The research: With little scientific evidence showing how orgasmic pleasure differs in men and women (personal experience doesn’t count), researchers from McGill University in Canada recruited 76 men and women to—there’s no delicate way to say this—masterbate in a lab setting. Researchers used a thermal imaging camera to measure participants’ respective body heat—something that increases the more a person gets aroused—in four instances: before arousal, right before climax, immediately after orgasm, then again 15 minutes later. Right before climax, participants were asked to stop and let their arousal slightly subside before building it back up again. The results? Temperatures in both men and women increased as they got more aroused, with the delay in orgasm leading to greater satisfaction. No shock there, but afterward, it gets more interesting: While a man’s temperature (or arousal) immediately decreases, a woman’s does not. This could be because the more pleasurable the orgasm, the more women contract their pelvic muscles, thus taking longer to cool down, researchers speculate. What it means: The more build up, or foreplay, the more likely you are to have a better orgasm. It’s really that simple. The bottom line: Obvious as it may seem, this study is still a good reminder that a little extra effort beforehand can pay off for both of you. For more bedroom boosters, check out these 40 Things Every Woman Should Know About Sex By Age 40.
