Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style at Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Winter Shoe Trends
    • Slick-Backed Buns
    • OleHenriksen
    • Holiday Candles
    • Statement Red Socks
    1. Sex love

    Why Your Boyfriend Can't Orgasm

    I wonder if sex is bad for a woman if the guy doesn't orgasm. I'll be completely candid here: I don't orgasm often during oral sex or intercourse. What is the cause of this phenomenon? I'm not sure, but I have a few theories about my affliction...

    By Rich Santos
    Published 20 April 2011 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    shirtless guy wearing only a white tie with woman sitting behind him in bed
    (Image credit: btrenkel)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    A while back I asked if women enjoy sex even when they don't orgasm.

    Now I'm wondering if sex is bad for a woman if the guy doesn't orgasm. I'll be completely candid here: I don't orgasm often during oral sex or intercourse. What is the cause of this phenomenon? I'm not sure, but I have a few theories about my affliction:

    Too Much Self-Stimulation

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    I satisfy myself quite often. All this self-stimulation not only tires me out, but it creates a high standard for physical pleasure because I'm the only one who knows exactly what I want. Masturbation is isolating: I am more comfortable orgasming by myself than with another person.

    Crisis Thinking

    You may like
    • Two women covered in blood (Gillian Anderson as Billy and Hannah Einbinder as Kris) stand closely together in a convenience store aisle, with their intertwined hands on a cart. A still from Jane Schoenbrun's 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma' (2026). Everyone Has Thoughts About Gen Z and Sex. 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma' Gets It Right
    • Black-and-white photo of a person walking past a Cornell University stone sign, with their face obscured by a teal scribble. What the Morning After a Sexual Assault On Campus Really Looks Like
    • a collage of images of actress sasha compere wearing a white gown sitting on a pink chair over a selection of stills from the movie dreams in nightmares I'll Never "Heal" From Clinical Depression. And I'll Never Give Up the Career That Triggers It

    During sex, I worry about anything and everything from losing my erection, to the girl not enjoying it. I wish I could be a regular dude and think: "Man, I'm nailing this chick right now," but I can't.

    Performance Anxiety

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    During foreplay, the crazy thought that enters my head is often, "Oh man, we might have to have sex." It's not that I don't want to have sex. The problem is that I pressure myself. The same thing happens during oral — during the act I think to myself, "Oh man, she definitely expects me to orgasm during this."

    It's the same thing as me having a chance to play guitar in front of a huge crowd. I'd welcome the challenge as something I've always wanted to do, but I'd be nervous. In fact, I'm more confident playing guitar in front of a crowd than I am at sex.

    My issues with reaching orgasm play out in many different ways. Women have cried after sex because I didn't ejaculate. I don't mind if I don't ejaculate during sex — Besides, I can easily ejaculate later — no big deal.

    What to read next
    • Stylized image of a woman at a desk holding papers, overlaid with pink, blue, and green tones. The Hidden Price Tag of Menopause
    • A photo of Nikki Ogunnaike and an inset photo of Robin Berzin and Katerina Schneider, with text reading Money. Power. Style. Nice Talk with Nikki Ogunnaike Why These Women's Health Leaders Want Women to Think of Perimenopause as an "Era"
    • A photo of Nikki Ogunnaike with an inset photo of Melinda French Gates and text reading Money. Power. Style. Nice Talk with Nikki Ogunnaike Melinda French Gates Wants to End One of Medicine's Biggest Blind Spots

    I think women are conditioned to believe that guys are "easy" to bring to orgasm. When it doesn't happen, women immediately blame themselves. Usually, my consolation of "It's not you, it's me" is not good enough. I understand why women would blame themselves, though I wish they wouldn't. Most women are used to guys orgasming easily — so it's a new experience for a woman to deal with.

    Is it bad sex when the guy doesn't orgasm? Do you wonder what's wrong with you when he doesn't orgasm, or do you realize it's his problem?

    More from Marie Claire:

    Female Orgasm Facts

    Best Sex Techniques, Moves & Positions

    Relationship Advice & Tips for Couples

    Top 10 Real & True Sex Stories from Women

    Rich Santos
    Read more
    Black-and-white photo of a person walking past a Cornell University stone sign, with their face obscured by a teal scribble.
    Politics What the Morning After a Sexual Assault On Campus Really Looks Like The Cornell case put one woman’s behavior under a microscope. Five survivors describe what they actually did in the hours and days that followed.
    By Noor Ibrahim
    A collage of production photos from the play 'The Peterson Show,' with a portrait of playwright Janine Nabers at the center.
    Culture I've Found Comedy Is Cheaper Than Therapy "Funny people know that sadness and humor go hand-in-hand," writes 'The Peterson Show' playwright Janine Nabers.
    By Janine Nabers
     
     
    A photo of Nikki Ogunnaike and an inset photo of Robin Berzin and Katerina Schneider, with text reading Money. Power. Style. Nice Talk with Nikki Ogunnaike
    Culture Why These Women's Health Leaders Want Women to Think of Perimenopause as an "Era"
    By Lia Beck
    a black and white headshot of composer missy mazzoli looking to the side plastered over an image of red seats in an opera house
    Music I'm Making Opera History. Women in Punk Got Me Here Composer Missy Mazzoli shares an essay about her early inspirations, as 'Lincoln in the Bardo' premieres at the Met.
    By Missy Mazzoli
     
     
    Latest in Sex love
    Two women covered in blood (Gillian Anderson as Billy and Hannah Einbinder as Kris) stand closely together in a convenience store aisle, with their intertwined hands on a cart. A still from Jane Schoenbrun's 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma' (2026).
    Movies Everyone Has Thoughts About Gen Z and Sex. 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma' Gets It Right
    Princess Diana wears a shimmering blue mini dress and carries a matching blue silk clutch bag
    Royals How Diana Navigated Being a "Newly Divorced Princess"
     
     
    Queen Camilla wears off-white and pale green on her wedding day, including a white hat, to marry King Charles in 2005
    Royals Why Queen Camilla "Felt a Little Broken" on Her Wedding Day
    Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are married at Madison Square Garden and a sign announces their nuptials outside
    Celebrity What Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Said in Their Wedding Vows
     
     
    Latest in News
    Princess Diana wears a blue floral dress and has short blonde hair and is smirking
    Royals Princess Diana Made a Risqué Quip to Royal Photographer
    Princess Kate and Prince William Might Have Been "Forced to Cancel" Their Annual Vacation to One Luxury Destination, Says Royal Source
    Royals Princess Kate and Prince William "Forced to Cancel" Vacation
     
     
    Kendall Jenner wears a neon pink mini dress and a blonde bob wig for Halloween, inspired by the movie 'Paris, Texas'
    Celebrity Style Kendall Jenner Goes Full Indie Darling for Halloween
    King Charles has white gray hair and looks to the sky with a wrinkled face while wearing a suit
    Royals King Charles's "True Colors" Were on Full Display
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.