You'd be forgiven for assuming that the male orgasm is a straightforward process.
While women are often thought to be the more complex of the sexes when it comes to reaching climax, it turns out that the supposedly simple male orgasm can be far more multifarious.
In fact, according to a sex expert, there are a whopping six types of orgasms that men can experience, and all of them can be vital to helping prevent prostate cancer.
Speaking to Metro, Lorraine Grover, Psychosexual Therapist and Nurse Specialist, explained that men are capable of experiencing a broad assortment of orgasmic pleasures, each being stimulated in a slightly different way.
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In fact, she explained how many men 'don’t realize they can even orgasm without an erection'.
"Understanding the different types of orgasm can help reduce pressure and improve pleasure," she said.
Though different bodies will experience things differently, that doesn't mean each man are be capable of all six.
"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," Grover asserted.
Not only does it mean men can experience a wide range of pleasures, but it can also improve their health. According to a study in 2016, ejaculating once a day can reduce a man's chances of developing prostate cancer, with 1.5 to 1.6 million new cases diagnosed yearly worldwide.
Researchers at Harvard University found that ejaculating, having 21 orgasms a month, reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer by a whopping 20 percent.
So, what are the six ways you can reduce your risk of cancer?
Ejaculation
It's the one that most of us think of when we think of male orgasm, and usually the one described within popular culture.
Describing the process, pharmacist Abbas Kanani told the outlet: "It’s the release of semen from the penis during orgasm, which is usually achieved through physical or physiological sexual arousal."
This is achieved when a two-point process by which the 'sperm moves from the testicles to the urethra and mixes with prostate and seminal vesicles fluids', before being released when the 'pelvic muscles contract and push semen out through the urethra'.
It feels like a short, rhythmic release of tension with pelvic muscle contractions, Grover said.
Despite being the best known, it's not always the easiest - only 60 percent of men achieve it during every sexual experience.
"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," she explained.
Pelvic
Unlike ejaculation, pelvic orgasms can be achieved with little to no touch and rely on the contraction of the pelvic floor.
"This orgasm feels like internal pulsations radiating through the lower body," Grover explained, adding there may be no ejaculation at all.
Practising pelvic floor exercises can help increase the intensity of such releases, Kanani said.
"By doing this, men can also control ejaculation, maintain an erection, and enhance their orgasm," he added.
Prostate
Rather than the short rhythmic bursts of ejaculation, prostate orgasms promise intense, unmatched pleasure, according to the experts, and they are usually achieved through anal sex.
If you didn't know, the prostate is a walnut-shaped gland in your pelvis located beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum, hence why it is stimulated during anal sex.
"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 explained. "This orgasm feels like a slow build to a powerful, full-body release."
Additionally, they are likely to feel far more 'intense' she said, and are often avoided by men who may fear the stigma attached to orgasm by anal stimulation.
Dry
Despite popular belief, men can achieve orgasm without any ejaculate at all, Kanani said.
Though the experts agree it feels more or less the same, Grover said it can be 'a more focused climax with less intensity but faster recovery'.
They are usually achieved by men who have practised 'edging and control' or by those who've had multiple orgasms in the past.
Though a fun addition to the six pillars of pleasure, men experiencing only dry orgasms for an extended period of time should speak to a doctor, the experts warned.
Blended
Two is nearly always better than one, as men who have experienced the marvel of a blended orgasm will tell you.
Describing the phenomenon, Grover said it's a 'blended combines stimulation of the penis and prostate, creating a deeper, more layered orgasm' that feels like surface-level pleasure merged with a deeper full-body release'.
Moreover, 'delayed ejaculation and kegel exercises help to achieve this type of orgasm, allowing for a build up of tension without ejaculation,’ Kanani explained.
Multiple
Arguably one of the hardest to achieve, some men are capable of achieving multiple orgasms at once, Kanani said. However, it is usually more difficult than it typically is for women since men 'enter the refractory period where they become less responsive to sexual stimulation'.
If it's going to happen, it usually starts with a dry orgasm that unlocks a more typical ejaculation, Grover said.
She said: "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."
Topics: Health, Sex and Relationships, Sex Education
Alice Wade