According to a study in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, people who have “more positive first-time sexual experiences (e.g., intimacy, respect) report greater feelings of sexual satisfaction and esteem and less sexual depression.” These results suggest that positive first-time sexual experiences could lead to increased physical and emotional satisfaction later in life.
An article in Medical Xpress about the study added that people who experienced more anxiety and negative emotions during their first sexual experience reported lower sexual satisfaction later in life.
For women who may have had a less than pleasurable first-time experience, there is still hope. Sex therapist, Dr. Hartzell, PhD, explains how the loss of your virginity may influence your future sexual relationships, as well as how to gain control of your sexual enjoyment.
Dr. Hartzell performs psychotherapy and is a sexuality researcher at San Diego Sexual Medicine, where she is responsible for addressing the sexuality, relationship, and intimacy concerns of individuals and couples who attend the clinic.