Health · Medical Research · 14 hrs ago
Study asks how intense intercourse feels for each partner
A researcher wanted to understand how intercourse feels, not just whether people enjoy it or reach orgasm.
The question arose after a colleague said he had assumed his partner felt intercourse in her vagina much as he felt it in his penis.
The researcher says clients and popular culture can also treat intercourse as equally intense for both partners.
But the penis and vagina have different sensory anatomy, and the researcher could not find a study directly comparing the sensations.
A larger study on orgasm, presented at SSTAR in 2026, asked participants to rate the intensity of pleasurable sensations in the penis or vagina during their most recent penis-vagina intercourse.
The question focused on vaginal sensation separately from the clitoris, which may or may not be stimulated during intercourse.
The available information does not give the study’s results.
A study asked participants to rate the intensity of pleasurable sensations they felt in their penis or vagina during their most recent penile-vaginal intercourse.
The question was included in a larger study on orgasm presented at SSTAR in 2026.
Researchers asked about vaginal sensation separately from clitoral stimulation.
The article says the study addressed sensation intensity, not who enjoyed sex more, who orgasmed or who had better sex.
The article does not report the study’s results.
- Who
- Researchers asked study participants to rate their sensations. The researchers’ names and the participants’ number are not stated.
- What
- The study asked how intense pleasurable sensations felt in the penis or vagina during penile-vaginal intercourse.
- When
- The larger study was presented at SSTAR in 2026. The date of the participants’ reported experiences is not stated.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- The researchers wanted to examine whether intercourse produces the same intensity of pleasurable sensation for both partners.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
it completely challenged how I thought about sex.
The author shared results from a study with a colleague.
The colleague told the author that the study had challenged his thinking about sex.
The larger study on orgasm, which included the question about sensation intensity, was presented at SSTAR.
- Study question
- Intensity of pleasurable sensations during penile-vaginal intercourse
- Sensation asked about
- Penis or vagina
- Vaginal sensation
- Asked about separately from the clitoris
- Larger study
- On orgasm, presented at SSTAR in 2026
- Study results
- Not reported in the article
Sources
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