Frequently Asked Questions

Orgasmology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of orgasm and orgasmic capacity. It brings together knowledge from sexual medicine, psychology, neuroscience, pelvic-floor science, psychophysiology, pharmacology, altered states of consciousness, learning, and related disciplines.

The term has a history extending back decades. French sociologist André Béjin used it in 1982, and in 1991 psychologist and sexologist John Money, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University proposed giving the scientific study of orgasm greater recognition as a distinct area of inquiry. Read more about Orgasmology.

Within the International Association of Orgasmologists, a Certified Orgasmologist is a qualified professional who has completed foundational education in Orgasmology and Orgasmic Learning, trained in a specific evidence-supported pathway, and demonstrated competency in applying it within their existing scope of practice.

Certification requirements are currently in development.

Orgasmic Learning is an evidence-supported framework for understanding how orgasmic response can be accessed, learned, strengthened, restored, generalized, and expanded. It focuses particularly on women who experience orgasm difficulty.

Rather than focusing primarily on what is blocking orgasm, Orgasmic Learning focuses on the states and conditions that make orgasmic response accessible and learnable. Explore Orgasmic Learning.

The developing certification model has three stages of education, followed by demonstrated competency:

1. Foundations in Orgasmology, the scientific foundation
2. Foundations in Orgasmic Learning, the professional framework
3. Specialty Pathway Training in one evidence-supported pathway

Certification also includes competency assessment, supervised or reviewed professional application, one to three case studies with documented outcomes, and review of ethical and scope-of-practice considerations.

Certification requirements are currently in development. See the certification structure.

Professional education is intended for qualified practitioners whose existing training and scope of practice are appropriate to the pathway in which they are developing competency.

This may include hypnotists, psychotherapists, physicians, pelvic-floor practitioners, sexologists, and other qualified professionals. Specialty pathway eligibility and competency requirements will take these differences into account.

The first credential in development is Certified Orgasmologist — Hypnotic Induction for Orgasmic Difficulty.

It is being developed by Suzanne Mulvehill, PhD, developer of the Orgasmic Learning framework, and hypnotist Albert Nerenberg, who performed the hypnotic induction used in the 2025 study by Pfaus and colleagues examining hypnotically induced orgasm in women. Learn about this pathway.

Professional standards, certification requirements, and the first specialty pathway are currently in development. Join the Professional Training Waitlist to be the first to know when training opens.

Yes. Additional specialty pathways are planned in:

• Cannabis-Assisted Orgasmic Learning
• Pelvic Floor & Somatic-Motor Orgasmic Learning
• Fantasy & Imagery
• Breath-Based and Tantra-Informed Altered-State Approaches

No. Certification in Orgasmic Learning operates within a professional’s existing legal and professional scope of practice. Each professional remains responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their own profession and applicable laws and regulations.

No. Orgasmic Learning professional training is designed as non-genital professional practice.