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The benefits of orgasm are crazy: Not only can they help you sleep better, but research shows orgasms can also boost your immunity, promote bone health, and clear your skin—and that's just a few of the reported health benefits of an orgasm.
“The brain manufactures and releases substances called neurotransmitters and neuropeptides during sexual stimulation and orgasm,” explains Nan Wise, a certified sex therapist, neuroscientist, author of Why Good Sex Matters and Glamour's sex column Ask Dr. Nan. “These substances are wonderful for your overall physical and emotional wellbeing. They can reduce stress, improve sleep, enhance immunity, and boost mood.”
Better mood, better sleep, and a better immune system? If there was ever a time we needed to reap the benefits of orgasms, it's now.
But does it matter how many times you orgasm?
OK, so we know there are benefits to orgasm. Does the frequency matter too? Short answer: Yes, says Dr. Jolene Brighten, a certified sex counselor and the author of Is This Normal?. It can even mean a longer life. “Orgasms have been shown to have benefits for our hormones, immune system, and health of the pelvic floor,” she explains. “Most research on longevity benefits are done on men, but we have no reason to believe that regular orgasms wouldn’t also have a positive impact on women’s longevity as well. Regular orgasms have been linked to overall wellbeing and sexual satisfaction.”
So, here's exactly what you stand to gain from prioritizing your sexual pleasure and how to orgasm better…
The benefits of orgasm
Since orgasms release oxytocin (a hormone that accompanies pleasure) and decrease cortisol (which signals stress), you're less likely to break out or get rashes if you're enjoying regular orgasms over time. There are also some immediate skin benefits to the big O. Orgasms give you a radiant flush by increasing blood and oxygen flow to your face.
Having an orgasms during any kind of sexual activity can actually help you feel better about your body. “When we focus on how much pleasure our bodies can give us, we can learn to associate being in our bodies with pleasure,” says Wise. “The women who were courageous enough to participate in my orgasm studies reported that getting more comfortable with their bodies was a big factor in their enjoying their sex lives more fully.”
The best part? The more sex the women in Wise's study had, the better they felt about their bodies and the more sex they wanted to have.
Having a good time in the sheets helps you fall asleep when you get between them. “Lots of people say that orgasms help them relax and possibly fall asleep,” says Suzannah Weiss, resident sexologist for Biird and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject.
Better sleep is, in fact, one of the biggest health benefits of sex. Here's why: Weiss says the post-sex rush of the hormone prolactin helps you doze off quicker. The oxytocin and vasopressin that orgasms release can also make you sleep more soundly.
“I conducted research on how the brain responds to sexual stimulation and orgasm,” says Wise. “We found that orgasm increased blood flow to so many brain regions, that the brain lighted up like a Christmas tree. Increased blood flow means that the brain is getting a wonderful and nutritious workout.”
The same improvement in circulation you get from orgasming which helps your complexion also goes to your scalp and helps your hair grow faster. All that increased blood flow that intimacy brings will leave you with stronger, shinier, and longer-looking locks.
Since orgasms help keep your blood pressure low, they slow down the aging process. They also boost your estrogen levels, increasing collagen, which is what helps keep your skin looking plump and youthful. Plus, the improvement in your sleep diminishes the appearance of wrinkles and lines.
Orgasms release the chemical DHEA, which helps balance your immune system, promotes bone health, and assists in repairing tissues. Orgasms are self-care!
You might notice a change in your mental health if you're having sex or masturbating more frequently. The oxytocin released during orgasm literally makes people happier. It's called one of the feel-good hormones for a reason.
Or as Elle Woods said so brilliantly in Legally Blonde, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't.”
Orgasms can help promote our ability to bond with our partners, explains Wise. “Having a regular and rewarding sex life is one of the most wonderful ways to lubricate our relationships—and having good relationships is associated with improved well-being across the board,” she says.
“Sexual stimulation and orgasm release your bodies' own natural painkillers,” says Wise. In addition to making you feel happy, oxytocin also can help to relieve everything from headaches to arthritis. They also relieve menstrual cramps (all the more reason to give period sex a try).
“It releases is the brain's natural opioids, which can act as a pain reliever,” Weiss confirms. “For instance, some people with migraines say that after orgasm they feel less pain or even regularly masturbate as a way to keep chronic pain at bay. If somebody has period cramps, orgasming could also relieve pain. It also causes the pelvic muscles to relax, which can relieve pain on top of the endorphins that are already helping.”
There are many health benefits of orgasms—and some more superficial ones too. Turns out, bigger boobs is one of them. Who knew! “During sexual stimulation and orgasm your breasts get fuller,” says Dr. Wise.
And it's not just your breasts—your lips aren't exempt from the boost in blood flow to your face resulting from orgasm, so they tend to look thicker and plumper, post-romp.
The same muscles that engage during Kegel exercises are engaged during orgasm. A study published in the Journal of Women’s Health, Issues and Care argued that with routine orgasms, the pelvic floor will be stronger and healthier.
What if you're struggling to orgasm?
As great as the benefits to orgasm sound, many people struggle with reaching the big O. If you're one of them, there are a variety of reasons why this might be happening to you.
One of the most common causes? Your partner. “Research shows us that when women engage in partnered sex with men they are less likely to achieve an orgasm,” says Dr. Brighten. “As I explain in my book, Is This Normal, on average, only 65 percent of straight women in a heterosexual relationship achieve an orgasm during partnered sex, compared with the 95 percent of men. This is what is called the orgasm gap.”
Because the female orgasm is sometimes harder to achieve in a heterosexual relationship, both parties should be invested in prioritizing it. “One reason why this gap exists is that men are not aware of female anatomy, especially the clitoris, which is the primary way women orgasm,” says Dr. Brighten. “But while people can be quick to blame men, studies have shown that women may prioritize their partner’s pleasure at the expense of their own. The remedy, oftentimes, is open communication about what is pleasurable and how to improve the experience for both partners.”
In addition to communicating your desires and what turns you on to your partner, you can also try pleasuring yourself solo with a vibrator or sex toy to experience the benefits of orgasm more frequently. If you still struggle to orgasm while masturbating or have a low sex drive, it might be worth talking to your doctor.
“An often overlooked hormone issue that can contribute to difficulty orgasming is insulin resistance,” says Dr. Brighten. “The nerves and blood vessels of the clitoris, like the penis, can be damaged by elevations in blood sugar, as we see in diabetes. If you’re noticing you’re hungry all the time, developing skin tags or darkening skin, frequently needing to urinate, and often thirsty, it’s worth a visit to your provider. If diabetes is the cause, your eyes, kidneys, and even the feeling in your fingers and toes can be compromised.”
According to Dr. Brighten, as many as 15 percent of women may also experience something known as anorgasmia, which is the inability to orgasm. “While there is a connection between anorgasmia and anxiety, other conditions like nerve damage from surgery, medications like SSRIs, chronic health conditions, and hormone related issues can also be at play.” Again, talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
Tips for achieving orgasm
Only 18 percent of people with vaginas are able to climax through vaginal sex alone, Dr. Brighten says, which means clitoral orgasms are the most common and easiest to achieve. Her tips for how to orgasm better?
Spend more time on foreplay. Start with oral sex, add a sex toy into the mix, or explore a new kink—whatever turns you on. We have lots of foreplay ideas if you're not sure where to begin.
Ask for what you want. Be clear and communicative about what turns you on. Dr. Brighten advises using positive directions like, “Yes, more of that” or “I like it when you do this.” That keeps things focused on pleasure.
Find a sex position and pace that works for you. “If you're in a missionary position, for example,” Dr. Brighten says, “instead of an in-and-out jackhammer rhythm, ask your partner to slow down and position themselves so their body can stimulate your clitoris.”
Use a sex toy. You can always use a hand—whether it's yours or your partner's—to stimulate, but including a vibrator or other sex toy into the act can make things easier (and way more fun).
Lube, lube, lube. “Lubricant is the gateway to great sex,” Dr. Brighten says. “The vulva, where the clitoris lives, and the vagina are more receptive to friction-inducing movements when there is lubrication.” We asked the experts, and they said these are the best lubricants for women.
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