One thing about orgasms is you know one when you feel it. That said, not all orgasms are alike. First of all, there are tons of different kinds of orgasms a woman can have, from internal ones to clitoral ones to the elusive nipplegasm, with plenty of overlap in between (gymgasm, anyone?). Surprise, surprise, they can all produce totally different (though equally pleasurable) sensations.
Moreover, no two people will experience orgasms in exactly the same way, and even two orgasms had by the same person can feel totally different. Sure, with any orgasm, you might experience shaky legs, erect nipples, a tightness in or around your vagina, etc.—but that doesn’t necessarily mean those same things will happen every single time you orgasm. Not to mention, your orgasm might actually feel different than your friends’ orgasms, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself if you’ve got one Samantha Jones-type in your group chat who brings up how they can orgasm vaginally and squirt when those two things haven’t ever really happened for you. Everyone’s body is different, and so is everyone’s orgasm response. What can we say? Bodies are unique and beautiful, and your body’s unique and beautiful response to physical pleasure is all part of what makes you you, and what makes your sex life yours.
It’s also worth noting that orgasms needn’t (and probably shouldn’t) be the end all be all of any sexual experience, whether solo or partnered. Sex should be about pleasure for its own sake. Sure, an orgasm can definitely be part of that pleasure, but it’s not a requirement for sexual satisfaction—so just keep that in mind.
That said, orgasms can be pretty great (duh). And whether you’ve already orgasmed twice (or three times or ten times) this morning or never have at all, it’s helpful to know what the sensation feels like to a variety of people to better understand, identify, and explore your own pleasure. That’s why we’ve asked 60 (!!) women to explain what their orgasms feel like, so we can all get better at getting off.