A critical examination of the relationship between vaginal orgasm consistency and measures of psychological and sexual functioning and sexual concordance in women with sexual dysfunction

Abstract

A substantial body of research supports the hypothesis that vaginal orgasm is associated with overall better health outcomes for women. The primary aim of this study was to examine correlates of orgasm consistency with intercourse (OCI) in a sample of women with sexual dysfunction to see whether these findings held in a clinical sample. Study 1 (n=255) focused on demographic and psychological correlates of OCI and Study 2 (n=81) focused on the association between sexual arousal concordance and OCI. A longer relationship length and higher orgasm scores predicted OCI whereas mood, sexual abuse history, and relationship satisfaction did not. In Study 2, sexual arousal concordance, as measured with vaginal photoplethysmography and a continuous self-report measure of sexual arousal, was not associated with OCI. These findings challenge the conclusions of Brody et al. that vaginal orgasm is a sign of psychological, sexual, and relational health.