Orgasms feel good. But do you actually know why?
To celebrate National Orgasm Day (31st July), we’re stripping orgasms back to the scientific basics. From how they work to their benefits, this is a tell-all guide about orgasms and what they actually do. We’ve also found some tips and tricks to help you have stronger orgasms and, in some cases, multiple orgasms.
Intrigued? We thought so!
Scroll down to top up your knowledge and boost your sex life satisfaction.
Science lessons might not be your favourite pastime, but you’ll want to tune in for this one.
Below, we’ll walk you through what happens when you orgasm. We’ve divided the topics into orgasms for people with vaginas and penises and then a section about brains and orgasms.
If you have a vagina, the path to an orgasm starts with extra lubrication. Your vagina will also relax and lengthen, and your clitoris will expand. For some, the clitoris may even extend out of the labia. Dopamine levels will increase, and your skin may appear flushed.
As you continue having fun, you reach a plateau. At this point, your heart rate and blood pressure increase, and the lower area of your vagina swells. Once you get here, it’s hard to stop because your mind and body are focused on a release.
Now, to the main event – the actual orgasm. Researchers have found that the average orgasm includes around 60 seconds of contractions of the vagina, uterus, and clitoris. This action sends a big wave of dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin through your body, resulting in stress release and that satisfied feeling.
After you orgasm, your vital signs will normalise. Your breathing slows, and your heart rate decreases. You’ll continue to feel satisfied throughout the post-orgasm period. This period is faster for women than for men. Once it’s over, women can start over again. Nice!
Like female orgasms, you can break male orgasms down into distinct phases.
They start with arousal. In this stage, chemical compounds trigger the flow of blood to the penis, causing stiffening and enlargement – AKA an erection. You may also experience increased muscle tension and changes in breathing, and the scrotum may retract closer to the body.
The next stage is a plateau. This is also called the “pre-orgasm” phase and lasts between thirty seconds to two minutes. In this stage, the heart rate increases, body temperature rises, pre-cum may appear, and your pelvic thrusts become involuntary. The trusts will also increase in intensity and speed.
Can you guess what’s next? The orgasm, of course! For penis owners, this is divided into emission and ejaculation. In emission, semen moves close to the tip of the penis (after passing through the urethra). This is followed by ejaculation, a series of contractions in the penis and pelvic floor that propel the semen from the body. The total orgasm time is typically five to twenty seconds.
After you cum, your penis will start to soften. You may also feel relaxed or even sleepy. This is also known as the “refractory period”, and during this time, you won’t be able to achieve another erection.
So, that’s what happens to bodies during orgasms. However, your brain isn’t left out of the fun.
Following a series of MRI experiments, Komisaruk and Whipple discovered that different brain regions are activated during the lead-up to an orgasm. The main regions activated are those associated with processing the sense of touch.
Touch-related areas aren’t surprising. However, the experiments also discovered that some unrelated areas are also affected. These include the limbic system (memory and emotions), the prefrontal cortex (judgement and problem-solving), and the hypothalamus (unconscious body control).
All in all, over thirty main brain systems are activated during an orgasm. Komisaruk stated, “[Orgasms] are not a local, discrete event. There’s no ‘orgasm centre.’ It’s everywhere”.
When you take a scientific look at orgasms, it’s hard to deny that they’re a remarkable biological process.
They become even more special when you know the benefits that come with them. Here’s a quick overview of the advantages of orgasms for our minds and bodies:
Multiple orgasms mean more than one orgasm in a single sexual session. They can be back-to-back or spaced out.
The key to achieving multiple orgasms depends on your sexual preferences, anatomy, and how well you’re in tune with your body.
Those with vaginas can have up to five orgasms per session, as vulvas have a faster post-orgasm period. Simply said, you don’t need to wait as long to be back in the game.
Penis owners can only ejaculate once. However, if you’re open to prostate or nipple stimulation, you can cum multiple times through different types of orgasm. These are called dry orgasms, as you don’t physically cum.
Perhaps you’d prefer bigger and better orgasms over multiple ones? No stress. Achieving better orgasms is possible with a few lifestyle changes and sexual exploration.
Firstly, you should follow your desires. Experiment and see what sexual positions or kinks turn you on the most. The hornier you are, the more explosive your orgasm will be.
You should also make sure you’re generally healthy. Eating a well-balanced diet, working out regularly, and getting enough sleep will allow your body to provide better orgasms. So, this is your sign to get up and hit the gym like you’ve been saying you would!
You’ve done the revision, and now it’s time to put your scientific knowledge to the test. Whether it’s your first time celebrating National Orgasm Day or not, we hope these tips have inspired you to plan a big ‘O’.
Continue learning about sex and relationships on the Vivastreet blog today.
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