Why women say their orgasms feel different

Is it all in the nerve pathways?
Research suggests that the variation in orgasm sensations that women experience may have something to do with there being two different nerve pathways between the brain and the genitals.
Clitoral orgasms may be linked to nerve signals travelling on the pathway of the pudendal nerve, which connects to the clitoral glans and the PC (or pubococcygeus) muscle (the latter is used to stop the flow of urine). That this may lead to a sensation that is described as less deep than a vaginal orgasm is evident when you consider the second nerve pathway.
Vaginal or G-spot orgasms are linked to nerve signals heading down the pelvic nerve, which links to the clitoral shaft, clitoral legs, G-spot, uterus, bladder and deeper parts of the PC muscles. This orgasm may therefore be felt as a ‘deeper’ orgasm because the nerve is connected to inner muscles and internal organs. Yet it is evident that there aren’t only two types of orgasm sensations.

Blended orgasmic sensations
A woman may experience different sensations depending on the way in which the nerve signals travel down one or the other pathway, or a blend of sensations if travelling on both pathways. There is no doubt that the experience of an orgasm is complex and subjective, and there is probably no one definitive sensation.
Each woman’s experience of sexual pleasure is unique and as the clitoris and vagina are interconnected, the differentiation of clitoral or vaginal orgasm is unlikely to be clear cut. Each person will respond differently to stimulation – for instance, some women feel a pleasurable sensation with stimulation of the G-spot area but don’t necessarily orgasm from it. Others may find the stimulation is sufficiently intense to bring on an orgasm or cause them to ejaculate.

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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

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