Since the beginning of sex, both men and women have been guilty of the belief that faking an orgasm inherently means that the sex is is bad or that the guy is hung like a single-celled organism. However, a new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior has challenged that notion, finding that faking orgasms can actually be a positive thing.

Since the beginning of sex, both men and women have been guilty of the belief that faking an orgasm inherently means that the sex is is bad or that the guy is hung like a single-celled organism. However, a new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior has challenged that notion, finding that faking orgasms can actually be a positive thing.

But before you burn us at the cross for heresy, hear us out.

Based on self-reports from nearly 500 straight women, the study found that there are four basic reasons for faking orgasms.

  1.     To protect their partner’s feelings.
  2.     To avoid awkward or negative moments.
  3.     To increase their own arousal during sex.
  4.     To get it over with already.

… But although most of these reasons are associated with disappointment and failure, pay particular attention to #3. You read that, buddy? Some women fake orgasms in order to get off. It's like that saying "Fake it till you make it" … something that incidentally doesn't work when you're DMX impersonating and FBI agent at the airport, but that's neither here nor there.

This makes total sense. Faking an orgasm during sex helps women achieve a climate that'd normally be associated with real orgasm; heavy breathing, talking dirty, moaning, clenching, quivering, etc. According to this study, women do this not necessarily to make their partner feel talented or confident, but because getting themselves that much closer to the real thing can actually lead to the real thing.

You could also argue that the performance of a fake orgasm creates an intimate moment, in the sense that it’s done to comfort the woman’s partner, and wordlessly exhibits an understanding that you trust each other to give and receive pleasure. And as we all know, comfort and intimacy with a sexual partner is tres cum-worthy.

So, kids, don't feel bad if you have to fake an orgasm or if your partner does because you have the rhythm of a seizuring basement rat; it might help you or your partner have an actual orgasm in the end. Or at least just keep telling yourself that.