6 ways to celebrate National Orgasm Day!

Every body deserves pleasure! National Orgasm Day is coming, and you should be too. Bellesa is celebrating with 45% off all Bellesa Toys. Use code ODAY.

Quick, strike your favorite position, and polish your orgasm shoes: National Orgasm Day is coming! Typically celebrated on July 31st throughout the UK, Australia, the US, the Netherlands, Canada, South Africa—and any other place that decides to jump aboard the pleasure wagon—this exxxtra special occasion is observed as both a celebration of the Big O as well as the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about a range of issues pertaining to sexual climax. 

Fun fact: National Orgasm Day is actually an off-shoot of International Female Orgasm Day, founded in Brazil in 2007, and now celebrated annually on August 8th.

Not-so-fun fact: a study by the International Academy of Sex Research shows that while gay and straight men orgasm roughly 85% of the time, women having sex with women orgasm about 75% of the time, while women having sex with men come last (quite literally) at 63%. And when it comes to first-time hookups, the gap widens even further, with 80% of men reaching orgasm compared to just 40% of women. All this to say, the orgasm gap is still a thing—and while we’re at it, so is the masturbation gap—and so is faking orgasms! In other words, celebrating National Orgasm Day is a revolutionary act.

If you’re looking to join the fun, trumpet the cause, or both, consider the following 6 inspired ideas for how to celebrate this most auspicious occasion:

1. Pleasure yourself.

Masturbation is a many-splendored thing. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It’s fast becoming common knowledge that solo pleasure is a fantastic form of self-care, a major boon to mental health, and super important even if you’re part of a couple. Hell, there's even an entire month devoted to masturbation celebration and education every year. So in honor of National Orgasm Day, and of your goddess-given right to find what feels good, lay back, relax, and do yourself justice. Hot tips: take it slow, try a new position, integrate a toy, indulge in a fantasy. You got this.

2. Learn to make yourself cum.

Reaching orgasm is not necessarily an inbuilt skill. More often than not, it take a lot of daring exploration before we encounter our first magic recipe for bliss. Before you begin, commit to not judging yourself if you don’t reach climax. Many people either can’t orgasm, haven’t learned what works yet, or simply only cum sometimes. Stop pressuring yourself, and you’re halfway there. Speaking of pressure, why not explore in the shower? Hot tips: learn more about your anatomy, understand what orgasm feels like, try a beginner-friendly vibe, and most of all, have fun with it.

3. Learn how to ask for what you want.

Sex with a well-matched partner is an incredible thing. You’re given a delicious opportunity to learn the intricacies of another human being’s pleasure centers, as well as become better acquainted with your own. In case you missed the forever-memo, when it comes to sex, communication is king, queen, and everything in between, which makes learning to discuss sex openly and honestly part of the divine pleasure plan. More specifically, learning to ask for what you want is an important skill on the road to climax. Bonus: once you know how to receive pleasure, you’ll likely be more receptive to your partner’s needs and better equipped to give as good as you get.

4. Explore different types of orgasms.

There are at least 7 different kinds of stimulation that can result in orgasm, among them clitoral, g-spot, blended, and anal. If you’ve mastered one and are interested in exploring further, may the pleasure power be with you. While clitoral orgasms can be explored with your hands, a partner’s mouth, or a top notch clit vibe, g-spot orgasms can be broached with a “come hither” hand, a g-spot vibe, or even focused penetrative sex. Meanwhile, blended orgasms are a combination of both clitoral and g-spot: there are toys for this too! And anal orgasms can be explored in various ways—including a butt plug, a finger, a penis, or an anal vibrator. And definitely don’t forget the lube! Whatever you do, though, don’t fall into the trap of the orgasm hierarchy: all orgasms are hawt AF.

5. Treat your orgasms like vitamins.

While apples are great, an orgasm a day can keep the doctor away too, so why not make a commitment to yourself to get that daily dose? For one thing, orgasms can offer relief from period pain as well as other more generalized kinds of pain. Climaxing regularly can also help improve cognitive function, make you look younger, boost your immune system, balance your hormones, make you feel happier, relieve stress, and help you sleep better, to name just a few. Really, where’s the downside?

6. Be an advocate of great sex.

You heard it here first: bad sex is a social justice issue. Partners who have a bad attitude about the importance of your pleasure versus their own, or about the importance of consent, are not worth your time—just a humble opinion. In addition to the physical reality that female “blue balls” is totally a thing, a sexual partner with basic bedroom respect is someone who values your humanity as they do their own, and therefore sees your pleasure as on par with their own. Internalize this truth so you don’t settle for less than a real spark, and know your dealbreakers. Got friends who spend far too much time bemoaning mediocre (or downright bad) sex? Spread the good word! And while you’re at it, consider gifting a friend in need with a sex toy.

Mind-altering orgasms for all, on July 31st, and every day. <3