It’s not new information that orgasms are good for you, nor is it surprising — given how good they make you feel, both during and after.
Orgasms allow the body to release a hormone called oxytocin (dubbed ‘the happy hormone’), which has a variety of health benefits. When we orgasm, our body releases tension, and the perineal muscles, anal sphincter, and reproductive organs rhythmically contract. This physical release, combined with the production of oxytocin, is the orgasm. And while it feels good at the time, as mentioned, it has longer-term health benefits too.
Here are four of the most unexpected.
Better Sleep
Research from 2019 found that orgasms, whether it’s with a sexual partner or through masturbation, enable you to get better quality sleep.
Those who were involved in the study (both men and women) said they felt sleep quality and latency improved after they’d had an orgasm from sex with a partner. The study showed that for women, in particular, higher levels of sexual satisfaction and quality of orgasm caused increased levels of prolactin, which is one of the growth factors that influences sleep.
As far as masturbation goes, the findings were similar. 50 percent of participants had improved sleep quality and were also able to fall asleep faster after masturbation that had resulted in an orgasm.
Less Period Pain
As we’ve already covered, when you orgasm your body releases oxytocin, but did you know that the hormone is actually a natural painkiller?
Produced in the hypothalamus, oxytocin is said to be “a potent natural pain reliever”, and is our body’s natural response to support stressful situations. For example, oxytocin is released in pregnant women during labour, to help make the pain manageable.
Therefore, the release of oxytocin that comes with an orgasm, is likely to minimise your period pain.
“Experiencing orgasms on your period is actually beneficial for so many reasons,” says Sex & Relationship Coach, Rosie Rees.
“The increase in blood flow to the pelvis, the contracting & releasing of the pelvic floor muscles, cervix & uterine walls; and the influx of happy hormones and dopamine helps to naturally relieve period pain. And besides, our libido doesn’t automatically switch off when we start to bleed.
Heightened arousal doesn’t just occur during ovulation, she explains. Turns out, many folks are in the mood just before as well as during their period.
Rees recommends that if you experience cramps or chronic pre-menstrual symptoms leading up to your period, “forget taking pain killers and instead try having slow, sensual sex with your partner or with yourself.”
Clear Skin
Apparently, that elusive “skin glow” you’ve been chasing, might simply require you to start having more orgasms.
Studies show that having an orgasm raises the levels of estrogen in your body. Estrogen is great for your skin, as it acts as a natural anti-age formula. Remember when your friends started going on the pill in high school, and all of a sudden their skin would be clear? That’s all thanks to estrogen.
Estrogen also prevents the decrease of collagen — an important protein for maintaining youthful skin. We want to keep as much collagen in our skin, for as long as possible! It helps with skin thickness, helps lock in moisture and keeps it resistant to wrinkles.
Reduced Brain Fog
Brain fog is a killer, especially in winter and if you’re working at a screen all day. These factors, combined with our ever-fluctuating hormones, can make brain fog a daily occurrence. But apparently — an orgasm can snap you out of that.
A 2013 study showed that when women masturbate and experience an orgasm, this causes their brain to light up in the cortical, subcortical, and brainstem regions. Basically, your brain n is getting a workout, with increased blood flow reaching an insane amount of brain regions.
According to Dr. Felice Gersh, M.D., the benefits of an orgasm and the activity it sparks in the brain “are more powerful than doing challenging crossword puzzles”.
So, next time the dreaded brain fog hits you mid-arvo, mark out some time for yourself and the Big O, babe.
