasmic and multiorgasmic women were compared by examination of
various sexual and orgasmic behaviors, the role of sex partners, and perceptions
of physiological and psychological sexual satisfaction. An anonymous 122-item
questionnaire was utilized to obtain the responses of 805 college-educated
female nurses, chosen for their perceived ability to verbalize data regarding the
anatomical structures and physiological processes associated with sexual
responsiveness. The findings indicated that 42.7% of the respondents had ex-
perienced multiple orgasms and that several significant differences existed be-
tween single-orgasmic and multiorgasmic women.
KEY WORDS: multiple orgasms; orgasm; sexual satisfaction; masturbation; sexual intercourse;
female sexuality.

The investigators acknowledge two grants from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Grants-in-Aid of Research program which have partially provided the resources for data
collection, coding, and analyses.
1Department of Family, Child, and Consumer Sciences, The Florida State University,
Tallahassee, Florida 32306.
ZDepartment of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire,
Wisconsin 54702.
3Department of Health Education, Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee, Florida
32304.
*ro whom correspondence should be addressed.

527
0004-0002/91/1200-0527506.50/0 © 1991 Plenum Publishing Corporation
528 Darling, Davidson, and Jennings

INTRODUCTION

It has been over 20 years since the cornerstone clinical research

by Masters and Johnson (1966) recorded evidence of multiple orgasms
in women, which served to create public awareness of this potential.
These findings also eased the skepticism associated with an earlier
report in which the phenomenon of multiple orgasms was described by
a limited number of women (Kinsey et al., 1953). Interestingly, Ellis
(1936) proposed 30 years earlier that multiple orgasms were common
phenomena among women. It has been surmised that previous reports
of multiple orgasms were largely overlooked because the social climate
was not ready for such a revised view of female sexuality until the 1960s
(Reiss, 1986). Although the concept of multiple orgasms in women has
become more popularized, there has been little recent research on this
phenomenon.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Although what constitutes a multiorgasmic experience has been dis-

cussed in the literature, there are differences of opinion concerning the con-
clusions. Through clinical laboratory studies, it has been demonstrated that
a woman can move back into the plateau phase after one orgasm and, with
further stimulation, experience a second orgasm, a third orgasm, or even a
fourth. This phenomenon has been referred to as "repeated orgasm."
Another type of multiorgasmic experience, which has been labeled "ex-
tended sexual orgasm" or "status orgasmus," can be described as either a
series of rapidly recurring orgasms or a single continued episode of orgasm
during which no recordable plateau phase levels can be identified (Masters
and Johnson, 1966). Earlier, multiple orgasms in women had been depicted
as occurring in rapid succession with lapses of only a minute or two, or in
some instances, only a few seconds between orgasms (Kinsey et al., 1953).
Later, the notion was brought forth that multiple orgasms which occurred
as one long continuous orgasm were very rare (Hite, 1976). The distinction
was made that if orgasms are separated by several minutes, thus resulting
from restimulation, these orgasms are not really "multiple," but rather rep-
resent "sequential" orgasms (Amberson and Hoon, 1985). Although there
are varying definitions/conceptualizations of the term "multiple orgasms,"
this study conceptualized multiple orgasms by the first definition: repeated
orgasms in a single episode.
Despite the lack of a precise and consistent definition of multiple
orgasms, women continue to report experiencing this phenomenon through
Multiorgasmic Experience in Women 529

masturbation and sexual intercourse. Various researchers have reported

that 14-16% of women experience them (14%, Kinsey et al., 1953; 16%,
Athanasiou et al., 1970). These relatively low percentages notwithstanding,
most women supposedly have the potential to experience multiple orgasms
(Denney and Quadagno, 1988).
Not only does the research literature contain minimal reference to
this phenomenon among women but also few empirical studies are avail-
able that can help professionals and individuals understand it. During
the 1980s, a single research report provided the field of human sexuality
with an important quantitative and qualitative documentation of multi-
ple orgasms (Bohlen et al., 1982). The findings contributed physiological
evidence of multiple orgasms while recording the development of one
woman's sexual response pattern. In addition, subjective descriptions of
physical perceptions during orgasm were related to specific physiological
changes.
Under what circumstances do women experience multiple orgasms?
Although some women indicate that they occur regularly through sexual
intercourse, others report that they occur more frequently via clitoral
stimulation during masturbation due to ease of sexual stimulation, no
distraction with partner concerns, greater use of sexual fantasy, and
among a subset of women, those with "heightened breast and vaginal
awareness" (Fisher, 1973; Kinsey et al., 1953; Masters and Johnson,
1966; Masters et al., 1988). Although some women who experience mul-
tiple orgasms choose to utilize alternating sexual patterns which include
single or multiple orgasms at various times, other multiorgasmic women
often feel satisfied with having only one orgasm during sexual activity
(Kilman, 1984; Offir, 1982). Nevertheless, one study reported that 26%
of women wanted to experience multiple orgasms as a desired change
in their sexual lives (Darling and Davidson, 1986).
Few studies have differentiated patterns of physiological arousal
in single and multiple orgasms. Although Sherfey (1966) and Hire (1976)
claimed that successive orgasms are experienced as more intense, Am-
berson and Hoon (1985), in their study of sequential orgasms, found no
physiological evidence that they resulted in increased levels of vasocon-
gestion or increased physical pleasure. Furthermore, measures of heart
rate and vaginal blood flow indicate no obvious differences associated
with each orgasms type (Levin and Wagner, 1985). As indicated by the
range and variability of female orgasmic experiences, opinions continue
to be divided over the perceptions of female o r g a s m s - - i n particular,
the convictions and theorizing of those investigators emphasizing greater
"satisfaction" or "fulfillment" associated with various orgasm types
(Rosen and Beck, 1988).
530 Darling, Davidson, and Jennings

Considerable debate has centered around whether women perceive

orgasm as a necessary ingredient for marital and/or sexual satisfaction.
Many years ago, a positive correlation was found between frequency of
orgasm and the perceived enjoyment of sexual intercourse, but ex-
periencing orgasms was not perceived to be necessary for the enjoyment
of sexual intercourse (Terman, 1951; Wallin and Clark, 1963). More
recently, greater marital happiness has been found to be associated with
a higher percentage of sexual intercourse episodes leading to orgasms
for women (Gebhard, 1966; Lief, 1980). Thus, it appears that individual
and partner-related variable,s which may include both physiological and
psychological components, are central to sexual satisfaction for women.
The purposes of this study were (i) to delineate the female multi-
orgasmic experience according to the type of sexual activity: masturba-
tion, petting, and/or sexual intercourse; (ii) to determine the differences,
if any, between single-orgasmic and multiorgasmic women by examina-
tion of their sexual and orgasmic behaviors, the role of their sex
partners, and their perceptions of physiological and psychological sexual
satisfaction.

METHOD

Procedure

An anonymous questionnaire was distributed, with the assistance of

professional acquaintances in the field of nursing, to 2175 professional
female nurses located in their institutional work settings in Alaska, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North
Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
This sample consisted of graduate students and faculty members in univer-
sity schools of nursing, as well as nurses employed at least half-time in
teaching hospitals associated with these schools of nursing. The respondents
who were the focus of this investigation constituted a sample of 868 profes-
sional nurses.
The questionnaire consisted of 122 open-ended and closed-form
items concerning sexual attitudes, sexual behavior, and the female sexual
response. Other than the open-ended questions regarding the number
of orgasms experienced during various sexual activities, closed-form
items were primarily utilized in these analyses. Items that were analyzed
pertained to orgasm, sexual behaviors, sexual techniques, orgasmic tech-
niques with a partner, and physiological and psychological sexual satis-
faction. The survey instrument was first pretested with students enrolled
Muitiorgasmic Experience in Women 531

in upper division marriage/family and human sexuality courses. The

revised questionnaire was pretested a second time utilizing the nursing
staff of a large Midwestern family planning organization. Finally, the
questionnaire was reviewed by 10 female professionals involved in either
teaching and/or research about human sexuality and/or the administra-
tion of community-based family planning services.
Questionnaire packets were disseminated by internal mail distribution
centers and by first-class mail through the use of mailing labels supplied
by the selected health-care facilities employing professional nurses. Com-
pleted questionnaires were returned directly to the investigators via
postage-paid envelopes. A total of 868 complete questionnaires were
returned, a response rate of 39.9%.
The chi-square test was the primary basis for ascertaining the sig-
nificance of any differences between respondent groups for nominal vari-
ables. Analysis of variance was employed for the interval scale variables.
The level of significance was set at <0.05.

RESULTS

The final subsample for this study comprised 805 professional nur-
ses. Given the nature of the research questions, those individuals who
had stated their sexual orientation as lesbian (12 cases) were not in-
cluded in these data analyses. Furthermore, in the interest of creating
a more educationally homogeneous sample, those persons who did not
possess at least an associate college degree in nursing (51 cases) were
excluded from the subsample. Of this final subsample, the educational
levels were: 8.2%, associate degree in nursing; 19.5%, 3-year diploma
in nursing; 44.3%, baccalaureate degree; 25.3%, master's degree; and
2.7%, doctoral degree. For marital status, the respondents indicated:
31.6%, never-married; 55.2%, married; 11.7%, divorced/separated; and
1.5%, widowed. The mean ages for the respondents by marital status
were 28.7 years, n e v e r - m a r r i e d ; 34.5 years, married; 33.3 years,
divorced/separated; and 52.7 years, widowed.
While reviewing the subsequent data analyses for these 805 respon-
dents, it was determined that 10.6% (n = 85) had not yet experienced
orgasm, 46.7% (n = 376) usually experienced only single orgasms, and
42.7% (n = 344 ) usually experienced multiple orgasms. Since experiencing
orgasm was critical to the purposes of this investigation, only respondents
who had ever experienced orgasm (89.4%, n = 720) were utilized in sub-
sequent analyses.
532 Darling, Davidson, and Jennings

To profile those women who had usually experienced multiple or-

gasms in comparison to those who usually only experienced a single or-
gasm, two categories were established. The data were obtained form
three open-ended questions that queried the respondents regarding the
number of orgasms they usually experienced during a single episode of
masturbating while alone, a single episode of petting, and a single
episode of vaginal penetration while having sexual intercourse. If women
reported more than one orgasm during any of the above sexual activities,
they were considered multiorgasmic. Women who reported usually ex-
periencing multiple orgasms (two or more) became known as the "mul-
tiorgasmic" group (47.8%, n = 344), while those who did not usually
experience multiple orgasms became known as the "single-orgasmic"
group (52.2%, n = 376). The multiorgasmic group thus comprised those
women who had experienced multiple orgasms in any one or more of
these ways: masturbation, petting, and/or sexual intercourse. The sub-
sequent statistical analyses focused on a comparison of the single-orgas-
mic and multiorgasmic groups; however, the term "usually" is not
utilized in the reporting of data, it is implied.
In this study, 47.8% of the respondents had experienced multiple
orgasms via some method of stimulation. These methods included 26.3%
via masturbation, 18.3% via petting, and 24.7% via sexual intercourse.
Of these respondents, only 7.0% had experienced multiple orgasms
during all three types of sexual activity. For the multiorgasmic group,
39.7% reported that each successive orgasm was stronger; 16.1%,
weaker; 35.1%, varied in strength; and 9.1%, no difference. The number
of orgasms reported during a given multiorgasmic experience ranged
from 2 to 20.

Dimensions of Sexual and Orgasmic Behaviors

A comparison of the significant differences in sexual behaviors of

these two groups indicates that multiorgasmic women were more likely
than single-orgasmic women to have examined their clitoris as well as
both given and received oral-genital stimulation (see Table I). In regard
to orgasmic techniques, further differences were noted. Multiorgasmic
women were more likely to employ the use of clitoral stimulation via
thigh pressure and vaginal stimulation via finger penetration during mas-
turbation. Furthermore, multiorgasmic women had more often explored
a variety of other techniques for experiencing orgasm, such as mental
stimulation through the use of sexual fantasies, erotic films, and erotic
literature (see Table II). As for the age variable, women who reported
Multiorgasmic Experience in Women 533

Table I. Sexual Behaviors by Orgasmic Group

%multi- %single- %total Group differences
orgasmic orgasmic group
Sexual behavior (n =344) (n =376) (n =720) Z2 pa
Examined clitoris 87.8 81.0 84.2 5.70 0.02~
Masturbated 92.4 88.8 90.5 2.41 0.121
Bare breast fondled 100.0 99.7 99.9 0.00 1.000
Bare breast kissed 99.7 99.5 99.6 0.00 1.000
Nipples kissed 99.7 98.4 99.0 1.99 0.159
Nipples prolonged stimulation 97.8 96.5 97.2 0.48 0.489
Touched bare genital area of partner 100.0 99.7 99.9 0.00 1.000
Genital organs orally stimulated 99.1 95.7 97.3 6.80 0.009b
Orally stimulated genital organs of partner 98.0 94.4 96.1 5.21 0.022b
Experienced intercourse 100.0 100.0 100.0
aDegrees of freedom = 1.
bStatistically significant at p < 0.05 or better.

Table II. Personal Orgasmic Techniques by Orgasmic Group

%multi- %single- %total Group differences
orgasmic orgasmic group
Orgasmic technique (n =344) (n =376) (n =720) ~2 pa
Via masturbation: manual stimulation of
clitoral area 75.7 74.8 75.2 0.04 0.840
Via masturbation: stimulation of clitoral
area-vaginal penetration with object 26.9 31.6 29.4 1.71 0.191
Via masturbation: vaginal penetration
with fingers 34.2 24.7 29.2 7.40 0.006 b
Via masturbation: stimulation of clitoral
area with object (i.e., vibrator) 25.1 23.9 24.5 0.10 0.754
Via masturbation: vaginal penetration
with object (i.e., vibrator) 20.5 20.9 20.7 0.00 0.957
Mental stimulation via sexual fantasies 25.1 14.7 19.7 11.54 0.001b
Via masturbation: stimulation of clitoral
area through thigh pressure 23.4 15.8 19.4 6.06 0.014a
Mental stimulation via erotic literature 23.4 15.0 19.0 7.60 0.006b
Mental stimulation via erotic films 15.2 7.5 11.2 19.88 0.002b
Via masturbation: stimulation of clitoral
area-anal penetration 7.9 11.0 9.5 1.65 0.200
aDegrees of freedom = 1.
bStatistically significant at p < 0.05 or better.

e x p e r i e n c i n g m u l t i p l e o r g a s m s w e r e m o r e l i k e l y t o h a v e i n i t i a t e d at a n
earlier age the following sexual activities and responses: pleasurable sen-
s a t i o n s f r o m t h e c l i t o r i s , F ( 1 , 6 7 9 ) = 4 . 4 6 , p < 0.035; m a s t u r b a t i o n , F ( 1 ,
5 9 1 ) = 53.33, p < 0.021; o r g a s m , F ( 1 , 7 0 4 ) = 7.65, p < 0.006; a n d o r -
g a s m v i a m a s t u r b a t i o n , F ( 1 , 5 7 5 ) = 4.45, p < 0.035, as c o m p a r e d t o t h e
single-orgasmic group.
534 Darling, Davidson, and Jennings

Table IlL Orgasmic Techniques with Partner by Orgasmic Group

% multior- %single- %total Group differences
Orgasmic gasmic orgasmic group
technique with partner (n = 344) (n = 376) (n = 720) Z2 pa
Manual/oral stimulation of
clitoris and vagina by partner 84.5 79.6 82.0 2.55 0.110
Sexual intercourse: manual
stimulation of clitoral area by
partner 83.0 72.7 77.6 10.49 0.001b
Sexual intercourse: vaginal
penetration-male above 79.8 69.7 74.5 9.10 0.003b
Sexual intercourse: vaginal
penetration only 70.2 62.7 66.3 4.09 0.043b
Sexual intercourse: vaginal
penetration-female of side 49.1 38.1 43.4 8.43 0.004b
Manual stimulation of clitoris by
self/vaginal penetration by
partner 46.5 31.9 38.9 15.37 0.001b
Oral stimulation of nipples by
sex partner 39.2 26.5 32.6 12.41 0.001b
Manual stimulation of nipples by
sex partner 38.9 26.3 32.3 12.41 0.0016
aDegrees of freedom = 1.
bStatistically significant at p < 0.05 or better.

Dynamics of Partner Interaction

W i t h r e g a r d to p a r t n e r - o r i e n t e d o r g a s m i c b e h a v i o r and stimulation
t e c h n i q u e s , t h e m u l t i o r g a s m i c g r o u p w a s m o r e likely to h a v e p a r -
ticipated in various p a r t n e r - r e l a t e d b e h a v i o r s leading to o r g a s m t h a n the
single-orgasmic g r o u p (see T a b l e III). In addition to b o t h giving a n d
receiving oral-genital stimulation, as m e n t i o n e d previously, m u l t i o r g a s -
mic r e s p o n d e n t s w e r e m o r e likely t h a n single-orgasmic r e s p o n d e n t s to
have h a d p a r t n e r s w h o m a n u a l l y and orally stimulated their nipples (see
T a b l e III). C o m p a r e d to single-orgasmic w o m e n , , m u l t i o r g a s m i c w o m e n
w e r e m o r e likely to h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d a d d i t i o n a l clitoral s t i m u l a t i o n
d u r i n g sexual i n t e r c o u r s e by either their p a r t n e r s or themselves. A b o u t
twice as m a n y w o m e n e x p e r i e n c e d o r g a s m during sexual i n t e r c o u r s e with
p a r t n e r - s t i m u l a t i o n o f the clitoris as c o m p a r e d to self-stimulation o f the
clitoris. M u l t i o r g a s m i c w o m e n w e r e m o r e likely t h a n s i n g l e - o r g a s m i c
w o m e n to have e x p e r i e n c e d o r g a s m via vaginal p e n e t r a t i o n alone, in-
cluding vaginal p e n e t r a t i o n with the male a b o v e and p e n e t r a t i o n with
the w o m a n o n h e r side.
F o r the m u l t i o r g a s m i c group, 54.7% e x p e r i e n c e d their first o r g a s m
p r i o r to their p a r t n e r ' s orgasm, b u t only 35.6% o f the single-orgasmic
Multiorgasmic Experience in Women 535

group experienced orgasm b e f o r e their partner, Z2(5) = 26.29; p <

0.001. The average n u m b e r of lifetime sex partners for the multiorgasmic
group was 7.9 partners in comparison to 6.2 partners for the single-or-
gasmic group, but the difference was not significant. Although 54.1% of
the m u l t i o r g a s m i c g r o u p and 45.9% of the s i n g l e - o r g a s m i c g r o u p
reported currently having more than one sex partner, this difference was
not significant.

Sexual Satisfaction

With regard to physiological and psychological needs, there were

no significant differences between the single-orgasmic and multiorgasmic
groups regarding physiological need to have an orgasm (82.0 and 83.2%,
respectively) or psychological n e e d to e x p e r i e n c e orgasm (78.7 and
81.8%, respectively). However, there were differences between the two
groups concerning the psychological need to have more than one or-
gasm. Of the multiorgasmic respondents, 85.8% reported a physiological
need to have more than one orgasm, whereas 69.2% of single-orgasmic
respondents indicated a similar need, Z2(4) = 32.29, p < 0.001. Further,
83.1% of multiorgasmic women in comparison to 67.7% of single-orgas-
mic women reported a psychological need to experience more than one
orgasm, Z2(4) = 26.62, p < 0.001.
To understand the respondents' perception of sexual satisfaction,
questions with Likert-type response categories were included in the sur-
vey which addressed how individuals would rate their overall personal
level of physiological, as well as psychological, sexual satisfaction. When
the overall level of sexual satisfaction was analyzed without regard to
source of orgasmic response (masturbation, petting, and/or intercourse),
no significant differences were found between r e s p o n d e n t groups for
either physiological or psychological sexual satisfaction. However, the
multiorgasmic respondents were more likely to be physiologically satis-
fied after orgasm via sexual intercourse (see Table IV).
The women also were asked if they desired any changes in their sexual
lives specifically related to orgasmic response. The single-orgasmic women
were more likely to indicate that they would like to experience orgasm
through sexual intercourse (26.9 vs. 17.1%); more frequent orgasms (30.1
v s . 22.2%); and multiple orgasms during sexual intercourse (38.5 vs. 15.9%).
These differences were significance: Z2(1) = 9.37, p < 0.002; Z2(1) = 5.53,
p < 0.019; and Z;(1) = 34.36, p < 0.001, respectively.
536 Darling, Davidson, and Jennings

Table IV. Physiological Sexual Satisfaction and Psychological Sexual Satisfaction by

Orgasmic Group
% %
some- some-
Source of orgas- % what what dis- % dis-
mic response n satisfied satisfied satisfied satisfied .~ t df p

Physiological sexual satisfaction

Masturbation -1.26 572 0.209
Multiorgasmic 186 76.9 15.1 4.3 3.8 3.65
Single-orgasmic 388 71.1 17.8 7.5 3.6 3.56
Total 574 73.0 16.8 6.4 3.7
Petting -0.79 519 0.432
Multiorgasmic 132 81.8 9.8 5.3 3.0 3.70
Single-orgasmic 389 76.1 15.7 5.1 3.1 3.65
Total 521 77.5 14.2 5.2 3.9
Sexual intercourse -2.30 629 0.022a
Multiorgasmic 176 86.4 8.0 4.0 1.7 3.79
Single-orgasmic 455 75.4 17.6 4.0 3.1 3.65
Total 631 78.4 14.9 4.0 2.7
Any method -1.76 712 0.079
Multiorgasmic 341 78.9 13.2 4.7 3.2 3.68
Single-orgasmic 373 71.8 18.0 6.4 3.8 3.58
Total 714 75.2 15.7 5.6 3.5
Psychological sexual satisfaction
Masturbation 0.14 571 0.892
Multiorgasmic 186 63.4 18.3 10.2 8.1 3.37
Single-orgasmic 387 63.3 18.1 12.1 6.5 3.38
Total 573 63.4 18.2 11.5 7.0
Petting -0.62 518 0.535
Multiorgasmic 131 71.0 16.0 5.3 7.6 3.50
Single-orgasmic 389 66.8 17.0 10.3 5.9 3.45
Total 520 67.9 16.7 9.0 6.3
Sexual intercourse -1.79 630 0.073
Mu.ltiorgasmic 177 76.3 12.4 7.3 4.0 3.61
Single-orgasmic 455 67.5 18.2 8.6 5.7 3.47
Total 632 69.9 16.6 8.2 5.2
Any method -0.62 711 0.533
Multiorgasmic 341 68.0 16.1 8.8 7.0 3.45
Single-orgasmic 372 64.8 17.5 11.6 6.2 3.41
Total 713 66.3 16.8 10.2 6.6

aStatistically significant at p < 0.05 or better.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

In describing the multiple orgasmic experience, the source of multiple

orgasms was varied for different women. This variation ranged from ex-
periencing multiple orgasms during masturbation, petting, and sexual in-
tercourse and, for a small percentage of women, multiple orgasms were
reported all three ways. Within this sample, 42.7% of the women usually
Multiorgasmic Experience in Women 537

experienced multiple orgasms during some form of sexual activity, which

is somewhat greater than data reported by other researchers who focused
on a single source of multiple orgasms.
Although the findings are more current than other data related to
multiple orgasms, they should be interpreted cautiously since the 39.9%
return rate may not have provided a sufficient measure of the population
base rate. The less than usual response rate was believed to be a by-product
of the personal nature of the questions and the lack of local institutional
involvement in the data collection process. Although this response rate is
not high, it is acceptable, since according to Fowler (1988) mail question-
naires that are returned without follow-up procedures generally result in a
response rate that is less than 30%. Given the response rate and sample
sources, we are aware of the sample limitations that obviously make it dif-
ficult to make inferences bout women in general. Nevertheless, we believe
t h a t these professional nurses constitute a representative group of
American women in terms of their sexual behavior and sexual response
patterns. Although nurses are believed to have more knowledge about
human physiology, there is no evidence that their sexual behaviors are dif-
ferent from other professional women.
Why might the reported percentage of women in this study experienc-
ing multiple orgasms differ from previous research? It is possible that mul-
tiorgasmic women were more likely to return the questionnaire. Thus, the
actual percentage of women who experienced multiple orgasms may be
somewhat lower when 43%. However, since the stated intent of the re-
search did not focus on this issue and only 5% of the questions dealt with
multiple orgasms, this possibility seems unlikely. Moreover, a woman who
had the capacity but was not usually motivated to experience multiple or-
gasms could have responded "one orgasm" to a question about how many
orgasms she usually experienced, and thus would have been included in
the single orgasm category. As a result, the 43% of women who reported
"usually" experiencing multiple orgasms actually be a conservative estimate
of those women who had "ever" experienced multiple orgasms. Although
Kinsey et al. (1953) reported that 14% of respondents experienced multiple
orgasms, their data were concerned with multiple orgasms via sexual inter-
course, whereas our data integrate multiple orgasms experienced by any
method including petting, sexual intercourse, and masturbation.
The findings indicate that women who experienced multiple orgasms
were more explorative in their sexual activities. Furthermore, their aware-
ness of pleasurable sensations of the clitoris via masturbation and orgasm
occurred at an earlier age than for the single-orgasmic women. Since mul-
tiorgasmic women experienced pleasurable genital sensations earlier than
single-orgasmic women, it is not surprising that they employed creative ways
538 Darling, Davidson, and Jennings

to experience orgasms including mental stimulation with sexual fantasies,

erotic literature, and erotic films. Multiorgasmic women appear to have
overcome some societal norms and pressures that might otherwise restrict
their sexual experimentation.
The role of partner interaction indicated some dynamics between
multiorgasmic women and their partners. Multiorgasmic women were more
likely than single-orgasmic women to experience orgasm through partner-
related behaviors such as giving and receiving oral-genital stimulation, as
well as manual and oral stimulation of the nipples. As mentioned earlier,
clitoral stimulation is very important to multiorgasmic women. They were
more likely than single-orgasmic women to report additional clitoral
stimulation during sexual intercourse, whether or not furnished by their
partners or by themselves. In addition, some specific positions and stimula-
tion techniques were more often reported by multiorgasmic women in com-
parison to single-orgasmic women.
It appears likely that once multiorgasmic women have identified what
is pleasurable for them, they are able to chose for themselves, and some-
times with a sexual partner, the techniques and variations that provide the
maximum pleasure they are seeking. This approach may be seen in the
timing of orgasm, since multiorgasmic women were more likely to have
partners who delayed their first orgasm during sexual intercourse until after
the women had experienced their first orgasm. Their orgasmic pattern may
have resulted from communication between the partners, with the multi-
orgasmic women conveying what elevates their arousal. Or, it may have
simply evolved from the partner's tendency towards needing a prolonged
period of stimulation prior to experiencing orgasm.
Another relevant issue pertaining to sexual needs concerns how satis-
fied women feel with their sexual activities. Although a majority of these
women were satisfied with their sexual lives, the multiorgasmic women were
more likely to be physiologically satisfied with sexual intercourse than
single-orgasmic women. These data suggest that sexual intercourse may
offer them more sexual pleasure. Partner involvement in sexual intercourse
could also be important since multiorgasmic women are more likely to
receive clitoral stimulation, nipple stimulation, and a variety of vaginal
stimulation techniques along with emotional interaction. Thus, through
sexual intercourse, multiorgasmic women may satisfy more of their sexual
needs. However, in general, sexual satisfaction was not overwhelmingly af-
fected by whether or not a woman experiences multiple orgasms.
Various interpretations of these data are possible. One plausible ex-
planation is that women who experience multiple orgasms are more sexually
adventurous. It could be that being more explorative, they continued
stimulation after a single orgasm and thus learned to reach multiple or-
Multiorgasmic Experience in Women 539

gasms. In other words, adventurousness led to multiple orgasms. Alternate-

ly, a desire to reach multiple orgasms may also have led women to ex-
perience a greater variety of sexual activities. Thus, being multiorgasmic
led to adventurousness. Furthermore, a third factor, greater sexual desire,
might account for being both adventurous and experiencing multiple or-
gasms. This argument does not imply that these women are more sexually
satisfied, understand their sexual needs better, or, in any sense, are sexually
healthier than women who are less adventurous.
Since the phenomenon of multiple orgasms has drawn increasing at-
tention in the popular press, thus helping to create a growing awareness,
these findings have several important implications for sex educators,
therapists, and researchers. Individuals need to be apprised through educa-
tion or therapy of the various sexual stimulation techniques that can lead
to multiple orgasms so that they may share this information with their
partners. By providing for more open communication about single and mul-
tiple orgasms with clients, as well as the public, some of the mystique and
hype about orgasms and multiple orgasms, in particular, can be dispelled
and replaced with sexual understanding and meaningful sexual experiences
for both individuals and couples. For researchers, the questions are of a
different nature. What is the psychological meaning of multiple orgasms
to those women who are not able to experience multiple orgasms, and what
is its impact on the interpersonal dynamics of the sexual relationship? Fur-
thermore, in regard to sexual satisfaction, what factors influence single-or-
gasmic women to be equally satisfied after one orgasm as compared to
multiorgasmic women who are satisfied after several orgasms?
These questions point to the integrative and complex nature of sexual
relationships. It is evident that such concerns will continue to be addressed
as sexual issues are gaining status in mutually satisfying relationships. These
findings are important to those women who themselves must deal with the
presence or absence of multiple orgasms in their sexual lives along with
their influence, if any, on the quality of their sexual interactions and sexual
satisfaction.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors also thank Ann Bennett Boss, Cynthia L. Choren, Kara
Anderson Johnson, and Amy J. Renshaw, Research Assistants, University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, for their many contributions to this research
project. In addition, appreciation is herein expressed for support from the
Academic Computing Services Center for data and analyses and for the
tables produced by the Media Development Center with support from the
540 Darling, Davidson, and Jennings

S c h o o l o f G r a d u a t e S t u d i e s a n d Office o f U n i v e r s i t y R e s e a r c h , U n i v e r s i t y
o f W i s c o n s i n - E a u Claire.

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