How women can make their orgasms last longer – sex tips to add more pleasure to the bedroom

Women might draw the short straw when it comes to many areas of physiology, but not when it comes to orgasms. Our orgasms can last for as long as 20 seconds, whereas a man’s will normally be over in just three.

On top of this, women are capable of having multiple climaxes in a single romp – some even report having orgasms into the double figures.

“When a woman is sexually satisfied she feels fantastic – by doing herself some good, she’s doing everyone around her a favour too,” says orgasm expert Dr Andrea Pennington, a regular on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

“Women should have three orgasms a week as a minimum. The benefits are numerous, including stress relief from depression and natural pain relief.”

But the downside is us women aren’t always reaching our potential – for every three orgasms men have, we’re likely to have just one.

So how can we make it last longer? Well, first you have to know how you have one. Here are the experts’ tips.

What happens to your body during an orgasm?

Here’s how you can make those waves last longer

s you become aroused, blood rushes to your genitals. A huge number of nerve endings in your pelvis, buttocks and thighs tense up, and when you climax your body releases the tension in a series of pleasurable waves at 0.8 second intervals. A big orgasm might consist of 10-15 waves; a small one 3-5.

Meanwhile, your brain focuses entirely on the sensation, in an altered state of consciousness. No other natural stimulation is capable of creating this level of intense concentration – during an orgasm we lose our awareness of sounds and smells around us.

Why do we orgasm?

While the male climax is tied in with ejaculation, it’s unclear what the exact purpose of the female orgasm is. Here are some theories…

● The vaginal contractions experienced help to draw semen towards the cervix, good news for baby making.

● In prehistoric women, the hormones released during climax caused their ovaries to release an egg. Hundreds of thousands of years later, women have evolved to ovulate independently.

● Orgasms evolved as a bartering tool for positive reinforcement in relationships. It would keep partners coming back for more.

How to get to 20 seconds

If you find your climaxes are too short and sweet, give edging a try. The technique involves nearing orgasm, but pulling back at the last moment. Repeating this two or three times builds a stronger, longer orgasm in 65% of women. Build yourself up until you’re close to orgasm, and try one of these edging techniques to delay.

Pausing – Move your hand (or your partner’s hand or penis) away when you feel as if you are about to climax. Cool down for a few mins, then start again.

Distracting – Create sudden sensations away from your clitoris just before orgasm – try tapping or squeezing your inner thigh.