The question of whether bisexual people experience differences in their sexual responses based on the partner's gender is an important one for those who identify as bisexual and those who have partners that are bisexual. This article will explore what research has been done on this topic, how bisexual people may respond differently to male and female partners, and the implications for understanding bisexuality and bisexual health.
Research on sexual response in bisexual individuals is limited compared to that conducted on heterosexuals and homosexuals, but there are some studies that shed light on the issue. One study found that bisexual men reported greater sexual arousal to both males and females than either group separately, while bisexual women reported similar levels of sexual arousal to both genders (Bogaert, 2004). Other studies have suggested that bisexual people may be more open to experimentation and less likely to conform to societal expectations about gender roles in sex (Lewis & Haviland-Jones, 2016). It may be helpful to consider these findings when thinking about why bisexual people would respond differently to partners of different genders.
When it comes to specific physical or emotional responses during sex, there is not a lot of research available on how they differ between male and female partners. However, some studies suggest that bisexual women may be more likely to orgasm with female partners due to heightened clitoral stimulation (Hite et al., 1987) and that bisexual men may experience stronger erections with male partners (Coleman, 2005). Additionally, bisexual individuals have been shown to have higher rates of certain sexual behaviors such as anal sex and mutual masturbation than their heterosexual and lesbian/gay counterparts (Kleinplatz, 2013; Ritchie, 2017). These patterns could potentially contribute to differences in sexual response based on partner gender.
The implications for understanding bisexuality are important because it highlights the complexity of sexual identity and attraction. Bisexual people can experience attraction to multiple genders simultaneously, and this does not mean that they will necessarily experience equal levels of arousal or satisfaction from all partners. This means that bisexual individuals should feel free to explore their desires and preferences without feeling pressured into conforming to any particular stereotype or expectation. For healthcare providers, recognizing these nuances can help them provide better care for bisexual patients by addressing individual needs rather than assuming that all bisexuals respond similarly.