Body Sense

I'm not disputing the research findings on the physical and physiological effects measured during male and female orgasm.

Until a more thorough study is done, what I'm going to say is anecdotal, but suggests a possible avenue of research.

I'm a male-to-female transsexual. While the way my body physically performs orgasm has likely not changed, my perception of orgasm altered drastically. And this perceptual alteration happened between 3 and 6 months after starting feminising hormone treatment. Due to the WPATH transition standards of care, I only became eligible for surgery one-and-a-half years after beginning the feminising hormone regimen, which leaves about a year with the 'original factory equipment' while experiencing this altered perception of orgasm.

The difference: While still on male hormones, and orgasm was perceived as very focused and inward-looking. I was aware of little else but the area of my groin and the contractions happening there. After the female hormone regimen had asserted itself, the sensation was of waves rushing out from a center. I find myself much more aware of arms, legs, fingers and toes as this sensation rushes outward.

Transmen (female-to-male) I've spoken with have said that they've also experienced an alteration to their perception of orgasms after their masculinization regimen took hold.

In the interest of science, it might be revealing to interview some trans folks, just to see if this might be a fruitful avenue to investigate.

My experience during my gender transition matches Hazumu's almost exactly. While the mechanics or orgasm may have remained consistent the subjective experience has been significantly altered. I suspect it has to do with the significant reduction and consequent absence of ejaculation that ensued after taking an anti-androgen and finally having an orchidectomy.

I believe transsexual people could be a valuable resource for this kind of research.

Although technically I'm IS not TS, close enough. After genital reconstruction, and during dilation (usually most uncomfy at that stage) about 30 days after surgery I had my first O. I was essentially anorgasmic before surgery, though a few hours of mechanical stimulation could cause ejaculation. A series of "genital sneezes", and about as pleasurable.
Anyway, after surgery, much the same but MUCH more intense, and very pleasurable. Soon thereafter, I discovered two distinct modes. One involved clitoral stimulation only, and was "over" within perhaps 15 seconds, was intense, focussed on genitalia, and had irregular "aftershocks" up to 5 minutes later, entirely consistent with the article.
The other, which involved penetration with or without clitoral stimulation, was less intense, but a whole-body experience, and lasted indefinitely as long as stimulation continued - and for some time thereafter. This appeared to be similar in nature to the "aftershocks", but regular, more intense, and after a while quite exhausting I noticed no increase in heart rate or BP. There appeared to be no "plateau" as such, and "aftershocks" could continue for up to an hour. Similar, but less intense, experiences were possible from mammary stimulation alone. Even a particularly passionate kiss could take me halfway, with "beforeshocks" rather than "aftershocks".
The first kind is entirely mechanical, and relatively insensitive to mood. The second is more difficult to achieve, and very sensitive to mood and atmosphere. Subjectively more pleasurable though.
I echo the previous commenters' suggestion that trans men and women would make excellent research subjects.

Alan,

Thanks so much for bringing this to the attention of readers. When I talk about this with patients, their initial response is often disbelief. I'll be certain to direct them to your post here.

I'm glad that there are more and more psychology folks who keep the body in mind when it comes to relationships, and I look forward to reading more from you. (Thanks, also, for your link to my post - much appreciated.)

I have been doing a relatively large amount of research into the difference between male and female orgasms. There is a striking amount of information that disagrees with what you have claimed here; that orgasms vary between type 1 and 2 and not between genders (I have actually found no other data to support this type1 and 2 theory...). However brain scan attempts made on men experiencing orgasms are completely inconclusive in comparison to those done on women, the common reasoning behind this being that the male orgasm is too short to measure. This would therefore suggest that there is a difference, that being that the male orgasm is shorter lived. Or have I missed something?

Pretty interesting blog you've got here. Thanks for it. I like such topics and everything connected to them. I definitely want to read a bit more on that blog soon.

Avril Smith
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