Unfinished Intimacy: Study Reveals Why Indian Women Rarely Reach Orgasm

Despite increased awareness around gender and desire, Indian women continue to fake orgasms—driven by shame, performance pressure, and outdated beliefs about sex

26 July 2025, New Delhi

In bedrooms across India, behind seemingly consensual intimacy, a quiet crisis brews—one that is rarely acknowledged, even more rarely addressed. A large number of Indian women continue to fake orgasms, not for personal satisfaction, but to maintain peace, avoid embarrassment, or protect their partner’s ego.

Recent research and clinical studies paint a stark picture: Indian bedrooms still remain unequal when it comes to sexual pleasure.

The Data Doesn’t Lie: Women Are Not Enjoying Sex to the fullest

According to a 2020 study published in the Journal of Psychosexual Health , conducted in North India, 86.6% of women reported difficulty achieving orgasm, and 81.2% expressed sexual dissatisfaction .

A Durex Global Sex Survey (2017) further revealed that while 80% of Indian men orgasm regularly during sex, only 48% of women do—a glaring pleasure gap that’s rarely discussed.

Why Women Fake It: A Mix of Culture, Conditioning & Emotional Labor

For many Indian women, faking it is a learned survival instinct in relationships. “It’s easier to pretend than to explain,” said one anonymous respondent from Delhi. “If I stop and say I didn’t enjoy it, he gets offended.”

Psychologist Dr. Rachna Khanna Singh explains, “Indian women often fake orgasms due to a combination of performance pressure, emotional fatigue, and lack of sexual autonomy. It’s a deeply rooted cultural issue, not just a bedroom problem.”

An unpublished University of Delhi psychology thesis (2018) found that women aged 20–35 cited shame, fear of judgement, and a sense of “obligation” as primary reasons for pretending to climax.

The Orgasm Gap is Psychological—Not Biological

Experts agree the gap isn’t biological, but deeply psychological and sociocultural. Unlike men, women’s sexual response is more contextual—reliant on comfort, mental connection, and stimulation. However, patriarchal norms in India continue to teach women that sex is a duty, not a right to mutual pleasure.

Feminist writer Nivedita Menon has long argued that the female body in India has been “disciplined by culture”—seen either as a vessel of honor or reproduction, but rarely as a source of pleasure.

The Influence of Porn and Pressure to perform

Male-centric porn has set dangerous expectations for what sex should look and sound like. Women are often expected to be vocal, theatrical, and instantly orgasmic.

A 2023 study in the Archives of Sexual Behavior confirmed that women who consumed more mainstream porn were more likely to fake orgasms, driven by performance anxiety and unrealistic standards .

Sex therapist Dr. Seema Hingorrany notes, “Porn portrays loud moaning and instant orgasms. It’s fake. But many Indian men use it as a sex manual, which puts tremendous pressure on women to perform, not feel.”

Who’s Trying to Fix This?

Thankfully, change is brewing.

• Digital media platforms like Agents of Ishq and Love Matters, India are educating young people about anatomy, consent, and real pleasure.
• Sex-positive brands like MyMuse , Bleu , and That Sassy Thing are launching public campaigns like “Let Her Finish” to highlight the orgasm gap.

They’re normalizing conversations, removing shame, and putting the focus back on mutual pleasure—not performance.

Also Read: Pull-Outs, Periods & Pleasure: What You Think You Know About Sex Is Mostly Wrong

What’s the Solution?

Fixing India’s orgasm gap isn’t about louder sex or better positions. It starts with:

• Open communication between partners
• Gender-inclusive sex education
• Understanding that female pleasure is not optional

Dr. Seema Hingorrany sums it up: “Pleasure is not a privilege. It’s a right. And until Indian society learns that women deserve to enjoy sex just as much as men, faking it will continue to be the most silent epidemic in our bedrooms .”

Also Read: Kargil Vijay Diwas: Remembering the Battle That Reaffirmed India’s Resolve