New research with nearly 28,000 participants reveals that women may reach orgasm most frequently from masturbation, but they report greater overall satisfaction from partnered sex

A major new peer-reviewed study by scientists at Flo Health, the #1 OBGYN recommended women’s health app, finds that sexual satisfaction is shaped by far more than how often women reach orgasm. In the most comprehensive study to date examining both partnered and solo sexual experiences in the same large sample, the key finding is that orgasms from partnered sexual activity are a significantly stronger predictor of overall sexual satisfaction than orgasms from solo sex, even though women reach orgasm more reliably when alone.

Published in Archives of Sexual Behavior, “Sexual Satisfaction and Orgasm Experiences During Partnered and Solo Sex Among 27,931 Users of the Flo App” was conducted in collaboration with Jordan Rullo, PhD, certified sex therapist and adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Utah, and Karen L. Blair, PhD, associate professor of psychology at Trent University, Canada, both members of Flo’s scientific advisory board.

The study found that 56.2% of participants were moderately or very satisfied with their overall sex life, while 19.5% reported being moderately or very dissatisfied. Overall orgasm frequency was positively associated with satisfaction but the relationship looked very different depending on whether those orgasms came from solo or partnered sexual activity.

Orgasms from partnered sex were a significant positive predictor of satisfaction while orgasms from solo sex were not.

The study also found an important asymmetry when it came to sexual variety — defined as the range of different sexual activities a person engages in. Greater variety during partnered sex was associated with both more frequent orgasms and higher overall sexual satisfaction. The same was not true for solo sex.

"This study illustrates a crucial distinction in sexual psychology: the difference between physiological release and relational fulfillment. While masturbation is a fantastic tool for self-knowledge and stress relief, it can function as a 'maintenance' activity. For many women, sexual satisfaction is deeply intertwined with the connection and shared intimacy of partnered sex," said Dr. Rullo.

This finding is striking given that women reach orgasm significantly more often during solo sex. Nearly half of participants (47%) reported reaching orgasm more frequently alone, compared with just 21% who climaxed more often with a partner. Participants who reached orgasm more easily alone cited reduced performance pressure, less self-consciousness about body image, and greater control over stimulation. Barriers to orgasm during partnered sex included partners reaching orgasm too quickly and difficulty communicating sexual preferences.

"This research is vital because it moves us away from guessing about female pleasure and toward evidence-based insights. It empowers women to understand that feeling less pressure during solo sex is a common experience," said Liudmila Zhaunova, PhD, director of science at Flo and senior study author.

In addition, the data challenges longstanding assumptions about what women's partnered sex actually looks like. Clitoral stimulation by a partner was the most commonly reported partnered sexual activity, with 90.2% of participants reporting it at least sometimes – ahead of vaginal penetration. When comparing orgasm frequency across activities, vaginal penetration combined with clitoral stimulation was more than twice as likely to result in orgasm as penetration alone.

"We see clearly that the activities most likely to result in orgasm are those that prioritize clitoral stimulation, whether that's during solo or partnered sex. This challenges the persistent penile-vaginal sexual script that is pervasive in the media and validates the use of toys, hands, and oral stimulation during sex as a key contributor to women's sexual pleasure," said Dr. Blair.

KEY DATA POINTS

Survey Respondents’ Sexual Satisfaction

• 56.2% of women are satisfied (moderately or very) with their overall sexual life.
• 19.5% of women are dissatisfied (moderately or very) with their overall sexual life.

Orgasm Frequency

• 36.9.% of women reach orgasm almost always or always during sexual stimulation or intercourse.
• 20.6% of women reach orgasm less than half the time, almost never, or never during sexual stimulation or intercourse.

Satisfaction with Sexual Activities

• The three most commonly reported partnered sexual activities (at least sometimes) were clitoral stimulation by a partner (90.2%), vaginal penetration with stimulation of another body part (90.1%), and vaginal penetration with clitoral stimulation (90.1%).
• For solo sex, the top three were clitoral stimulation by hand (84.6%), watching porn or erotica (71.9%), and vaginal penetration with clitoral stimulation (64.8%).
• On average, participants reported engaging in 7.79 out of 13 listed partnered sexual activities and 6.45 out of 13 solo sexual activities in the past six months.

About Flo Health

Flo Health is the #1 Health and Fitness app worldwide and the #1 OB-GYN-recommended platform for period and cycle tracking. In 2024, Flo became the first European femtech unicorn following an investment from General Atlantic and now supports 80 million monthly active users (MAUs) worldwide. Powered by a network of over 100+ medical experts, Flo guides women through every stage of their health journey – from menstruation to conception, pregnancy, and menopause – offering curated cycle and ovulation tracking, personalized health insights, daily educational content, and a private community for users to share questions or concerns. Through its Pass it on Project, Flo has donated 28M Flo Premium subscriptions to improve health literacy to women in need, aiming to reach up to one billion. A leader in privacy and security, Flo Health's Anonymous Mode feature was recognized as one of TIME's Best Inventions 2023 and also named a finalist for Fast Company's 2023 World Changing Ideas Awards as part of the company's commitment to privacy.

For more information, please visit https://flo.health.

Survey Methodology

Between April 11 and May 5, 2024, 27,931 Flo app users aged 18 and over, recruited via an in-app advertisement, completed an online survey about their sexual activities and experiences over the previous six months. Participants reported on 13 partnered and 13 solo sexual activities, overall orgasm frequency, and overall sexual satisfaction. The sample was 99% female, with 96% identifying as women, 71% identifying as heterosexual, and with a mean age of 28. The study was approved by the WIRB-Copernicus Group Institutional Review Board (IRB number: 20241237).

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