8 Mental Health Benefits of Orgasming

What Is an Orgasm?

The four stages of the response cycle include excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution.¹ The orgasm, or sexual climax, is the sudden release of the sexual excitement built up during the sexual response cycle. Orgasms cause pleasurable, involuntary muscular contractions in the pelvic region. However, because every body is different, no two people will experience the same response cycle. Therefore, not all orgasms are exactly alike.

An orgasm often occurs through stimulation and often involves the muscles,  brain chemicals, and hormones. However, some people can have them just from visual imagery. Some people have longer, more mild orgasms, while others might have shorter, more intense peaks. All genders can have them, and our gender and biological sex do not make a difference in whether they are shorter or longer. It is assumed by healthcare providers that everyone has the ability to orgasm, although some people report they either do not or that they experience them differently than their peers.

The different types of orgasms include:

• Breast or nipple orgasm: When it happens as a result of breast or nipple stimulation
• Clitoral orgasm: An orgasm that occurs through clitoral stimulation
• Vaginal orgasm: An orgasm that occurs through vaginal stimulation
• Anal orgasm: When an orgasm occurs through anal sex
• Imagery orgasm: An orgasm that happens after mental stimulation or imagery
• Combination orgasm: When the sensations come from more than one central location
• Erogenous zone orgasm: An orgasm that comes from any of your highly sensitive erogenous zones, such as your neck or inner thigh
• G-spot orgasm: When an orgasm happens as a result of G-spot stimulation

Do Some People Have Trouble Reaching Orgasm?

Some people may have difficulty having an orgasm. This often happens due to a physical or medical concern or as a side effect of medications such as antidepressants. However, it can also happen due to a mental or emotional block or due to mental health concerns or stressors, orgasm anxiety, or sexual performance anxiety. When this happens, it is often a result of sexual trauma or other forms of trauma, but it can also occur due to discomfort with one’s body or how their body responds physically.

Factors that may interfere with the ability to reach climax include:

• Discomfort with one’s body
• History of abuse or trauma
• Expectations
• High level of stress
• Advancing age
• Sexual disorders and sexual dysfunction
• Lack of understanding of how your body works
• Internal shame or negative messages about sex
• Side effects of medications or supplements

8 Mental Health Benefits of Orgasming

There is a wide variety of benefits of orgasms, which extend beyond the physical: there are also many mental health benefits of orgasms. These benefits can happen from solo orgasms and those that happen in partnered or group sex. So no matter how you get there, the health benefits of an orgasm are the same.

1. Increased Body Confidence

Orgasms can improve body confidence and increase body image. When we engage in activities that make us feel good about our bodies, such as exercise or sexual activity, it can improve body confidence.

2.   Improved Sleep Quality

Because of the hormones released during orgasm that increase relaxation, many people experience improved sleep quality after orgasm. “Orgasms can release endorphins, which may cause an increased feeling of relaxation or happiness afterward.”²

3. Increased Happiness

When we orgasm, our brain releases endorphins and feel-good hormones such as oxytocin, giving a feeling of happiness that can last for hours, even days, after.

Hormones released during orgasm include:

• Oxytocin: This hormone increases happiness and mood
• Dopamine: This is the “feel good” chemical in the brain
• Endorphins: This hormone blocks pain and increases a sense of wellbeing
• Serotonin: This hormone helps to regulate mood
• Prolactin: A sex hormone with immune system benefits, which can help fight cancer and disease.³

4. Increased Intimacy

Because of all of the hormones involved and the vulnerability involved with sexual activity, orgasms can increase emotional intimacy. For many, intimacy is important to a healthy relationship because it affects the stability and comfort level of the partnership.

5. Decreased Anxiety

Because of the release of hormones like oxytocin and dopamine, which contribute to positive feelings and improved mood, having an orgasm can help decrease symptoms of anxiety.

6. Decreased Stress

Orgasms can help reduce many types of stress, including work, family, and toxic stress. Orgasms and positive associations, and satisfaction with sex have been shown to decrease stress.⁴

7. Improved Self-Esteem

Because it helps us feel better about ourselves and our bodies, orgasms can improve our self-esteem. Those who struggle with low self-esteem sometimes find that this carries over into their sexual experiences, but having more positive sexual experiences can help improve this.

8. Improved Mental Focus

Because of the rush of chemicals and hormones that flood the brain during sexual activity and orgasm, orgasms can help stimulate brain activity and improve mental focus.

Other Health Benefits of Orgasm

Along with the mental health benefits that come from orgasming, there are also many other health benefits that affect our physical health.

Other health benefits of orgasm include:

• Improved skin: Because orgasm increases hormones that reduce inflammation, it can have many skin benefits, such as decreasing or preventing acne or other skin conditions, decreasing or preventing wrinkles, and giving an overall beautiful afterglow to your skin.
• Healthier hair: When we increase blood flow, it stimulates our hair follicles, which can help improve the health quality of our hair but making it look longer, healthier, and shinier.
• Lower blood pressure: Because of the cardiovascular and muscular activity involved in sex and orgasm, it can improve blood pressure.
• Improved cardiovascular health: It has long been known that exercise is good for our hearts. The physical exercise and energy expelled during sexual activity and orgasm improve our heart health because they are exercise. So add it to your exercise routine.
• Decreases risk of disease and cancer: One of the chemicals released during sex is prolactin, which is a sex hormone that has immune system benefits.³
• Managing symptoms of menopause: Menopause is a difficult time for people with a uterus, with many experiencing anxiety, depression, insomnia, hot flashes, and other symptoms. However, the good news is that orgasms help with these things, too Decreasing stress, improving sleep, and other benefits from an orgasm will help manage some of the symptoms of menopause.

When to Seek Professional Help

Our society places orgasms at the top of the hierarchy of sexual contact, meaning it is seen as the only acceptable end result. But many people have satisfying sexual contact without reaching orgasm. However, if you feel that your inability to reach orgasm is causing a strain in your life or your relationship, or you experience stress or discomfort around sexual activity or orgasms, it might be time to speak to a therapist or healthcare provider about trouble having an orgasm. Be sure to speak with someone who specializes in sex therapy.

After consulting a doctor to identify any possible underlying medical causes, sex therapy can be useful if you have trouble reaching orgasm. Because of the many different elements of sexuality that might be overlooked by someone who is not trained, it is important to find someone who specializes in sex therapy when looking for an individual or marriage counselor. It is also important to look for someone who is affirming of your sexual and gender identity, as these are also often contributing factors to self-shame around one’s body and sexuality.

In My Experience

In my experience of working with survivors of childhood trauma, I find many people are struggling with inner trauma that resulted from these traumatic experiences, and it is this trauma that impedes their ability to be present and comfortable with sexual activity. I see this most often with people who have had sexual trauma, people who grew up with negative messages and beliefs about sex and sexuality, and people who grew up with shaming or abusive messages about who they are.

Many of us grow up believing that sexual activity is bad, especially for women. My Queer/ LGBTQ clients often experienced shame and negative messages about their sexuality and bodies, especially those who came out in spaces and locations that were not affirming, and all of these internal messages affect their ability to experience orgasms. I recommend looking for a therapist who specializes in sex therapy, and who has an understanding of how negative messaging and traumas can affect one’s sexuality.