The Mind-Body Connection to Mind-Blowing Orgasms: Why Women Who Listen to Their Bodies Enjoy More Pleasure
Thursday, February 6, 2025.
If you've ever suspected that being in tune with your body might make for better sex, science has just confirmed your hunch.
A new study published in Brain Sciences finds that women with heightened interoceptive awareness—the ability to tune into their internal bodily sensations—report more frequent and satisfying orgasms.
Yes, ladies, mindfulness isn't just for yoga; it turns out your ability to sense your own heartbeat or notice a stomach grumble might also be the secret sauce to better orgasms.
Let’s break it down: the study found that different aspects of interoception influence both how often women climax and how good those orgasms feel—whether solo or with a partner.
Women who were better at noticing their bodily sensations tended to orgasm more frequently, while those who could regulate their attention to internal signals found their solo sessions especially satisfying.
The Science of Sensation: Why Interoception Matters in the Bedroom
Despite the fact that the female orgasm has been linked to everything from better sleep to stronger relationships, research on what makes it tick has been lacking. Most studies focus on dysfunction, but what about the factors that make orgasms more awesome?
Interoception is how we perceive internal states—like hunger, breathing, or that fluttery feeling before a big speech.
Researchers have long suspected it plays a role in sexual function, but this is one of the first studies to directly connect interoceptive awareness with orgasm frequency and satisfaction.
Megan Klabunde, a psychology lecturer at the University of Essex, is one of the study’s authors. “I study interoception in children and its role in mental health, but I’d always been intrigued by its potential role in orgasm,” she explains.
After chatting with fellow researcher Giulia Poerio about the glaring research gap, they recruited sex researcher Gerulf Rieger, and their team got to work.
Their undergraduate student Emily Dixon took on the challenge, focusing on women’s experiences—because, let’s be real, female orgasm research is still catching up.
How the Study Worked: Science Gets Steamy
The research team recruited 360 women (primarily through feminist social media groups) and asked them to complete an online survey assessing both their body awareness and their orgasm experiences.
Participants filled out the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), a gold-standard tool for measuring different aspects of body awareness—such as noticing internal sensations, focusing attention on bodily signals, and trusting one’s body.
Orgasm frequency and satisfaction were measured using an adapted version of the Female Orgasm Scale, covering both solo and partnered experiences.
What They Found: Pay Attention, Ladies!
The results were fascinating:
Women who were more aware of their bodily sensations (like subtle arousal cues) had more frequent orgasms—both solo and with a partner.
The ability to regulate attention to bodily sensations was particularly important for solo orgasms. Women who could stay focused on their internal experience during masturbation not only climaxed more often but also enjoyed it more.
A deep sense of bodily trust predicted orgasm satisfaction across the board. Women who felt comfortable and safe in their own skin were far more likely to report fulfilling orgasms.
The Solo vs. Partnered Sex Surprise
One of the more eyebrow-raising findings?
Women reported more frequent and satisfying orgasms during solo sex than with a partner.
If this sounds familiar, you're not alone—this aligns with research on the “orgasm gap,” which shows that women orgasm more reliably during masturbation than during heterosexual intercourse.
Why? The study suggests that solo sex allows women to stay fully present with their sensations, without distractions like self-consciousness, partner expectations, or worrying about whether the sheets need changing.
In contrast, partnered sex introduces external variables—like performance anxiety or lackluster foreplay—that can interfere with achieving peak pleasure.
What This Means for Your Sex Life
If better orgasms are the goal (and why wouldn’t they be?), this study offers some practical takeaways:
Practice Mindfulness: Being aware of your body's sensations—without judgment—can help you tune into your pleasure signals more effectively. Yoga, breathwork, and body scans can all enhance interoceptive awareness.
Get Comfortable in Your Skin: A positive relationship with your body is key to orgasm satisfaction. Practicing self-love and body appreciation might do more for your sex life than the latest bedroom trend.
Eliminate Distractions: If partnered sex isn’t hitting the same high notes as solo sessions, consider what’s pulling your focus away—performance anxiety, self-doubt, or an inattentive partner?
The Bigger Picture: Trust, Safety, and Orgasm Equality
As Klabunde points out, “Our study suggests that trust and safety are essential for satisfying orgasms. Sexual partners should focus on creating an environment of respect and comfort so women can relax and fully engage with their bodily sensations.”
Looking ahead, the researchers hope to explore more objective measures of interoception, like heart rate monitoring or neuroimaging, to better understand the physiological processes behind orgasm. They also emphasize the need for more diverse samples to ensure these findings apply broadly.
Final Thoughts: Tuning In for More Pleasure
This study confirms what some women already know intuitively: the more connected you are to your own body, the better your orgasms.
So, next time you’re tempted to mentally draft your grocery list mid-romp, take a deep breath, focus on your sensations, and see where it takes you. Science says the results could be very satisfying.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES:
Basson, R. (2001). Using a different model for female sexual response to address women’s problematic low sexual desire. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 27(1), 395-403.
Dixon, E., Poerio, G. L., Rieger, G., & Klabunde, M. (2024). Interoceptive awareness and female orgasm frequency and satisfaction. Brain Sciences.
Laan, E., & Everaerd, W. (1995). Determinants of female sexual arousal: Psychophysiological theory and data. Annual Review of Sex Research, 6(1), 32-76.
Meston, C. M., & Buss, D. M. (2007). Why humans have sex. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36(4), 477-507.