A high peak occurs during the plateau phase. This peak is called orgasm. Orgasm is defined as the phase where sexual tension is released. This is the shortest of all the phases and lasts less than a minute. However, when an orgasm occurs, more than just muscles are relaxed. During orgasm, the body releases chemicals—called endorphins—that produce good feelings. These are chemicals that reduce pain. Endorphins are produced in both men and women.
Ejaculations and orgasms in men often occur at the same time. Orgasms are not the same as ejaculations. The stimulation of the shaft and glans of the penis helps create sexual and muscle tension. The release of this tension is an orgasm. An ejaculation is the pushing and contractions of the prostate and seminal vesicles to move semen out of the penis. A man can ejaculate and not have an orgasm. A man can also have an orgasm and not ejaculate, as in retrograde ejaculation. Orgasm in men is usually limited to the genital area.
What is an orgasm in a woman? This question has caused many arguments, discussions, and much research, because it was once believed that women did not have orgasms. However, women’s bodies do create and maintain sexual and muscle tension. The release of this tension, combined with the muscular contraction felt in the pelvic organs, and the release of endorphins create orgasms in women. Women, like men, can be stimulated to orgasm. Unlike men, however, women seem to have more than one way in which they experience orgasm, and they are more likely to have orgasms that involve more than the genital area.
Clitoral and vaginal orgasms may produce different effects inside the body. Stimulation of the clitoris causes the vagina to become longer. It also causes a pocket to be formed beneath the uterus. The indentation it creates looks much like a tent or a balloon. Stimulation of the vagina or G-Spot makes the uterus drop lower. This shortens the vagina.
Some researchers believe that there is only one type of female orgasm. They believe that there is no such thing as a vaginal orgasm. Instead, they believe that a clitoris is necessary in stimulating a vaginal orgasm. Other researchers disagree. In fact, women’s diverse experiences with orgasm make it difficult to define the female orgasm in one way. Some women may not feel contractions of their uterus during a uterine orgasm. Some women can reach orgasm with imagination as the only source of stimulation.
It is important for women to understand what feels good and what orgasm is for them as individuals. Ideally, women can ask their partners for the kind of satisfying physical contact that they need. This may be more important than striving to create an orgasm defined in terms that may have no relevance for a particular woman.
Women and a few men can have multiple orgasms. This means that a person can have more than one orgasm while staying inside the high state of the plateau phase. Multiple orgasms are more common in women. Most men enter the next phase—the resolution phase— before they are able to have another orgasm or ejaculation.
In the box above are the changes that take place during orgasm in women and men.
Types of orgasm in women
Type Stimulus That Causes Orgasm
clitoral/tenting orgasm stimulation of the clitoris alone
vaginal/A-frame/uterine orgasm stimulation of the vagina alone (includes
stimulation of the G-Spot alone)
blended orgasm stimulation of the vagina and clitoris
*55/155/5*
