Did you know that having an orgasm (or several), have many mind-blowing benefits?
Raising your heart rate, burning calories, reducing stress, and improving your sleep are a few of the reasons we all need to set a New Year’s Resolution to have more orgasms.
During an orgasm your heart rate and blood pressure become elevated, your muscles are actively working, and your brain and body release a flood of bliss-promoting chemicals. These physical responses not only feel good, they’re good for you—physically, mentally, and emotionally. And, having orgasms on a regular basis can improve your long-term health and well-being. For example, health parameters such as heart function and sleep quality improve and stress and pain levels diminish. Here’s how that happens:
No pain; all gain
Having an orgasm can be likened to engaging in the most pleasant workout possible and can be done solo or with a partner, no special equipment necessary. And, it has the added advantage of providing all the pleasure, with none of the unpleasant effects that sometimes occur with exercise, like sore muscles or fatigue (although you may consider using a personal lubricant and vaginal moisturizer to enhance your pleasure). Having sex burns about 70 calories in 30 minutes, which is the equivalent of about 15 to 20 minutes of fast walking or about 20 minutes of weight lifting, not to mention a lot more fun. Like interval training for your heart, the cardiovascular effects of having orgasms regularly have been shown to reduce women’s risk for having a heart attack or heart condition in later life.
Having more orgasms can improve mood
Three powerful feel-good brain chemicals: dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin, are released during orgasm.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for feelings of motivation, i.e., to achieve a goal, and reward once the task is accomplished.
Endorphins are chemicals that elevate mood. They are typically released during pleasurable experiences and also during vigorous exercise, and are responsible for the calm, contended post-workout mood often referred to as the “runner’s high”.
Oxytocin is a hormone that invokes feelings of love and connectedness. Small gestures, such as a hug or a gentle touch can cause a mild oxytocin release, while more significant events, such as childbirth and orgasm, cause a bigger burst. Imagine all these feel-good brain chemicals “coming’ together during orgasm.
Orgasms can reduce pain
Have a headache? An orgasm is the prescription you need. Endorphins are the body’s natural analgesic and anything that promotes their release reduces pain levels throughout the body. For this reason, having orgasms may be a helpful pain management tool for minor aches and pains, such as those that come with age. If you do experience pain during insertive vaginal intercourse you may want to get creative and explore other techniques to achieve orgasm.
Having orgasms can reduce stress
Just about everything about having an orgasm is great for stress management. Oxytocin and endorphins calm the adrenal system which lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Dopamine has calming, mood-enhancing effects and promotes feelings of contentedness that counter stress and lower cortisol levels. The moderate cardiovascular exercise of having sex and orgasming is stress-reducing in the same way as any other form of exercise. And it’s been found that older women who report having satisfying sex lives are less likely to develop high blood pressure, most likely due to a combination of emotional and physical effects.
Having an orgasm can improve bladder control
While having an orgasm uses a lot of big muscles, such as muscles of the legs, abdomen, and back, it also uses small ones, such as the muscles of the vagina and pelvic floor. By improving pelvic muscle tone orgasms help improve bladder control and can prevent bladder leakage. And, by strengthening the pelvic floor you may reduce discomfort during sex.
How orgasms promote better sleep
The physical workout and release of tension from having an orgasm and the state of relaxation that follow make it easier to fall asleep and have better-quality sleep. In a 2018 survey study that compared the sleep effects of orgasming through sex with a partner and orgasming through masturbation participants reported that having orgasms with a partner improved their sleep quality while having orgasms through masturbation improved both sleep quality and sleep onset, or, the time it takes to fall asleep.
Ho to boost your immune system
When you’re happier and less stressed your immune system is able to function optimally, and having orgasms is a great way to accomplish both. Having sex once or twice a week has been found to raise levels of immunoglobulin A, an important component of the immune system’s first line of defense and the predominant antibody in the respiratory and intestinal systems.
Orgasms can improve your relationship
The shared intimacy of sex and orgasming with a partner is a bonding experience that can improve the quality and durability of a relationship. And that which benefits emotional health also translates into better physical health. It is estimated that sexuality accounts for 15–20% of the strength of the partnership bond and reinforces each partner’s feelings of desirability and feelings of desire. One study characterized the sexual styles of couples who are most securely bonded as being either supportive, complementary relational style, or as a best friend/soul mate relational style. Remember that improving performance requires practice so if you’re not having an orgasm be patient and continue to work on your repertoire.
Orgasms can improve all facets of a woman’s health and prioritizing them should be a foundation of self-care.