There are six different types of male orgasm — here’s what they feel like

Have you heard of all of them? (Picture: Getty Images) If you thought that men can only orgasm by ejaculating, well, you’d be sorely mistaken. Guys can actually experience six different types of orgasm. That’s right, it’s not just female pleasure that can feel complex and multifaceted. There’s a whole world of orgasmic sexual pleasure for men that can be unlocked. But what are these different orgasms and how do you achieve them? Lorraine Grover, Psychosexual Therapist and Nurse Specialist, tells Metro that these big Os are each triggered in slightly different ways. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘Many men don’t realise you can even orgasm without an erection,’ she says. ‘Understanding the different types of orgasm can help reduce pressure and improve pleasure.’ There are many ways you can have an orgasm, not just by penile stimulation and ejaculation (Picture: Getty Images) It should be noted that not everyone will be able to achieve every type of orgasm, and ‘that’s okay’. ‘Some men are more physically or emotionally tuned in, while others may need time, support or better health foundations. The key is curiosity, not comparison,’ Lorraine adds. Well we asked a pharmacist and a sex expert to talk us through each one, and unlock this treasure trove of pleasure… Ejaculation This is the most familiar form of climax for men, and it’s the one we see in movies and popular culture. ‘It’s the release of semen from the penis during orgasm which is usually achieved through physical or physiological sexual arousal,’ Superintendent pharmacist, Abbas Kanani, tells Metro. He explains there are two key phases to achieving this climax. ‘The first is emission, where sperm moves from the testicles to the urethra and mixes with prostate and seminal vesicles fluids,’ he says. ‘The second is the ejaculatory phase, where pelvic muscles contract and push semen out through the urethra.’ Ejaculation is the most common way men experience orgasm (Picture: Getty Images) Psychosexual therapist Lorraine says it feels like a short, rhythmic release of tension with pelvic muscle contractions. But just because it’s the most common type of orgasm doesn’t mean it’s always easy to reach. After all, only 60% of men reach this type of orgasm every time they have sex. ‘It still depends on healthy erections and arousal. If orgasm feels weak or hard to reach, it’s often a sign to look at the foundations — blood flow, confidence, and timing,’ Lorraine adds. New here? Sign up for The Hook Up newsletter Hi, I’m Alice Giddings, Metro’s resident sex and relationships reporter. If you love a juicy read, you’re in the right place. From steamy stories to expert bedroom tips, my weekly newsletter dishes out everything you need to know about sex, dating, and everything in between. I write in The Hook Up newsletter every week (Picture: Alice Giddings) Expect real-life confessions, X-rated diaries, and sizzling advice from Metro’s trusted sexperts. Ready to spice up your inbox? Sign up here. Pelvic Into less familiar territory now, with pelvic orgasms, which are… less explosive. These orgasms are a result of pelvic floor contractions, which can be achieved with little to no touch, according to Lorraine. They may not involve ejaculation at all. She says: ‘This orgasm feels like internal pulsations radiating through the lower body.’ Where do the different orgasms come from (Picture: Credit: SPL/Getty Images) Pharmacist Kanani explains that practising pelvic floor exercises can help increase the intensity of these orgasms, which can be achieved by contracting your pelvic floor during sex. ‘By doing this, men can also control ejaculation, maintain an erection and enhance their orgasm,’ he adds. If this is something you struggle with, Lorraine suggests devices like Vertica, which boost blood flow and help maintain erection quality, to increase your chances. ‘They don’t cause orgasm directly — but they support the physical ability to reach and enjoy one.’ You need to ejaculate HOW many times a month to help prevent prostate cancer? Orgasms are pretty great, but for men it turns out ejaculating very regularly could also significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer. In fact, if you ejaculate once every day you really limit the chances, while another study suggests that a staggering 21 orgasms a month reduces the likelihood of prostate cancer by 20%. This comes as new research found global deaths from the disease are likely to double in the next 20 years. Prostate This one’s more of a slow build and it sounds pretty earth shattering. Some may get a little shy, as this one is typically achieved through anal sex, but it promises unparalleled pleasure, according to the experts. For context, the prostate is a walnut-shaped gland in your pelvis that rests beneath your bladder and in front of your rectum, which is why it can be stimulated with anal. ‘Yes, this orgasm is achieved by the stimulation of the prostate gland through anal but it can also be achieved by stimulating the perineum – the external area between your genitals and rectum,’ Lorraine explains. ‘This orgasm feels like a slow build to a powerful, full-body release.’ Pharmacist Kanani adds that these orgasms are thought to be felt more intensely that an ejaculatory orgasm, but research is limited. ‘They can be incredibly intense,’ Lorraine agrees. ‘But many men avoid them due to stigma or nerves. Once men feel safe and curious, they often describe it as one of the most rewarding kinds of climax.’ Dry The moral of this sexy story is that you don’t need to cum to climax. ‘A man can achieve climax without ejaculating or releasing even a small amount of semen,’ pharmacist Kanani explains. The prostate is located beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum (Picture: Getty Images/Science Photo Libra) He adds that this orgasm is achieved in the same way as an ejaculatory orgasm, and feels the same, although Lorraine adds that it’s like ‘a more focused climax with less intensity but faster recovery.’ She says: ‘These often occur in men who have practised edging and control, or if they’ve had multiple orgasms beforehand.’ While these are a perfectly legitimate form of orgasm, pharmacist Kanani adds that if dry orgasms begin to happen frequently for you, you should consult a doctor, as it could indicate an underlying health condition. Blended What’s better than an orgasm? More than one climax, simultaneously. Lorraine explains: ‘A blended orgasm combines stimulation of the penis and prostate, creating a deeper, more layered orgasm.’ It feels like ‘surface-level pleasure merged with a deeper full-body release’. ‘Delayed ejaculation and kegel exercises help to achieve this type of orgasm, allowing for a build up of tension without ejaculation,’ pharmacist Kanani adds. ‘This can lead to multiple orgasms once ejaculation occurs.’ The top tip (no pun intended) here is to relax and take your time to experiment, rather than rushing to the finish line. Multiple Finishing off (sorry!) we have multiple orgasms, and this is essentially what it says on the tin: lots of orgasms in close succession. Multiple orgasms in a row is rare but very pleasurable (Picture: Getty Images) In some bad new though, Kanani explains that this is a ‘rare’ occurence. ‘It’s harder to achieve for men because most men enter the refractory period where they become less responsive to sexual stimulation,’ he explains. Lorraine adds that if you are going to unlock this level of pleasure, the first orgasm typically needs to be a dry one. If you do manage it, she says: ‘It feels like successive waves of pleasure with little or no need for a break.’ ‘These aren’t common, but they are real. It takes awareness, confidence, and physical control. Let go of goal-oriented sex — when you focus on sensation over outcome, your body often surprises you.’ Deals of the Day Wuka launches the UK’s first period-proof swimwear for heavy flows Bridgerton fans are rushing to buy these new Netflix-inspired perfumes now £12 off The affordable summer wardrobe update you'll wear from rooftop drinks to beach holidays The £7.99 lip balm beauty fans love for glossy, hydrated lips just dropped four new shades This Keskine hydrogel mask could fix your summer skin This article was originally published on June 15, 2025. Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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