‘Great sex’ can happen if you have these three things: experts
Nailed it!
A mind-blowing new study published in the journal Sexuality & Culture determined the three factors that contribute to “great sex.”
Researchers from Missouri State University conducted interviews with 78 sexually active participants of varying ages, backgrounds and sexual orientations to define what makes a sexual experience above average.
“A friend once asked me, ‘What is great sex anyway? What constitutes great sex? Is there a standard for that?’ That led me on a search where I discovered that we didn’t really have an answer,” lead author Alicia M. Walker, an associate professor of sociology at MSU, told PsyPost.
“I started wondering whether people share a definition for great sex. Is what you consider great sex also great sex for someone else? So, I decided to run a study and find out.”
The study found most people agree that orgasm, emotional connection and chemistry contribute to “great sex.”
The majority of participants said orgasms are an essential element of their sexual experiences.
Some focused on their own orgasms, while others considered mutual orgasms a key component.
Some women even required multiple orgasms to consider sex “great.”
Yet, 20 participants shrugged off orgasms as unnecessary for their experience to be “great.”
Although more difficult to define, an emotional connection was the second most-important factor for exceptional sex.
Many participants were sure to clarify that an emotional connection can exist without romantic love, but eight participants specifically equated an emotional component with love.
On the contrary, 16 participants did not require an emotional connection for superb sex.
The researchers did note that gender differences were apparent in these opinions, with some women prioritizing emotional connection over physical satisfaction.
“Many participants shared their belief that a man only invests in his female partner’s orgasm when he also invests in her emotionally. Thus, some women explained that the emotional component helped them be present enough to orgasm,” the researchers wrote.
Another abstract yet important factor for “great sex” is chemistry.
While elusive, chemistry was generally agreed to require an emotional and physical response that “is either there or it is not there.”
Participants explained that chemistry allowed them to like and trust the person enough to “let go and be present,” which allowed them to focus on their own pleasure.
While there were some common themes and conversations, overall the study found that the elements that contribute to a satisfactory sexual experience vary widely, as “great sex” is difficult to define.
The wide range of responses and difficult-to-define factors point to the fact that sexual experiences are deeply personal and can be interpreted differently by each partner.
“Your idea of what makes sex great may be different than your partner’s,” Walker stated.
“The sex that’s great for you may be mediocre or even bad for your partner. And so often we’re not having these conversations with one another, but we should be. The more we talk openly about our sexual needs and expectations the greater likelihood our experiences meet our expectations.”