January 5th 2025.
Have you ever thought about how being self-aware could improve your sex life? It's true. Sometimes, orgasms can seem to be just out of reach, leaving us feeling frustrated. Of course, not every sexual encounter has to end with a climax for it to be enjoyable, but let's be honest, it's definitely a nice bonus. Unfortunately, statistics show that only about 65% of heterosexual women typically reach orgasm during sex. But don't worry, there are ways to increase your chances and we're not just talking about using sex toys or focusing on clitoral stimulation. Allow me to introduce you to the concept of interoception.
Never heard of it? That's okay, you're not alone. Interoception is defined as the ability to sense and understand the internal condition of our bodies. Essentially, if you're interoceptive, you're in tune with the sensations happening beneath the surface. Some of these sensations may be familiar, like when your stomach growls to let you know you're hungry, or when your bladder feels full and you need to use the bathroom. But there are also more subtle sensations that we may not always pay attention to.
Psychosexual therapist Ness Cooper explains that these sensations can include things like feeling pins and needles, noticing your heart rate increase as you walk, or even feeling the sensation of liquid as you drink it. And during sex, you might notice changes in your body temperature, an increase in your heart rate, or a shallowing of your breathing. These are all interoceptive sensations that can potentially enhance sexual pleasure.
But what does interoception have to do with orgasms? According to a recent study published in the Journal of Brain Sciences, there is a correlation between increased interoceptive awareness and higher orgasm frequency and satisfaction for women, non-binary individuals, and trans men. In fact, the late neuroanatomist Bud Craig even classified orgasms as an interoceptive sense, as they follow similar pathways in the brain as other interoception senses.
So what does the science say? The study, which involved 360 participants, measured each person's level of interoception by asking them to respond to statements such as "When I am tense, I notice where the tension is located in my body" and "I listen to my body to inform me about what to do." They were then asked to score each statement on a scale of zero to five, with a higher score indicating a higher level of interoceptive awareness. They also scored their frequency of orgasms. The results showed a correlation between interoceptive awareness and orgasm frequency, with those who were more in tune with their body reporting higher levels of orgasm satisfaction during both solo and partnered sexual experiences.
But how exactly does interoception help us reach orgasm? Ness explains that it can help us sync our mind and body, as many of our bodily responses are triggered by internal stimulation. And for those who struggle with being self-aware, there are techniques that can help. For example, Sensate Focus Therapy, developed by Dr. Virginia Johnson and Dr. William Masters in the 1970s, is a form of sex therapy that focuses on slowly building up sensation and arousal through non-genital and genital touch. This can help individuals become more aware of what turns them on and how their body responds.
Meditation and tantric practices can also be helpful in improving self-awareness by focusing on specific areas of the body. However, it's important to note that interoception may not work for everyone. Ness points out that individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may struggle with it due to their mind being preoccupied with other thoughts, making it difficult to tune into their bodily sensations. It may also be challenging for those with chronic pain or injuries, as they may already have a lot of sensations going on in their body.
So, if you're interested in improving your sexual experiences through interoception, it's worth giving it a try. After all, what's not to love about feeling more in tune with your body and experiencing more frequent and satisfying orgasms? And if you want to stay up to date on all the latest sex and dating stories from Metro, be sure to sign up for our newsletter, The Hook-Up. We can't wait for you to join us!
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