Most men think they know more than they do. Most women wish their partner knew more. This quiz is built on real research — Nagoski, Basson, the orgasm gap, Polyvagal Theory. 10 questions. One correct answer each.
Takes 3 minutes. The results tend to surprise people.
More about this quiz
Written by Andrea Leijon, Founder of Temple
Women's sexuality has been one of the most under-researched areas in medicine and science — for most of history, female anatomy and sexual response were studied through the lens of male sexuality, producing dramatically inaccurate models. The clitoris was not fully mapped until 2005. Rosemary Basson's non-linear model of female sexual response — which completely overturned Masters & Johnson's older model — only became widely accepted in the 2000s. What most people 'know' about women's sexuality is a mixture of real science, outdated models, and cultural myth. This quiz tests 10 specific knowledge areas where research tells a very different story than received wisdom.
The research in numbers
What you'll discover
Key concepts
Genital-subjective arousal discordance
The phenomenon where physical genital response (blood flow, lubrication) and subjective experience of desire do not match. More pronounced in women than men. Means that physical arousal is not reliable evidence of desire, and absence of physical arousal does not indicate absence of desire.
Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)
A clinical diagnosis applied to persistently low sexual desire causing personal distress. Historically over-diagnosed in women because the diagnostic criteria were based on male-typical spontaneous desire. Basson's model significantly reframed what constitutes disorder vs. normal female variation.
Frequently asked questions
When was the full clitoris mapped?
2005. Urologist Helen O'Connell published the first complete anatomical mapping of the clitoris using MRI. Prior anatomical models showed only the external glans — roughly 10% of the full structure. The clitoris is approximately 9–11cm long and wraps around the vaginal canal internally.
What is Basson's model of female sexual response?
Basson's 2001 model proposed that women (especially in long-term relationships) often begin a sexual encounter from a place of sexual neutrality, not spontaneous desire. Arousal and desire emerge in response to stimulation and context — not before it. This completely changes how 'low desire' should be understood.
Why was women's sexuality so under-researched for so long?
A combination of cultural taboo, medical androcentrism (using male bodies as the default), and the historical exclusion of women from clinical research. Female sexual anatomy and response were studied primarily through the lens of reproductive function, not pleasure. This meant basic anatomical facts weren't established until remarkably recently.
What is the difference between arousal and desire in women?
Desire is the subjective experience of wanting sex. Arousal is the physiological response — blood flow, lubrication, sensitivity. Research shows these two systems are more loosely coupled in women than men. Women can experience physical arousal without desire, and desire without initial physical response. This discordance confuses both women and their partners.
Is it true that women's sexual response is more 'context-dependent' than men's?
Research suggests yes. Women's arousal shows greater sensitivity to social, emotional, and environmental context than men's on average. This is not a weakness — it reflects a more complex, multi-input arousal system. It means that creating the right context matters more, not that desire is harder to find.
Does testosterone affect women's sexual desire?
Yes. Testosterone plays a significant role in female libido despite being present in much lower concentrations than in men. The sharp drop in testosterone during menopause, after oophorectomy, and sometimes with hormonal contraceptives can significantly reduce desire. Testosterone therapy is increasingly used for this purpose though it remains under-prescribed for women.
What does research say about the 'G-spot'?
The anatomical evidence suggests the G-spot is the internal portion of the clitoris, accessible through the anterior vaginal wall. There is no evidence for a separate structure. The sensitivity some women experience in that area is consistent with indirect clitoral stimulation. This doesn't diminish the experience — it contextualises it within the full clitoral anatomy.
How does hormonal contraception affect women's sexuality?
Some forms of hormonal contraception, particularly combined oral contraceptives, can affect sexual desire through several mechanisms: lowering free testosterone, potentially affecting genital sensitivity, and in some users creating mood changes. The effects vary significantly between individuals and contraceptive types. This is a legitimate and underacknowledged conversation for healthcare providers.
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Based on research by Helen O'Connell (clitoral anatomy, 2005), Rosemary Basson (female sexual response model, 2001), and Emily Nagoski's synthesis in Come As You Are.