The 10 Surprising Ways Orgasms Benefit Women’s Health

Ah, orgasm. It’s the delightful culmination of all that is pleasurable about being human. Not really the kind of thing I have to sell you on, is it? Not only does it market itself well, it successfully sells a ton of products in our consumer-driven culture by harnessing the potent power of sex.

 But folks have been out to vilify the good-old-fashioned orgasm since the beginning of time. That power of sensual abandon just seems utterly dangerous when it falls into the wrong hands, and watch out, because those wrong hands will become sinfully hairy if you use them to self-induce one.

 All jokes aside, science points to ample health benefits enjoyed by females who experience the big O on a regular basis. From a youthful appearance to less sickness, pleasure away, ladies, this one’s for your health.

1. You won’t pee yourself when you’re old.

 Orgasm is a pulsing, pleasurable contraction of your pelvic floor muscles. Regular orgasm can help tone your pelvic floor muscles.  Why is this important, you ask? A toned pelvic floor is a tighter pelvic floor, which can go a long way to prevent urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence, and uncontrollable flatulence as you age. Pelvic floor strength protects your cervix and uterus from prolapse (when your inner sexual organs fall into or out of your vagina- yes that happens, and it’s more common than you think).

 Women with a toned pelvic floor can experience a more powerful, pleasurable orgasm, and in turn, their male partners may also experience increasingly pleasurable intercourse. You can even practice their Kegels during penetration- a pleasurable experience for both parties involved. And while orgasm alone isn’t enough to maintain optimum pelvic floor tone, orgasm coupled with regular pelvic floor exercises can. And a stronger orgasm may provide excellent motivation to keep your neither region in tip-top shape!

1. Age backward.

 Studies have found that women who experience several orgasms a week look significantly younger than their chaste counterparts, though they aren’t exactly sure why. It could be due, in part, to orgasm-boosting DHEA levels.

 DHEA is produced by the adrenal glands, the glands located at the top of your kidneys that are also responsible for producing adrenaline and cortisol (the stress hormone). DHEA helps in the production of female sex hormones and fights the aging effects of stress, contributing to a youthful appearance. Exercise also boosts DHEA production, in case you were curious.

1. Fight germs like a boss.

 The big O boosts the body’s production of Immunoglobulin A, a vital part of immune system function, strengthening your ability to fight back without getting sick when a germy invader enters the body. So the next time you get sneezed on, go home and take some pleasurable preventive measures.

1. Make your relationship great again.

 Orgasm releases mega-doses of the love hormone oxytocin, securing a strong bond with your significant other. It’s easier to deal with his smelly feet in bed when you are doped up with the love drug.

1. Bust up a bad mood.

 The rush of feel-good chemicals released by orgasm is enough to pull anybody out of a toxic mood. Oxytocin directly decreases the stress hormone cortisol, so the big dose released during orgasm can combat the adverse effects of stress, fight anxiety and depression, and promote a sense of relaxation and well-being.

1. Say goodbye to pain.

 Headache ailing you? How about menstrual cramps? Instead of reaching for the bottle of pills, head into the bedroom or a hot chat hot chat room to seek your relief. The hormones released during orgasm are potent pain fighters.

1. Know when Aunt Flo will visit.

 Climaxing frequently helps to regulate the production of sex hormones thanks to DHEA, which coaxes your menstrual cycle into a natural rhythm. Orgasm also engorges your neither region with blood, delivering a boatload of nutrition to your sex organs, which reap the benefits of improved function.

1. Skip the sleeping pill.

 That cliché of the man who falls asleep immediately after sex is one that is backed by solid science. Studies show when people experience an orgasm before they hit the hay sleep longer and better, probably thanks to that potent cocktail of oxytocin that acts as a sedative and knocks you out cold.

1. Boost your brain power.

 When you orgasm, your brain lights up like a Christmas tree on an MRI, signaling a huge uptick in mental activity. Keep that in mind the next time you need an excuse to go for a quickie with a co-worker in the bathroom- you are boosting employee productivity! It’s all in a day’s work.

1. Make some babies.

 While orgasm certainly isn’t necessary for sperm to reach an egg, there is much speculation tossed around out there that female orgasm helps with sperm retention and may boost pregnancy success. The “upsuck” theory is one such theory, in which the pulsation of orgasm is suspected to propel sperm into the uterus.