If you’re someone who enjoys sex, we’ve got some great news for you. As if sex wasn’t already good enough, research has uncovered that it does a lot more for us than just provide pleasure. You’ll be pleased to know that it actually benefits our overall health in a ton of different ways.
How Do Orgasms Affect Our Physical Health?
Physically, orgasms can benefit several different areas of our health. They can improve sleep, strengthen pelvic floor muscles, minimize menstrual cramps and even potentially help you live longer.
Endorphins that activate through orgasm can help move cortisol through our system, making us feel more relaxed and sleepy. No matter how we make it happen, I’m sure we all wouldn’t mind better sleep in general.
Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone”. Chronic elevated levels of cortisol are known to suppress the immune system, cause heart disease, digestive problems or even food allergies. Lucky for us, orgasms lower your cortisol levels, which makes you less prone to these type of medical conditions.
Too much cortisol can also contribute to increased oil production, which can clog pores, causing inflammation and breakouts. This means that lowered cortisol levels can potentially even benefit our skin. The post-climax “glow” people talk about is no joke!
How Do Orgasms Affect Our Mental Health?
For obvious reasons, sex is a great way to relieve stress, relax and boost your mood. You get to connect with yourself or a partner and experience pleasure that can sometimes feel life-changing. But experts have found that there’s actually a lot more to benefit from having an orgasm than just pleasure alone.
Orgasms have been shown to have a positive impact on our mental health due to the release of certain hormones in both men and women. This can help improve your self-esteem, reduce anxiety and even help with focus.
If you’ve ever had an orgasm then you know that the euphoric rush of sensation afterwards makes you feel like you’re on cloud 9. This is because orgasms are associated with the release of dopamine in the brain, which is known as the “feel-good hormone”. It’s involved with helping us feel pleasure and satisfaction.
During climax the brain also releases the hormone oxytocin, which is sometimes referred to as the “love hormone”. It reinforces feelings of love, trust and attachment. This allows us to feel bonded and close with our partner during and after our sexual experiences.
How Often Should You Actually Have An Orgasm?
There really isn’t a specific answer as to how often you should be having an orgasm because it will differ for everyone. The best answer possible is the more the better! Your individual libido and the frequency that you are comfortable with is what really matters.
There can be side effects from too much stimulation, such as a decrease in sensitivity. But this is typically not long lasting and will go away in a few days if you give yourself a break. As long as you’re not overdoing it, you shouldn’t really have much to worry about.
What If I Can't Have An Orgasm?
It’s not uncommon that people struggle to reach climax, especially women. Men are much more likely to climax than women. Roughly 10-15% of women have never had an orgasm, and only 10% of women can easily climax.
If you have a hard time orgasming, there could be something more going on. It could be something physical or even just a mental block. Go see your doctor and talk to them about this, they’ll be able to help provide some sound advice.
Final Thoughts
In all reality, orgasms aren’t a guaranteed way to stay out of your doctor’s office, but they can help keep you at least a little bit healthier both physically and mentally. It’s certainly safe to say orgasms are the ultimate form of self-care. Take this as your sign to prioritize your sex life and pull out your favorite sex toy or get frisky with your partner as often as you can.