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The Female Orgasm, Explained with Science Projects

The male orgasm is an explosive affair, but the female orgasm? Now, that’s a different story. Find out what’s really going down when a woman gets off.

Released on 04/29/2015

Transcript

(theme music)

(chalk writing)

[Narrator] (tablets dropping in liquid) The male orgasm

is an explosive affair.

While the female orgasm happens behind closed curtains.

So what do we know about it?

Well, of 8,000 nerve endings, the clitoris

is definitely the star of the show.

No wonder up to 70% of women require direct

clitoral stimulation to achieve orgasm.

Yet it's not all about the clitoris.

In one study, 20% of women reported having orgasms

just from kissing or performing oral sex

on someone else.

Orgasms can even sneak up from behind.

94% of women who had anal sex said they were

able to climax. (woman gasps)

A lucky 10% of people have experienced orgasm

through exercise.

Of those, 51% say it was abdominal exercise that did it.

What about purely vaginal orgasms?

Kind of a myth.

Research shows that they resonate from the clitoris,

vagina, and uterus all working together.

These three things make up the mythical g-spot.

Great teamwork body.

But what goes on in her brain?

After the big moment, oxytocin, prolactin, and endorphins

are released, creating that nice, relaxed feeling.

(woman sighs)

However, at the same time, dopamine levels in the brain drop

while prolactin levels increase.

This drop can help the brain from wanting sex

to the detriment of other necessary activities.

Even more fascinating, a woman's pain threshold

can increase up to 107% during orgasm.

Which may be linked to alleviating pain during childbirth.

And orgasms do occasionally during childbirth,

(baby crying) but only .3% of the time.

(vibrating) A less stressful way

of getting off is to join the

53% of american women who have used a vibrator.

So now you know a little more about female orgasms.

That great mysterious journey into the top of love mountain.

Now go put your knowledge to use.

Alone or with a friend.

(theme music)

Oh, and why not subscribe to wired?

Sources: Nerve Endings on Clitoris and Penis http://books.google.com/books?id=RY0n2CGS5EcC&pg=PT154#v=onepage&q&f=false 70% of Women Require Direct Clitoral Stimulation http://www.womansday.com/sex-relationships/sex-tips/10-surprising-facts-about-orgasms-111985 Non-genital Orgasms http://www.researchgate.net/publication/241739177_Non-genital_orgasms Anal sex http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/human_nature/2010/10/the_riddle_of_the_sphincter.html Exercise Orgasms http://mysexprofessor.com/uncategorized/5-things-you-should-know-about-coregasm-having-an-orgasm-while-you-exercise/ http://mysexprofessor.com/how-to-have-sex/our-new-research-womens-exercise-induced-orgasms/ Gspot http://www.medicaldaily.com/italian-scientist-says-g-spot-doesnt-exist-cuv-region-new-erogenous-zone-may-hold-key-300056 Brain Chemistry http://psyed.org/r/ns/nsd/neuro_sex.html Dopamine/Prolactin http://psyed.org/r/ns/nsd/neuro_sex.html Pain Threshold https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo2iE94iAoA Childbirth http://www.livescience.com/37039-orgasmic-birth-real.Stml Vibrator http://www.livescience.com/7781-americans-vibrators-study-claims.html