The Experience of Orgasmic Pleasure during Partnered and Masturbatory Sex in Women with and without Orgasmic Difficulty.

Pleasure is critically important to the experience of sexual behavior, yet few studies have examined factors that influence it. We explored orgasmic pleasure during masturbation and partnered sex in women with and without orgasmic difficulty, as well as the mutual influence of each type of activity on the other. Data were collected from 2059 women through online surveys and paper-and-pencil tests in both the USA and Hungary. Among women who both masturbated and had partnered sex, orgasmic pleasure was higher during partnered sex. Although women with orgasmic difficulty exhibited a similar pattern of greater pleasure during partnered sex, they reported lower pleasure during partnered sex than women without orgasmic difficulty. Women struggling most to reach orgasm were likely to view masturbation as equally or more satisfying than partnered sex. Several covariates were relevant to pleasure during partnered sex, including the importance of sex, the frequency of partnered sex, and the relationship quality, affirming the idea that relational factors play a critical role in orgasmic pleasure in women. Pleasure during masturbation was associated with higher age, frequency of masturbation, and shorter latencies to orgasm, suggesting that pleasure during masturbation was related to greater experience with masturbation and greater efficiency in reaching orgasm.

Are the Criteria for the Diagnosis of Premature Ejaculation Applicable to Gay Men or Sexual Activities Other than Penile-Vaginal Intercourse?

INTRODUCTION: The criteria for premature ejaculation (PE) have generally been limited to the diagnosis of heterosexual men engaging in penile-vaginal intercourse and therefore the applicability of PE diagnostic criteria to gay men and to activities beyond penile-vaginal intercourse has yet to be explored in depth. AIM: To compare the prevalence of PE in gay and straight men and to assess whether PE-related diagnostic measures (ejaculatory control, ejaculation latency [EL], and bother/distress) can be applied with confidence to gay men or to men engaging in sexual activities other than penile-vaginal intercourse. METHODS: Gay and straight participants (n = 3878) were recruited to take an online survey assessing sexual orientation, sexual function/dysfunction (including specific PE-related measures), sexual relationship satisfaction, and various other sexual behaviors during partnered sex or masturbation. OUTCOMES: Comparison of ejaculatory control, EL, and bother/distress across gay and straight men, as well as across different types of sexual activities. RESULTS: A slightly lower PE prevalence among gay men became undetectable when other predictors of prevalence were included in a multivariate analysis (aOR = 0.87 [95% CI: 0.60-1.22]). Gay men with PE reported longer typical ELs (zU = -3.35, P < .001) and lower distress (zU = 3.68, P < .001) relative to straight men, but longer ELs and lower distress were also associated with anal sex. CLINICAL TRANSLATION: Clinicians can feel confident about using existing criteria for the diagnosis of PE in gay men but should be aware of potentially longer ELs and lower PE-related bother/distress-probably related to the practice of anal sex-compared with straight men. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: Although well-powered and international in scope, this study was limited by biases inherent to online surveys, the lack of a sizable sample of bisexual men, and a lack of differentiation between men with acquired vs lifelong PE. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of sexual orientation, gay and straight men with PE reported shorter ELs, lower satisfaction, and greater bother/distress than functional counterparts. While PE-related diagnostic criteria (ejaculatory control, EL, and bother/distress) are applicable to gay men, accommodation for longer ELs and lower bother/distress in gay men should be considered. McNabney SM, Weseman CE, Hevesi K, et al. Are the Criteria for the Diagnosis of Premature Ejaculation Applicable to Gay Men or Sexual Activities Other than Penile-Vaginal Intercourse?. Sex Med 2022;10:100516.

Female Sexuality in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Factors and Sexual Response Associated with Masturbation.

Objectives: Sexual health includes the state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being related to sexuality. Masturbation is an important sexual activity with many potential benefits which has gained considerable interest in sexuality research in the past twenty years; however, this research is the first of its kind within the Aotearoa/New Zealand context. In this in-depth investigation, we examined frequencies of, reasons for, and activities during masturbation as well as the relationship between masturbation and other factors. Methods: Participants were 698 New Zealand women at least 18 years of age participating in a 42-item anonymous online survey collecting comprehensive information about sexual practices and related factors. Results: The results indicated that female masturbation has high prevalence in the New Zealand population. Conclusion: The pattern of results enabled us to identify the positive effects of masturbation, masturbation practices commonly used by New Zealand women and the differences between New Zealand women who masturbate frequently and less frequently.