A new study involving over 11,500 adults from six European countries reveals that approximately 40% of individuals have faked orgasms at some point, with 13% currently faking and 27% having stopped.
The research, published in The Journal of Sex Research, highlights trends in orgasm faking and its associations with relationship dynamics, sexual satisfaction, and demographic factors. Notably, the study found significant gender and regional differences in faking behavior.
Gender and Regional Differences
The study revealed that 13.47% of participants currently fake orgasms, while 26.74% had faked in the past but stopped. Gender differences were prominent, with 18.11% of women and 8.59% of men currently faking orgasms. Among those who stopped, 34.41% of women had previously faked compared to 18.74% of men.
Country-specific data showed notable variations: French respondents had the highest rates of current faking at 18.54%, while Finland had the lowest at 11.05%.
For those who stopped faking orgasms, the most common reasons included becoming more comfortable not having an orgasm which was cited by 27.97% of study participants, improved sexual communication which was cited by 26.54% of participants, and increased partner attentiveness which was cited by 24.37%.
There were gender-specific reasons for stopping faking. Men were more likely than women to report stopping due to increased confidence or being caught faking. Women, on the other hand, were more likely to stop because they became more comfortable with not having an orgasm.
Sociodemographic Predictors
Several demographic and sexual behavior factors predicted faking orgasms. Women had 4.6 times higher odds of currently faking orgasms compared to men. Other significant predictors of faking included having children, being in an open relationship, and having more lifetime sexual partners. Homosexual respondents also had higher odds of faking compared to heterosexuals. In contrast, older age, being in a relationship and living together, and higher orgasm frequency were associated with lower odds of currently faking orgasms.
Sex Toy Use and Faking
The study found that those who had never faked orgasms were less likely to own sex toys compared to past fakers or current fakers. Furthermore, current fakers were more likely to use sex toys alone compared to past fakers or non-fakers. In contrast, non-fakers and past fakers were more likely to use sex toys with a partner compared to current fakers.
Satisfaction Outcomes
Faking orgasms was associated with lower sexual, relationship, and life satisfaction. While the effect sizes were small, the differences were significant. Current fakers reported lower sexual satisfaction compared to past fakers. Similarly, those who had never faked reported higher relationship satisfaction compared to current fakers.
This study provides comprehensive insights into the prevalence of faking orgasms, the reasons people stop, and the demographic and behavioral predictors of faking. Additionally, it highlights how faking behavior is linked to lower satisfaction in several areas, offering important considerations for understanding sexual dynamics across diverse populations.
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.