Emotional intelligence, the ability to monitor one's own and others' feelings and emotions, appears to increase the number of orgasms women have, a study by the King's College London's Department of Twin Research and published in the British Journal of Sexual Medicine has concluded.

The study suggests that low emotional intelligence is a potential risk factor for female orgasmic dysfunction, which is the second most frequently reported female sexual problem with two in five women stating to never, or finding it difficult to achieve an orgasm.

The investigators carried out the study by recruiting 2,035 female volunteers from the TwinsUK registry aged 18-83. All completed questionnaires detailing their general sexual behaviour, and a validated questionnaire on emotional intelligence.

High emotional intelligence

The research found a significant association between emotional intelligence and the frequency of orgasm during masturbation and intercourse. This led to the conclusion that a high emotional intelligence level contributes to the ability to achieve orgasm more frequently.

Andrea Burri, psychologist at King's College London and lead author of the study, said, "Emotional intelligence seems to have a direct impact on women's sexual functioning by influencing her ability to communicate her sexual expectations and desires to her partner.

"Our finding that women with high emotional intelligence have significantly more frequent orgasm during masturbation than women with lower emotional intelligence suggests that a woman's feeling of control, or the capacity to integrate physical stimulation with fantasy, may be contributors to orgasm as well as the better knowledge of women's own body," Burri added.

The authors said the findings are vital in terms of identification of the multiple behavioural risk factors that may be associated with orgasmic disorder and will be vital to improve diagnosis and treatment of female orgasmic dysfunction.

Tim Spector, director of the Twin Research Department and co-author of the study, said, "These findings show that emotional intelligence is an advantage in many aspects of your life, including the bedroom. This study will help enormously in the development of behavioural and cognitive therapies to improve women's sexual lives."