The female orgasm: how to have one...contd.

The clitoris, the G-spot and female ejaculation

For most women, an orgasm is possible with a little bit of effort and it tends to get easier and easier with practice. Women who haven’t ever had an orgasm (known as pre-orgasmic) may not yet have worked out how to reach the point of climax. Often they learn to do so when armed with the right information and open to self play.

What is an orgasm?
An orgasm is like a mini ‘explosion’ that brings immediate relief from the sensations preceding it. When a woman is aroused, blood rushes to the genitals and pelvis, filling and swelling the clitoral network, vagina and anus. The clitoris pops up, the inner lips of the vulva swell and take on a deeper hue, the breasts swell and the nipples become erect. The vaginal opening also becomes smaller, while the inner third of the vagina balloons upwards. Some women develop a red rash on their chests or neck from increased blood flow.
With ongoing stimulation, she experiences a rush of blood to the pubic area, intensifying to the point of an ‘explosion’ caused by sudden and simultaneous contractions of the vagina, clitoris and anus, and a pulsation in the walls of the uterus. The contractions follow at around 0.8 second intervals (the same as for men) and cause the blood to flow back to the rest of the body. A woman can experience anything from three to fifteen contractions in one orgasm, which is followed by minor ‘tremors’ as the body returns to its normal state. An orgasm lasts on average 28 seconds but can be shorter or longer.

What are multiple orgasms?
All women are capable of having multiple orgasms, most sexologists believe. Multiple orgasms entail having one or more orgasms after an initial orgasm, without the loss of arousal. Sequential orgasms – where a woman has a number of orgasms during one sex session - are not the same as multiple orgasms, however. Multiple orgasms are experienced more or less as one long orgasmic wave of pleasure. In general, more mature women have a greater ability to have multiple orgasms.

How to induce an orgasm
While most women don’t orgasm during intercourse (unless the G-spot or clitoris is stimulated directly), they almost always do during masturbation, either with their hand or an object (hair brushes are a favourite, as are vibrators). One of the surest ways for a partner to coax a woman to climax is with oral sex. As it takes an average of 20 minutes of oral stimulation for her to climax, the person giving oral should settle into a comfortable position.
Certain conditions may enhance a woman’s ability to reach orgasm, such as a comfortable environment, feeling close to and relaxed with her partner, and being sufficiently stimulated to be well lubricated. Yet sexual excitement is such an individual experience that it is impossible to prescribe behaviour that is guaranteed to lead to an orgasm. Most women, either on their own or with their partners, can teach themselves to have an orgasm by exploring different types of stimulation to discover what works for them.

A word about goalposts
Our intention in this section on female orgasm is to inform women of their options rather than to imply that anyone is somehow missing out on a ‘bigger’ orgasm out there somewhere. Sex should never be goal-orientated nor make anyone feel that they are experiencing less than they ‘ought’ to. We are often amazed at the sheer range of sexual experiences that people enjoy, and we believe that the more open women are to trying new techniques and discovering what truly excites them, the more satisfying and fulfilling our sex lives will be. 

The definitive 'how to' guides: G-spot, clitoris, female ejaculation
The next part of this article looks the G-spot (how to find it, how to stimulate it), the clitoris (how to stimulate a clitoral orgasm) and female ejaculation (what is it, how to attempt to ejaculate).

The OhZone definitive guide to the G-spot
How to find the G-spot / The G-spot is not in the vagina / How to stimulate the G-spot / The best G-spot positions / How to have a G-spot orgasm
The OhZone definitive guide to the clitoris
How to find the clitoris / How to stimulate the clitoris
The OhZone definitive guide to female ejaculation
What is female ejaculation? / Do all women ejaculate? / How to ejaculate

Sources of information:
Go Ask Alice! – Alice!, Health Promotion Program, Columbia University
Supersex – Tracey Cox
The Big Bang: Nerve’s Guide to the New Sexual Universe – the writers at Nerve
The Good Vibrations Guide to Sex - Cathy Winks and Anne Semans
How to help your female partner have orgasms and Are you having trouble reaching orgasm? A guide for women - David Delvin and Christine Webber (authors of The Big ‘O’) in netdoctor
The sex inspectors masterclass – Tracey Cox and Michael Alvear

Learn how to boost your sex life...
Premature ejaculation: techniques to delay his orgasm
Foreplay: why this is sex for women plus great foreplay techniques
Kissing: why it arouses women
Painful sex: why sex sometimes hurts a woman
Dry humping: a saucy alternative to penetrative sex
How to please a woman orally: the lowdown on great cunnilingus
How to give him great oral sex: fellatio techniques and tips
The art of a seductive striptease: how to do it like a professional
Are you ashamed of your genitalia? here's why you shouldn't be
Masturbation: why a little self loving goes a long way
"Tell me I've been a bad boy...!" how to ask for the sex you want
Anal play: why is it a growing trend and how to go about it safely
Female orgasm: all about the clitoris, the G-spot and female ejaculation
The clitoris: where to find it, how it works, how to stimulate it
The G-spot: how to find it, how to stimulate it
Female ejaculation: what it is and how and why it occurs
Erection problems: why impotence occurs and what to do
The secret to stronger orgasms: Kegel exercises for him and her!
Lubrication enhances pleasure: why you should use it - and lots of it

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Did you know...? interesting facts about sex
Spice it up tips: how to rev up your sex life
Sexual health tips: make sure you keep it healthy
Sexual Q&A: your embarassing sex questions answered
Sexcapades: our readers tell us their real sex adventures

Must-reads for toy lovers
Sex toys: what they are and how to use them
Cleaning your sex toys: how to keep them hygienically clean
Are your sex toys safe? some toy materials can be hazardous

General advice and new research
Male and female arousal: are women aroused by watching women?
Do all women have a G-spot? what new research says
Intersexed babies: what to do if your child is one