Guilt and Lack of Orgasm During Sexual Intercourse: Myth Versus Reality Among College Women

Abstract

With increasing emphasis on sexual fulfillment, many women perceive a societal expectation that they should always experience orgasm during sexual intercourse although scientific evidence indicates such a goal to be unrealistic. Failure to attain this expectation evokes guilt feelings in some women. This investigation of 556 never-married college women examined the influence of such guilt feelings on risk-related sexual behaviors and physiological/psychological sexual satisfaction. Significant differences identified included cognitive factors in sexual decision-making, number of lifetime sex partners, and levels of physiological/psychological sexual satisfaction. Given the negative role that guilt and unrealistic orgasmic expectations play in the sexual lives of many women, these findings have substantial implications for sex therapists, sex educators, physicians, and researchers.