Adam & Eve, one of the leading names in sexual wellness retail, has released the results of its latest survey — and the numbers paint a revealing picture of how Americans feel about solo pleasure.
Conducted among more than 2,000 U.S. adults, the 2026 Masturbation Survey asked respondents to compare their solo orgasms to orgasms achieved with a partner. The headline finding? Nearly one in five participants reported that masturbation produced more intense orgasms than partnered sex .
The Gender Gap in Solo Satisfaction
The survey uncovered a significant gender divide. While 25% of women said their solo orgasms were more powerful than those with a partner, only 12% of men said the same . This nearly 2-to-1 gap suggests that for many women, self-pleasure offers a reliable path to climax that partnered encounters don’t always match — a finding consistent with broader research on the orgasm gap between men and women in heterosexual relationships.
The Middle Ground
Not everyone was picking a clear winner. 27% of respondents (29% of men and an almost equal share of women) reported finding similar pleasure in both solo and partnered sex, indicating that for over a quarter of adults, the quality of orgasm depends more on context than on the presence (or absence) of a partner .
Partnered Sex Still Edges Ahead
Despite the strong showing for solo play, partnered sex remains the top choice for a plurality of those surveyed. 39% said their orgasms were more enjoyable with a partner — though this number was heavily driven by men, with 51% of males versus 27% of females choosing partnered sex as the intensity winner . The reversal of the gender split across the two categories underscores the persistent gap in partnered orgasm satisfaction.
Why It Matters
Released to coincide with International Masturbation Month in May, the survey is part of Adam & Eve‘s ongoing effort to destigmatize self-pleasure and normalize open conversations about sexual health. The company’s annual surveys — covering topics from masturbation frequency to sex dreams — have become a useful pulse-check on American sexual attitudes .
Together, the numbers tell a nuanced story: solo sex isn’t necessarily a fallback option. For a sizable and growing number of people — especially women — it’s a preferred form of pleasure in its own right. As the stigma around self-pleasure continues to recede, that number may only climb higher.
