Though different people describe orgasm in different ways, and call it by different names, in essence they all agree that it is a state of supreme pleasurable satiety where there is a feeling of ‘enough and nothing more’.

Gujarati people call it ‘Sukh’ (happiness), Hindi speakers term it as ‘Santosh’ (satisfaction) Bohras name it as ‘Paramsukh’ (eternal happiness), Maharashtrians call it ‘Samadhan’ (satisfaction), in Urdu it is called ‘Sukun’ (perfect satisfaction), Sindhis call it ‘Shanti’ (peace), in Tamil, it is termed as ‘Trupti’ (satisfaction) and as ‘Santrupti’ (perfect satisfaction) in Telugu, in Kashmir it is called as ‘Khushi’ (ecstasy) and slum dwellers call it ‘Nasha’ (intoxication), English speaking people call it ‘Climax’.

It is interesting to note that different people in the diversity of their ethnic, socio-cultural and linguistic background are united in the expression and description of their orgasmic experience, which they unanimously agree, is, in essence, a sense of supreme pleasurable satiety and ecstasy.

No. Local genital stimulation is not mandatory for reaching orgasm. The female anatomy provides for multiple erogenous zones any of which may be stimulated to reach orgasm. In fact, it has been observed that in the event of absence or trauma to the external genitalia, existing alternate erogenous zones become more sensitive and new ones develop. Some women can reach orgasm by nipple stimulation alone. I have come across women with absent vagina who are able to reach orgasm satisfactorily by alternate means.

In a study carried out on ritually circumcised South African women, Hanny Light foot Klein reports that these women had retained their orgasmic capacity in spite of the local genital mutilation.