Ever wondered why that post-orgasm afterglow is so intensely lovely?
As the old saying goes; no two orgasms are the same.
Orgasms appear differently from person-to-person, whether you reach optimal ‘O’ with your legs in the air and a vibrator in hand, exemplary ejaculation while bending over your bed, or creatively cumming in your favourite yogic position.
Despite each different technique, one striking similarity has each of us asking the same question; why are orgasms so calming?
Some may masturbate to soothe anxiety or stress, some may seek orgasm for a quick-fix happiness boost, and others simply find it easier to fall asleep after climax. How exactly does this work, and what triggers those luxurious feelings of fulfilment?
Unsurprisingly, the answer can be found within your hormones.
What Is Oxytocin?
According to the BBC, an otherworldly orgasm often triggers a release of a chemical called oxytocin into the bloodstream. Unlike the majority of complicated-sounding chemicals, you may have heard of oxytocin under several aliases. Known as the ‘love’ hormone, the ‘bonding’ hormone and the cute-sounding ‘cuddle’ hormone; oxytocin is most typically associated with people with wombs and the process of giving birth. As well as experiencing a release of the hormone mid-orgasm, you may feel its effects during childbirth, nipple stimulation, or during post-natal bonding.
However, oxytocin is released during climax in everyone, of every gender. The release of oxytocin into the bloodstream can assist in ejaculation for people with penises, according to Healthline.
How Does It Work?
Oxytocin is responsible for the euphoric feeling you experience at the height of climax, explains Dr Louann Brizendine, author of The Female Brain. It acts as a neurotransmitter which decreases the levels of stress hormones within the brain. In Layman’s terms, oxytocin boosts calmness, happiness, and all the other yummy feelings on offer during sex.
Oxytocin is part of a select group known as the ‘happy hormones’, each contributing to the tingly feelings we experience when we’re having sex with someone we’re attracted to. Healthline found that dopamine (the ‘pleasure’ hormone) is released, serotonin (the ‘happy’ hormone) is increased, and oxytocin (the ‘calming’ hormone) is produced.
How Does It Make Us Feel?
A lot of us choose to masturbate, or engage in sex more frequently during stressful situations. This is down to the calming effects of the climax.
‘Whenever I feel stressed or anxious, I will usually masturbate or have sex with my partner,’ writes one Twitter user. ‘I find an orgasm helps me to relax and feel at one with my body. Feeling like I’m putting my needs first makes me feel calm’.
‘Mentally, I feel euphoric after climaxing,’ writes another. ‘During orgasm I often feel warm all over, like nothing else is here except myself and my partner’.
Further research is currently being conducted into the physical and psychological health benefits of Oxytocin, as revealed by the NCBI in their study into orgasm relief. Clinical trials are ongoing in an attempt to discover therapeutic benefits of the hormone.
