You may have heard it before from a sex therapist like
myself – “Don’t be so orgasm focused.” Easy to say, not so easy to do. And why,
you ask, are we so down on the orgasm?
Trust me, we are not anti-orgasm. Orgasms are great!
And a big motivating factor in being sexual. And they are good for us, although
I won’t go into that research here. I like them; you like them. Good for us.
The problem with focusing on the orgasm is it really limits
our sexual expression. Humans are very good at learning patterns. We quickly
develop short cuts and automatic responses to simplify reaching our goals. In
many areas of life this serves us well. So many of us, by the time we reach
thirty or so, have learned very effective ways to reach orgasm, using a
specific speed, rhythm, position, etc. If we are in long term relationships,
our partner or partners may have learned the steps to our easiest orgasm. In
fact, we can run through these patterns again and again, effectively teaching
our body to find orgasm this way with this specific type of stimulation.
Efficient, sure…
But do you want to be having efficient sex? Maybe sometimes,
when you are in labor and trying to quickly have an orgasm to stimulate your
uterus or you are giving a sperm sample or something. The option of mutual
orgasm quickies is nice. But having sex strictly to get to orgasm efficiently
can start to feel a lot like masturbating with a partner. I hear many couples
complain of the ever increasing limitations to what they do during sex, because
it doesn’t led to quick orgasm, until they are performing the same 10 minute
routine each time, orgasming and being done. But they don’t feel passionate,
inspired, or connected which is also a pretty great part of sex.
That is the thing we sex therapists are trying to get
across. Finding your way to orgasm is
one small part of sex. But there is a lot more to experience. Risk and
creativity are key to our ongoing arousal and excitement; we thrive on it. Passionate
connection with a partner requires much more than knowing their orgasm routine.
Your body has many channels for pleasure, and many new sensations to explore.
Did you know that after losing sensation in their genitals people have been
found to orgasm from earlobe stimulation? Routes to intense pleasure and
release are only as limited as we decide they will be.
So get creative. Focus on pleasures of many kinds,
regardless of whether you think you will orgasm in the next 20 minutes or not.
Focus on your partner and relaxing into sensual research and reconnaissance.
You may actually find that by ignoring the easy path to orgasm, you forge new
trails to intense gratification. And hey, you can still always take the short
cut. Just don’t make it the only path you seek.