Expert explains scientific reason why some vaginas feel tighter than others even if they're the same size

Many people have wondered why sex can feel completely different from one partner to another, even when physical measurements appear similar.

According to leading urologist and pelvic surgeon Dr. Rena Malik, the answer may have less to do with size and more to do with how the body's muscles function during sex.

Speaking on an episode of The Diary of a CEO with host Steven Bartlett, Dr. Malik was asked why different vaginas can feel different during intercourse.

Bartlett also pointed out that people often report that different penises can feel noticeably different too, even when they are roughly the same size.

The discussion focused on what is happening inside the body during sex and why sensations can vary from person to person. Rather than suggesting that one vagina is physically smaller or larger than another, Dr. Malik explained that muscle control can play a significant role in how sex feels.

Pelvic floor muscles can change sensation

When Bartlett asked why different vaginas feel different, Dr. Malik explained that pelvic floor strength may be one of the key reasons.

She said: "Let's talk with the vaginas first. So when a vagina has more pelvic floor strength, they may be able to tense around the penis better. They may be able to grab the penis with their pelvic floor a little stronger versus someone who doesn't."

According to Dr. Malik, stronger pelvic floor muscles can allow a person to contract around the penis more effectively during sex, creating a different sensation for both partners.

She also addressed a common concern that can arise when people hear advice about relaxing the pelvic floor.

Dr. Malik said: "That's where I think some people get worried when I say 'You need to relax your pelvic floor'; they're like, 'Oh, I don't want to be loose,' and that's not gonna happen if you have a normally functioning pelvic floor."

Dr. Malik was asked why different vaginas can feel different during intercourse. Credit: PIXOLOGICSTUDIO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images

Feeling tighter does not necessarily mean being tighter

Bartlett then asked whether pelvic floor exercises could make someone feel tighter during sex.

Dr. Malik replied: "Well, you're able to contract and squeeze those muscles during sex better. But we don't want you to be tighter; we want you to be able to squeeze the muscles and relax the muscles, use them like a normal muscle, like your bicep: you squeeze and relax. You don't want it to be constantly squeezed."

Her explanation suggests that the goal is not constant tension. Instead, healthy pelvic floor function involves being able to contract and relax the muscles when needed.

She went on to explain that the perception of tightness can be different from actual physical tightness.

Dr. Malik said: "To the mind it will feel tighter; you will perceive it as tighter, but it will not be that she's actually tighter. It just means that maybe her pelvic floor muscles are doing a better job."

Why different penises can feel different too

The conversation also explored the opposite side of the equation, with Bartlett asking why different penises can feel different even when they are a similar size.

Dr. Malik explained that a range of factors can influence sensation during sex.

She said: "It's generally how the penis moves and how the positioning is. It may be girth that's different; it may be the way that you're moving in the vaginal canal, and that may be why it feels different."

Featured image credit: Predrag Popovski / Getty

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A doctor has offered an answer to an age-old question about vaginas.Credit: Letizia McCall / GettyThe vagina is truly a fascinating body part that is misunderstood.The female reproductive organ serves many functions throughout a woman's life such as pregnancy, menstruation, and puberty.But for all its wonders, there are still many misconceptions about our lady parts, including the vagina's flexibility during sexual intercourse.A gynecologist named Dr Michelle Metz has now come forward to set the record straight on whether sex can stretch out a woman's vagina: and the answer is both yes and no. "The vagina is basically a muscular rubber band that stretches during sex and returns to its original shape and size," Metz told Women's Health.The vagina stretches during sex and then returns to its original shape and size. Credit: Frank and Helena / GettyHowever, the first time a woman has sex, the size of her vagina will change due to the hymen - an elastic tissue that can stretch as you move - breaking or tearing. This can "sometimes lead to mild bleeding,” Dr Metz revealed, “And the vaginal opening increases in size.”The vaginal wall can also expand if you get intimate with men with different-sized penises, according to the New York-based board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist.But the stretch isn't permanent as it goes back to its original shape after the sexy time is over. "It's pretty impossible for sex alone to permanently stretch out the vagina," Dr Metz added.The vaginal wall can also stretch if you have sex with men with different-sized penises partners. Credit: Svetlana Repnitskaya / GettyWhile your vagina may not stretch forever, you may have some small tears or slight pain due to intercourse. "That's a sign that the vaginal skin stretched a bit too much,' she explained. This isn't something to be too concerned about, however, the gynecologist advises you to see a doctor if the discomfort persists every time you have sex.Dr Metz revealed that she uses tools like a graduated vaginal dilator to help her patients get used to a larger and larger diameter. “And sometimes I send patients to a pelvic floor physical therapist," she shared.Furthermore, the doctor added that if a woman is struggling with sex, then she may have a serious medical condition that needs urgent attention."You should definitely consult your ob-gyn because some of those conditions can require surgical correction,” Dr Metz said.Featured image credit: Peter Dazeley / Getty

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The female orgasm is an elusive thing. While men know for sure when they've reached climax, women's bodies are a little more complex. But if you're lucky enough to be the owner of a vagina, you'll know that women do enjoy certain upsides, namely they can have two different types of orgasms, clitoral and vaginal. Now, of course, cumming isn't the be-all and end-all of sex, you can still have passionate, sensuous and satisfying sex without climaxing, but you've got to admit, it really finishes things off nicely. So if you've ever wondered how women feel when they orgasm, here are 13 women of Reddit describing what climaxing feels like for them...

1. This woman says it's like a "good sneeze"

"A gradual building of enjoyable tension and then a quick release with a little jolt of pleasure. The best analogy is a good sneeze, the kind that goes aah-aah-AAH-AAH-CHOO, but with a longer buildup and usually more pleasure and a bit more duration on the release.

Sometimes, at first, a girl's orgasm can be so small she's not sure if it was a real one. But gradually your body gets better at doing the build-up longer and further, holding off the release so it's stronger."

2. And here's a rather weird comparison...

"I think like when you a get a mosquito bite and you scratch it and you get that oooooooooooooh my god feeling. Like that but more central to your genitals"

3. It's different for everyone

"Like every muscle in my body is being squeezed. I don't get the 'waves of pleasure' thing everyone talks about."

4. Good to know

"Aside from them being slightly longer on average than a male climax, I haven't found any reason to believe that a clitoral orgasm is much different from a penile one (aside from the fact that most of us don't ejaculate when we cum). Descriptions of vaginal and prostate orgasms sound pretty similar too, and scientists have actually recorded almost identical sets of pelvic muscle spasms in males and females."

5. Some orgasms last longer than others

"It begins like an throbbing sensation in my clitoris. Then it grows into an almost burning/tingling sensation that spreads out in waves across my pelvis. It can last anywhere from a few seconds to almost a minute or two. Many women have different experiences but that is the closest I can describe to what I feel."

6. Sneezing is a really popular comparison

"It feels like a sneeze to me. A growing sensation that is like ahhh, ahhhhh, ahhhhhhhhh with tiny shocks going down my legs, with the orgasm itself being the CHOOOOOOO. My clit throbs two, three times and it feels like it is trying to turn itself inside out. Then, immediately following the throb is a small gush or two, maybe a teaspoon or two at the most. Then, so sensitive I can't touch there. Then just subsiding relief. And... sleep, if possible."

7. For this woman it's just "ammmmaazzziinnnng"

"Like an itch you can't scratch thats almost unbearable and when it's there it feels ammmmaazzziinnnng."

8. It makes sense

"To me, it feels like a vibration from one of those massage chairs. Obviously, in a different region times a thousand in intensity."

9. This woman describes the difference between clitoral and vaginal orgasms for her

"Clitoral: kind of like holding your breath and beginning to pass out. Your body clenches up, you feel momentarily out of control, and then you take that glorious staggering breath of relief.

Vaginal: intense, powerful, and fulfilling. During vaginal stimulation, for me, it feels like there's an aching void that needs to be filled. Every stroke adds to the desire, and I start to feel ripples of sensation quake through me until finally a thunderous applause erupts from within. It's glorious."

10. It's like a "wave"

"I heard it was like a rush, then like a wave...... like a rushing wave"

11. This is a nice, simple explanation

"Lots of shivers and twitches!"

12. Now that sounds like a great orgasm

"Like being wasted and eating a really f***ing good burrito"

13. This woman likens it to a tsunami

"The surfing analogy is pretty accurate. I always call it the 'tsunami' because it gets bigger and bigger until it carries you away."

Well there you have it, the female orgasm is a complex, yet wonderful thing. Personally, I think it's made even more special off the back of being slightly different for everyone. I mean, who wants to cum in the same way as everyone else? In other sex related news, these are nine things that guys secretly hate about sex with the woman on top...

Whether you're a man or a woman, vaginas can be baffling things. Not only is the sexual health education that so many of us receive rather appalling, but, we're lucky if we even learn any substantial details about the complicated genitalia, at all. As such, there is a lot of misinformation circulating about vaginas, and the majority of this is spread, of course, by those who are not in possession of one. Given that men can't seem to get enough of the things, it makes sense that they should brush up on where exactly the clitoris is (your partner will be so pleased), what exactly the inner and outer labia look like and other such anatomical features. Luckily, in the modern age we live in, this can just be achieved by a quick Google. Other questions require a bit more expertise, and for many men these are the ones that remain unanswered forever. Here are just a few examples:

1. What's it like to have an orgasm?

It's probably very different to how men experience them.

2. On that note, what's the difference between a vaginal and clitoral orgasm?

The fact that there are two different types of orgasms kind of blows men's minds.

3. Is trimming pubes as scary for you as it is for us?

So many things can go wrong for men. Could they go wrong for women, too?

4. Is squirting just pee?

I mean, it makes sense if it is...

5. Is going to the OBGYN super awkward and uncomfortable?

It's super uncomfortable when doctors look at men's junk, but adding stirrups makes everything seem a lot scarier.

6. What's up with discharge?

What's its purpose?

7. What's it like to have multiple orgasms?

It just doesn't seem fair to men.

8. Is there really such a thing as "too big"

While many blokes don't have this rather unfortunate problem, we can imagine that it wouldn't be the most comfortable thing ever.

9. Do we look weird when we orgasm?

Women have quite the range of facial features when they're climaxing, but dudes never get to see their own...

10. Do you really fake orgasms?

Guys everywhere really, really hope not.

So there you have it, the majority of men know very little about the female anatomy. But, is it really a surprise to anyone? Probably not.

A surprising fitness phenomenon is gaining attention online, as a doctor sheds light on why some people report experiencing orgasms during workouts, commonly known as a “coregasm.”

Whether it’s unfulfilling sex, low self-esteem, or a medical issue stopping you from climaxing during sex, the fitness world may have unlocked another, alternative way to enjoy that orgasmic feeling.

What do the experts say about this alternative form of orgasm?

According to Dr Tommy Martin, M.D., the term refers to an exercise-induced orgasm, and despite what many might assume, it’s not limited to women.

“Although she said this video is for the ladies, it can happen with men as well,” the doctor explained. While it appears to be more common in women, it can affect both sexes, with estimates suggesting it occurs in around “10% of women and 8% of men.”

Having sex may not be the only eay to achieve an orgasm. Credit: Flashpop / Getty

Having sex may not be the only way to achieve an orgasm. Credit: Flashpop / Getty

Certain exercises are more likely to trigger this response, particularly those that heavily engage the core muscles. One standout example is hanging leg raises, a movement that places intense strain on abdominal and pelvic muscles.

The "coregasm" explained by a professional

So what’s actually happening in the body? The answer isn’t entirely clear. “Truthfully, there's not research on this… there's no exact known cause,” the doctor said, but several theories exist.

One explanation is the pelvic floor recoil theory, where repeated contraction of pelvic muscles may create enough stimulation to “result in an orgasm.”

Another possibility involves the nervous system, described as a kind of “glitch” or heightened sensitivity that triggers an unexpected response. A third theory points to stimulation of the pudendal nerve, which is linked to sexual arousal.

Despite these ideas, experts stress that more research is needed to fully understand the phenomenon. For now, those who experience it are reassured they’re not alone. As the doctor put it: “If this happens to you, know that you are not alone.”

While it may sound unusual, the coregasm is simply another example of how complex, and sometimes surprising, the human body can be.

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At first glance, it doesn't seem like there are many differences between a man and a woman. Both sexes follow the two feet, two legs, two arms, one torso, and one head shape, and - when fully dressed - everything looks like it follows suit underneath.

However, as we all learned in sex-ed, there are many differences between a man and a woman that makes us wonderfully unique to the other.

And without being crude, many of these differences occur in our pants. Yes, saddle up, readers - because we're going to be talking about genitals.

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Now, you may think we're all smart enough at this point in our lives to know all about "plumbing" of the opposite sex, but as The Bachelor's Laura Byrne has helped to point out, a lot of men still don't know the full ins-and-outs of a woman's nether-region.

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Speaking on her Life Uncut podcast with co-host Brittany Hockley, Byrne revealed that her fiancé, Matty Johnson, did not know how many "holes" women have "down there".

And so, Byrne took to social media to ask: "Guys, if you listened to today’s episode, we asked a very important question and I need to know your answers."

So, listeners of the podcast started asking their male partners - how many holes does a woman have?

What followed next was remarkable - especially considering many of these men had children.

Sharing her listeners' responses on the Life Uncut Instagram page, Byrne quickly proved that a lot of guys clearly spent their time giggling through sex education rather than learning.

One fan messaged in saying: "I just asked my [55-year-old boyfriend] & he said 2. Your anus for poo & vagina for sex & babies. We have 6 children btw... he looked stunned when I said we have 3. Like WTAF."