It’s common knowledge that exercise and a nutritious diet are recommended by experts as preventative and treatment measures for a healthy lifestyle. But where does sexual health fit into this framework? Are orgasms a form of exercise that might also be recommended? What are the benefits of this type of play? Though there is limited research out there, some studies suggest that orgasming frequently is actually good for your health, too. Whether this be solo or with partner(s), exploring what feels good can have positive effects in both preventing diseases and promoting immunity, among other things. However, there are some minor differences between the types of play and the types of outcomes. As we explore these, SHA challenges you to think about how incorporating this healthy activity might look in your daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly routine.
Solo Play:
Orgasming when masturbating allows for deeper connection and trust within your own body. Studies show that solo orgasms are actually more physiologically healthy for you than those with partners, but both have their own, individual benefits. Masturbation can help you determine what feels good so that your experiences with partner(s) are more liberating and fun. Moreover, by experiencing orgasm alone, you can tap into your body’s inner intuition in order to breed holistic health in your lifestyle. Many experiencing solo orgasms report feeling empowered and energized.
Partner Play:
Masturbation is not the only way to reap the benefits of orgasm, though. Bridging these gaps by having pleasurable sexual experiences with a partner(s) allows for mental, emotional, and physical benefits. For instance, just as orgasms while masturbating deepen connection with the self, orgasms during intercourse deepen the connection with one’s partner(s). This creates a social bond that is unique and generally positive. Furthermore, many report experiencing greater satisfaction when orgasming with partner(s) than on their own. This could be because of the shared experience and feelings of social ties, or it could be because there is a sense of deep fulfillment when putting things that work for you into practice with others. In this way, masturbation and intercourse both have a role to play in the health benefits of orgasming; while masturbation helps one learn what works and what doesn’t, intercourse serves as an avenue for healthy exploration and trust-building.
Additionally, studies have proved that depositing sperm inside the vagina leads to increases in the vagina-owner’s mood. This is likely an effect of evolutionary and biological systems created for the purpose of reproduction, but it gets to the point of mental health being built into physical health, suggesting that the two go hand in hand. In this way, to fully experience a healthy lifestyle, we have to start thinking about the entirety of the issue and include all forms of health in our recommendations. Here, it seems orgasming is recommendable. For example, by creating a happier and healthier vagina-owning partner through penial ejaculation, the vagina-owner is not necessarily required to orgasm to receive the health benefits of an orgasm. This is sort of a round-about way of going about it, but science says it works, so it’s worth a shot!
What Do Orgasms Prevent?:
Now that we’ve explored the benefits of different types of orgasms, we should specify the types of negative health outcomes that can be prevented through regular practice. Studies show that orgasms can help prevent the development of prostate and breast cancer, which could majorly benefit those with genetic predispositions to these diseases. Orgasming can also reduce the risk of heart attack, proving that just like exercise, orgasms have the ability to create heart-healthy individuals. Additionally, the benefits of orgasms do not end postmenopause. Studies show that after the onset of menopause, regular orgasms can prevent vaginal atrophy for vagina-owners. All of these tangible health benefits hold weight in the medical community as they can be seen and felt physically.
On the mental health side of things, orgasms can help reduce stress and pain. By experiencing pleasure, individuals report feeling calmer and less distressed. As pleasure is often thought of as the opposite of pain, it makes sense that orgasming would lead to lessened harmful outcomes as well. By incorporating these benefits into the conversation, individuals are able to approach their health through a wider lens, opening up spaces for exploration and joy.
What Do Orgasms Promote?:
The final piece of this puzzle is exploring what orgasms promote in the context of health. Physically, for penis-owners, orgasms promote a normal volume of semen so that reproductive organs function correctly. Similarly, for vagina-owners, fertility is promoted as menstrual cycles are regulated. This has the potential for wide-ranging benefits, given that some vagina-owners struggle with the regularity of their cycles. Using this all-natural way to promote healthy fertility can open doors for homeopathic routes to good health. Along with this, estrogen levels are increased when orgasming, so skin and hair health is promoted while the pelvic floor muscles are utilized and strengthened. Other hormones, including oxytocin, dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, and prolactin, are released when experiencing orgasm, which contributes to feelings of happiness, body confidence, and self-esteem. These also contribute to a boost in the immune system and the promotion of a good night’s sleep, all filtered through increased blood flow and brain functioning.
Taking everything together, it’s clear that orgasms may be the key to a truly healthy lifestyle. By excluding them from health-based conversations, we’re doing a disservice to our communities. We only have things to gain by reducing the taboo around sexual health topics. So what are you waiting for? Go have an orgasm!
By Emily Carriere