Both males and females reported using some form of reducing sexual stimulation to control or delay orgasm onset. Techniques for reducing stimulation involve slowing the rhythm of manipulating the genitals, decreasing the pressure of contact, and moving mental focus to non-sexual topics. Additionally, people of both genders report flexing their pubococcygeus (pube-oh-cok-see-jus), or PC, muscles to help slow the buildup to orgasm. (This is the muscle that squeezes off the flow of urine, and is strengthened by Kegels exercises.) Some males report diverting the approach of orgasm by gently squeezing their penises just below the glans (head) or at the base, where their penises attach to their bodies. Others pull down gently on their testicles or massage their scrotums.]
I usually just take my time when I masturbate. But if I do start to climax I stop quickly, and I won't touch my penis until the feeling goes away. Sometimes some semen dribbles out, but I don't actually climax. I do this a few times until I can't anymore; then I just let go. My orgasm is usually more intense.
- age 16, Massachusetts
When I am building up to an orgasm and want to last longer, I just release my penis and let the feeling die down. Then I build back up until I'm ready to climax.
- age 24, United Kingdom
When my boyfriend is fingering me, I try to get him to slow down some when I get close. I also tense my muscles to try to prevent the orgasm in order to make the pleasure last longer. When it finally happens, it feels incredible.
- age 16, Pennsylvania (female)
I try to control when I climax, especially when watching an X-rated movie or having cyber-sex. For me, controlling when I have the orgasm is not that difficult. When I get close, I stop for between a few seconds and a minute to play with my testicles. Generally I try to time my orgasms to coincide with those in the movie, so I tend to last from 20 minutes to an hour doing this.
- age 28, Virginia
Whenever I'm near orgasm, I stop and then start again. This lasts only 2 or 3 times because I usually just can't hold back anymore.
- age 14, Egypt
God, no! Why on earth would I want to do that?
- age 22, Australia (female)
When I masturbate and I want to prolong the pleasure, I stroke my penis to the point of ejaculation and then use the "Stop & Go" technique until I can't stand it any longer. My orgasm is more intense, and the amount of semen ejaculated is greater and squirts further up on my chest.
- age 25, California
At climax I usually just stop or pull on my scrotum and the sensation goes away. Then I go at it again.
- age 15, Nebraska
I squeeze my glans tightly. Then I rub my scrotum to sustain the feeling but delay the ejaculation.
- age 27, Philippines
Yeah, depending on the situation that I'm in. If there's a chance that I might get "caught," then I want it to be quick and easy to clean up. If that's not going to happen, I still try to control orgasm most of the time to make it last as long as possible.
- age 15, United Kingdom
I stop stroking and pull down on my testicles, holding it until the feeling passes. Sometimes I can keep stroking and pull down with the free hand. When I finally do ejaculate, it is fantastic!
- age 44, Arkansas
I never try to control it really – I just let it go.
- age 18, Michigan
Usually I just stroke until I ejaculate. But when I want to postpone my orgasm, I firmly squeeze my penis just beneath the head.
- age 32, Netherlands
I just let it happen. I don't think controlling it would be as exciting.
- age 17, Pennsylvania (female)
I believe you should just let the orgasm happen naturally. After all, when you masturbate, you are doing it to please only yourself. When you try to delay orgasm you cheat yourself out of the true sexual release you deserve.
- age 24, North Carolina
Sometimes if I want to masturbate longer, I slowly touch myself until I am ready for an orgasm. Other times I just go with the flow and let it come when it does.
- age 14, California (female)
I set an alarm for however long I want to make it last. I don't clean up until the alarm goes off. Since I don't like sitting there covered with semen, this naturally gives me some incentive to keep it under the alarm time. I stop when the alarm goes off. Finally, in the nature of a game, I don't look at the alarm while I masturbate.
- age 17, South Carolina
When I start to feel the climax coming, I think about dead cows, and it goes away. I'm serious – try it!
- age 20, North Carolina
There are 2 different ways I do it. (1) I think of something disgusting, like a used diaper or my grandma naked – YUCK! (2) I squeeze my penis hard at the base. My head swells up and sometimes causes a little discomfort, which makes the orgasm settle down. After a few minutes I start over again.
- age 14, New York
My secret is to control the muscle inside the vagina (the same muscle I use when resisting urination). When I am close to climax, I try to prevent the orgasm from completing its course; then I build up to climax again very slowly. By doing this several times while either masturbating or having intercourse, I prolong my orgasm and also heighten the sensation.
- age 24, California (female)
I put pressure on the bottom of my penis with two fingers to keep myself from ejaculating.
- age 18, Alaska
I masturbate really slowly and slowly build up to orgasm. Then I pick up the pace until I near orgasm and let a bit of my semen leak out (without experiencing a full orgasm). Then, once I let it spew out, I quickly masturbate again, resulting in a powerful orgasm that gets me into convulsions.
- age 23, Illinois
I squeeze my legs tightly together, trapping my testicles between them.
- age 14, United Kingdom
My orgasms have different intensities. Sometimes I'll be masturbating unconsciously and will approach orgasm without even realizing it. When that happens, the orgasm is usually a little one. So I stop whatever I'm doing, even if it's been effective for me, and take a breather. I'll think about non-sexy topics. Then I'll start fantasizing vigorously to work myself up to a really huge orgasm (I've already been warmed up). It's much better to wait for the filet mignon than to take the salad.
- age 18, Illinois (female)
I'm a big fan of the "Stop & Go" method, coupled with using fantasy. In doing so, I try to structure it so I'm in orgasm both in reality and in fantasy at the same time
- age 14, Michigan
I like to bring myself almost to the point of no return and then let myself calm down. I tease myself a few times. In order to stop, I do Kegels [contract the PC muscle – see notes at top of page] and if necessary apply pressure to the base of my penis head. When I am ready to let it happen, I usually hold a long Kegel and continue stroking until I can't hold out any longer. About 50% of the time this results in multiple orgasms for me.
- age 22, Canada
When I feel the moment draw near, I think of pizza. I don't know why, but it works!
- age 11, Texas
When I'm masturbating, I try to keep doing it for as long as I can. When I feel I'm about to ejaculate, I stop and squeeze the head of my penis gently. This helps to keep me from ejaculating. Then when I feel calmed down a bit, I start all over again. I usually keep doing this until I can't take it anymore and I just let everything go.
- age 17, New York
I just masturbate very slowly. Doing this, I can last for about 40 minutes. When I am about to ejaculate, I rest until the feeling subsides. Then I start masturbating again. Doing this, I can last for another 20 minutes. The orgasm is extremely intense and pleasurable.
- age 15, Ireland
I think the best way to prolong an orgasm, without completely stopping, is to change from one technique to another and then back again. It's great to go from regular fist stroking to just stroking the base of my penis and then maybe ringing just the head of my penis (really sensitive there), then back to regular stroking, or the "Four Focused Fingers" stroke is great. I always stay as relaxed as possible while using that muscle that slows the ejaculation [the PC muscle – see notes at top of page]. It's not always easy to do, especially if I haven't ejaculated in a while. When I get close to orgasm, I change to a stroke that isn't too intense (such as the "Crook") and control my breathing. I try to see how long I can last with *constant* contact using many different techniques. I'm getting excited just talking about it!
- age 29, California
I like the feeling to linger a little while, so I usually just slow down and breathe deeply.
- age 13, Pennsylvania (female)
I like to delay orgasm for extended periods so I can enjoy masturbating as long as possible. Also, the orgasms tend to be more explosive when delayed. First, I masturbate with a lighter touch and slower speed, and I take the time to pleasure other parts of my body such as my nipples, shoulders, armpits, and thighs. When I feel myself building to the point of no return, I back off and slow down or try stimulating another part of my body. I do this over and over until I run out of time or just get too horny to stop. My masturbation sessions usually go at least a half-hour, often longer.
- age 29, California
Try masturbating with your non-dominant hand (right-handers use your left hand; lefties use your right). It feels quite awkward at first, but with practice you'll develop a fairly good rhythm. Even so, you can never go as fast this way as with the dominant hand you have used for years. The enforced slowness of your non-dominant side causes exactly the slowness that helps to create the controlled onset and fierce intensity of delayed orgasm. When you start to get close, slow down even more. Pace the speed and pressure so you provide only enough stimulation to maintain the feeling and keep it from subsiding. With practice you'll learn how to "surf the edge" for quite a long while.
- age 57, New Jersey
I try to control when my orgasm happens simply by stopping mentally, but not physically. This way my orgasm is much better, and I can still get much more pleasure from the ejaculation.
- age 14, Illinois
Whenever I get to take my time masturbating, I always control myself – it makes it so much better. I get almost to the point of no return and completely stop all motion and turn my head away from the screen. (I usually watch videos while I masturbate.) I let myself get flaccid [soft] and then start again. I have done this 5 or 6 times repeatedly, which takes about an hour. After the first couple of times I get to the point of orgasm a lot more quickly. When I finally do climax, it's unbelievable, and the amount I ejaculate is 2 or 3 times normal.
- age 44, Colorado
Sometimes I try to tighten my grip. But occasionally the results are opposite what I want, so it doesn't help. Other times I use breath control – take deep breaths, close my eyes, and just relax. The relaxation gives me control over the orgasm intensity. I can enjoy and experience it better.
- age 17, Holland
I almost always try to control when I climax. (1) I slow down so the stimulation isn't as fast; (2) I use the "Stop & Go" technique; or (3) I loosen my grip, causing less friction between my hand and penis. Any combination of these works well. I do this mainly to control the quality of my masturbation sessions, but I also do it when looking at porn over the Internet, so the pictures can download before I download (if you know what I mean!).
- age 20, California
If I manage to think about non-sexual things, I can masturbate nearly forever without orgasm. When I imagine something very exciting, orgasm can come within seconds. So I'm able to control the point of time when it happens, but normally I do not want to. When I was about 10 I had a game with my new clock: I started masturbating at second zero, and I tried to reach orgasm exactly one minute later. After a one-minute pause, I would repeat.
- age 28, Germany
I control my orgasms by halting the rubbing of my penis. I massage my scrotum, which for some reason diminishes my urge to ejaculate.
- age 16, Tennessee
Rhythm has a lot to do with control. Knowing when to slow down or speed up can be helpful. Focused breathing, however, works the best for me. In fact, if I use breathing techniques I have a more intense orgasm. One other thing I have found to work is to do relaxation exercises. It's very difficult for me not to tense my muscles, especially in my legs and feet, when I am approaching orgasm. If I can control it, though, the payoff is *magnificent*. A combination of these 3 used properly has taken my sensitivity, climax, and ejaculation (both force and volume) to amazing levels.
- age 26, Idaho