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What Are the Sexual Peaks (Agewise) for Men and Women?

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by Dr. Al Cooper and Dr. Coralie Scherer

 
Questions: Does a peak by any other name seem so sweet? If we are talking about ages when men and women have orgasms with greatest frequency and are ready to have another orgasm again in the shortest turn around time, then we do see some real differences between men and women by age and gender.

Most men seem to have more orgasms from all sexual activity, be it nocturnal emissions, masturbation or intercourse, and the shortest refractory period (time between one orgasm and the next) from their late teens to their early twenties.

Even though hormone levels for both males and females are their highest during puberty, women report having more orgasms from their late twenties to their mid-forties.

What might account for these differences?
Biology is one factor but social conditioning, experience and self confidence seem to play bigger parts for women's responsiveness.

Then there is the interaction between the partners. The longer partners are together and become familiar with each other's sexual landscape and patterns of responding the more consistently they can scale those heights to sexual ecstasy.

About the Author:

Dr. Al Cooper, was the clinical director at the San Jose Marital and Sexuality Centre (408-248-9737) and ran the training program for Counseling and Psychological Services at Stanford University. Dr. Cooper was internationally known for his work in sexuality.

Dr. Coralie Scherer coordinates online services for the Center and specializes in sexual trauma, women's issues, and marital therapy.

Originally published 03/18/98
Revised 4/22/09 by Marlene M. Maheu, Ph.D.

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Amy
Posted on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 00:37

I disagree that men seem to have more orgasms than women in all sexual activity. Women can have multiple orgasms and men cant. Now that Im getting closer to my 30s I notice my sex drive is getting higher. During oral stimulation women usually orgasm. When I masturbate I always have more than one orgasm and I also orgasm in my sleep much more freqently due to sexual dreams. When I have sex I orgasm about half the time. I do agree that women dont orgasm as much during sexual intercourse though.