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Our scientific approach

The science of pleasure

Scientific research into female pleasure has stepped up recently, with studies being carried out around the world. This research has provided new avenues of exploration, in particular regarding common practices to achieve sexual pleasure. We have sourced more than 70 widely respected and referenced international studies that we consider important to bring to into public awareness. While the science made great progress over the past 40 years, many myths, untruths and unknowns remain.

The "Pleasure Gap" is real

The lack of scientific research about pleasure, particularly female pleasure, has created a massive learning gap leaving space for myths to multiply.

A smaller study of 236 US college students conducted in 2010 found 74 percent of men and 46 percent of women questioned were unable to identify the cervix, while a startling 80 percent of men and 62 percent of women in the study were unable to locate the vagina correctly. In contrast, 73 percent of women and 56 percent of men in the US cohort were able to identify the clitoris—on a diagram, at least.

Over our research, studies* showed that women reported "less satisfaction with sexual activity than men with less pleasure, less arousal, and fewer orgasms". This phenomenon is called the Pleasure Gap. Our mission is to achieve pleasure equality for all!

CLIMAX's approach

CLIMAX has opted for a scientific approach to debunk all the misconceptions around female pleasure. Season 1 & 2 are based on a series of 74 of the most current studies and research into sexual health and pleasure.

Because pleasure and the numerous ways to achieve it are unique for everyone, CLIMAX has gathered surveys and testimonies from European people of all ages and sexual orientations. Everyone is different and every voice counts. But pleasure is the common denominator. We found that the majority of people use similar techniques. Our training programme is designed to help you discover and explore these proven methods.

In 2019, CLIMAX conducted a survey among 107 European cis-women. 27 groups of techniques classified in 2 main categories came out from the study: internal and external techniques. The results highlighted the predominant role of the clitoris in pleasure and common sexual / masturbation practices. In addition to our research, we interviewed dozens of sex-therapists and tantra teachers. All agree on the importance of regulated breathing and specific core exercises to help nurture our sexual energies.

Conclusion

To achieve pleasure equality for all, we need to be humble and accept that we made need to unlearn what we thought was true. Let’s face it, change, even change for the better, is rarely comfortable. But it is high time to leave our comfort zones and be ready to adapt ourselves to an authentic and high quality sex-education. Ready? Yes, you are!

scientific studies

External pleasure

  1. Tenga study, Self-Pleasure Report, 2019. Researchers surveyed 10,000 adults in nine countries. Source
  2. Climax study, External Clitoral Stimulation Techniques, 2019. This study was conducted among 107 European women between 19 and 87 years-old.
  3. Ifop study for ELLE Magazine, 2019. This study has been carried out by self-administered online questionnaire from January 28 to 29, 2019 with a sample of 1,007 women, representative of the female population aged 18 and over living in France. Source
  4. David L. Rowland, Laura M. Cempel & Aaron R. Tempel (2018) Women's Attributions Regarding Why They Have Difficulty Reaching Orgasm, Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 44:5, 475-484, DOI: 10.1080/0092623X.2017.1408046. This study identified perceived causes for orgasmic difficulty in 452 women during partnered sex. Source
  5. International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery survey, 2018. Results of ISAPS's annual International Survey on Aesthetic/Cosmetic Procedures. Source
  6. Frederick DA, John HKS, Garcia JR, Lloyd EA. Differences in Orgasm Frequency Among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Men and Women in a U.S. National Sample. Arch Sex Behav. 2018 Jan;47(1):273-288. doi: 10.1007/s10508-017-0939-z. Epub 2017 Feb 17. PMID: 28213723. Source
  7. Terpan Laboratory and SoWhat Magazine study, 2017. This study has been conducted among 580 people.
  8. Hoag N, Keast JR, O'Connell HE. The "G-Spot" Is Not a Structure Evident on Macroscopic Anatomic Dissection of the Vaginal Wall. J Sex Med. 2017 Dec;14(12):1524-1532. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.10.071. PMID: 29198508. Source
  9. Kontula O, Miettinen A. Determinants of female sexual orgasms. Socioaffect Neurosci Psychol. 2016 Oct 25;6:31624. doi: 10.3402/snp.v6.31624. PMID: 27799078; PMCID: PMC5087699. Source
  10. Ifop study for CAM4, 2015. This study has been conducted from November 3 to 12, 2015 with a representative sample of 8,061 women aged 18 to 69 years. Source
  11. Herbenick D, Fu TJ, Arter J, Sanders SA, Dodge B. Women's Experiences With Genital Touching, Sexual Pleasure, and Orgasm: Results From a U.S. Probability Sample of Women Ages 18 to 94. J Sex Marital Ther. 2018 Feb 17;44(2):201-212. doi: 10.1080/0092623X.2017.1346530. Epub 2017 Aug 9. PMID: 28678639. Source
  12. Eve Appeal study, 2016 Source
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  15. Komisaruk BR, Wise N, Frangos E, Liu W‐C, Allen K, and Brody S. Women's clitoris, vagina and cervix mapped on the sensory cortex: fMRI evidence. Journal of Sexual Medicine - 2011; 8:2822–2830 Source
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Internal pleasure

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