55% of Americans Have Faked an Orgasm — and Nearly 1 in 3 Did it Just to End the Encounter

More than half (55%) of surveyed Americans say they have faked an orgasm at some point in their dating lives, with almost a third (32%) saying they did so to end a sexual encounter, according to DatingNews Pay Gap and Sex Life Survey.

These results point to a silent, but persistent challenge within modern relationships. 

While a slim majority of people are willing to fake pleasure during sex, this also reveals what most aren’t willing to do: be transparent with their partners. In fact, the most common reason people say they fake orgasms is to make their partner feel good (34%). 

This suggests a communication problem. People aren’t expressing their sexual needs, and it’s causing a divide in how needs are being met in relationships. 

“Whether it’s boredom, sexual dissatisfaction, safety concerns, or pain, most of these reasons (with the important exception of safety) can be traced back to a communication gap that leaves people performing sex instead of actually connecting,” said Natassia Miller, a certified sexologist with the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). 

Women are far more likely to fake an orgasm than men, with 69% saying they did at least once compared to just 39% of men who say the same — a 30-point difference. 

This gap isn’t a physiology or performance problem. It highlights what happens when partners aren’t communicating effectively, and the quiet dissatisfaction that follows.  

The Conversation Gap: 34% Say Their Partner Has Never Asked What They Need to Orgasm

Nearly 3 in 4 (74%) surveyed Americans say they’re comfortable telling a partner what they need sexually. Yet 23% admitted to not having initiated a conversation about sexual preferences in the past year, while another 34% said their partner has rarely or never asked about their needs, suggesting little initiative on either side.  

“In my work, that silence often stems from a lack of quality sex education, from shame and guilt around desire, or from a lifelong lack of language on this topic that quietly shuts the door on curiosity,” said Natassia. 

Older Americans were more likely to remain silent about their needs among generational demographics. In fact, Gen X was almost twice as likely as Gen Z to have a partner who rarely or never asked them about their sexual needs, revealing a stark generational gap in sexual communication. 

When asked whether their partners ask about their sexual needs, here are the percentages of respondents who said their partner rarely or never asks by generation:

• Gen X: 43%
• Baby Boomers: 37%
• Millennials: 31%
• Gen Z: 27%

Interestingly, 47% of Gen Z said they’re very comfortable discussing their preferences, compared with just 33% of boomers. This reveals a trend: Cultural shifts around communication and pleasure appear to be moving, even if the gap hasn’t closed.

“Gen Z, who tend to be more fluid and open-minded about sexuality than Gen X, are significantly more likely to have had a partner ask what they need in bed, suggesting that as our cultural scripts are slowly changing, our conversations about pleasure are finally starting to catch up,” said Natassia. 

We also found a comfort gap between gender groups. More than half (53%) of men say they have no problem expressing their needs, compared with 38% of women, aligning with why women may fake orgasms more than men. 

Still, most know that the solution is transparency. Two-thirds of respondents say communication and effort are needed to close the gap, showing that speaking up is necessary for change.

69% of Women Say Their Pleasure is Taken Less Seriously, But Only 50% of Men Agree

Our data suggests that women are less comfortable speaking up about their sexual needs. But there may be a reason behind their uneasiness. 

According to our survey, 69% of women agree that women’s sexual pleasure is taken less seriously in our culture. Just 50% of men agree, revealing a 19-point perception gap and conflicting worldviews. 

“When you pair that 19-point perception gap with the fact that so many women are faking orgasms and so many partners have never even asked what they need, you start to see the orgasm gap for what it really is: Not a mystery of female physiology, but a cultural script that centers men’s experience and trains everyone to prioritize performance over communication,” said Natassia.

Yet this disconnect runs deeper than opinion. Nearly 7 in 10 women also say they are aware of research supporting women orgasm less frequently than men during heterosexual sex, with 51% saying the research reflects their personal experience at least somewhat. 

However, the orgasm gap persists, showing that awareness and behavior haven’t aligned just yet for many women. Natassia offers her insight and advice to both men and women on mending the gap:

“The hopeful piece is that once you recognize that script, you can start rewriting it in your own bedroom by asking one simple question: ‘What do you need to feel good?’”

As our results show, the orgasm gap is real and widely felt by many Americans. Yet the fix isn’t complicated. The first step isn’t pushing performance but prioritizing communication, like our expert Natassia Miller said.  

After all, the problem isn't that people don't know what they need. It's that no one's asking.

Methodology 

This survey was conducted by DatingNews and Prodege and includes responses from 1,500 U.S. adults ages 18 to 79 across a range of relationship statuses, including single, in a relationship, and married. The sample includes a broad distribution across gender, age, and U.S. regions. Fieldwork was completed in April 2026. The theoretical margin of error for a probability sample of this size is ±2.5% at the 95% confidence level.

Media inquiries, please contact colleen@datingnews.com.