Orgasm is a complex mind-body event involving different parts of the brain whose actions have a ripple effect throughout the body.
The surge of neurochemicals in the brain during orgasm mirrors those that influence a wide range of everyday processes—but in overdrive.
Dopamine and endorphins create intense pleasure and euphoria, oxytocin deepens emotional bonding between partners, and together, these chemicals help alleviate pain and promote relaxation.
The brain’s response to orgasm goes beyond altering mood and emotions. It’s behind the toe-curling muscle contractions, the release of tension, and the dip in stress hormones.
Men and women tend to experience orgasms differently. Women’s response depends on how orgasm is triggered and which body parts are stimulated. An orgasm through clitoral stimulation causes the brain to shut down all regions responsible for reflection and self-control, allowing the brain to focus only on the sensations.
But when an orgasm is brought about through penetration, the limbic system, the brain’s center for emotions, pleasure, and bonding, becomes highly active, intensifying feelings of connection and enjoyment.
Men, meanwhile, experience a flood of the reward chemical dopamine, which drives motivation and pleasure. This surge of dopamine reinforces the experience as pleasurable, rewarding, and worth repeating.
As orgasm approaches, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, triggering a surge of adrenaline and oxytocin. This speeds up the heart rate and breathing.The heart rate peaks at orgasm and quickly returns to normal afterward
The terms ‘mind-blowing orgasm’ and ‘le petit mort’ (French for ‘the little death’) exist for a reason. Orgasm engenders a temporary loss of control and awareness, a deep sense of relaxation, and a momentary loss of ego.
DailyMail.com broke down everything that happens in the body during one of these ‘mind-blowing’ orgasms.
Heart rate increases
Perhaps the most apparent effect is a quickening heart rate as you near the point of climax. Orgasm activates the sympathetic nervous system, which is what triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response.
As arousal builds, the body experiences a surge of adrenaline and oxytocin, which causes the heart to beat faster and breathing to become more rapid.
This is meant to prepare the body for the peak of the experience, increasing blood flow to various organs.
The heart rate reaches its peak at the moment of climax and rapidly falls back to normal after.
Happy chemicals flood the brain
At the moment of orgasm, the brain experiences a deluge of pleasure chemicals that boost overall well-being and stave off pain.
Dopamine levels rise, as do endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and oxytocin, commonly called ‘the love hormone. ‘
Dopamine is often called the pleasure chemical, but it has an even greater hand in driving motivation and reward. When levels of dopamine rise during orgasm, it signals that the act is pleasurable and should be repeated.
Endorphins are often called the body’s natural pain relievers. During orgasm, endorphins create feelings of pleasure and happiness. They dampen pain and the activity of the stress hormone cortisol while increasing euphoria.
Endorphins also promote a sense of general well-being and act similarly to antidepressants, increasing the levels of certain feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain to improve mood and reduce anxiety.
These hormones strengthen the bond between partners and engender feelings of trust and empathy.
During orgasm, women experience rhythmic contractions in the vagina, uterus, and other muscles, while men’s pelvic floors contract to propel semen. Some women describe the sensation as pulsing, followed by a sense of release
Muscles contract
Women’s toes curl, their backs arch, and muscles in the vagina and uterus contract in a rhythmic pattern.
Men’s pelvic floors contract rhythmically as well, which is meant to propel semen through the urethra. The anal sphincter and rectum contract, adding to the feeling of release.
‘For some women, they’ll describe it as a pulsing (feeling)…followed by a feeling of release,’ according to Jessica O’Reilly, a sex and relationship expert based in Toronto.
During orgasm, the diaphragm and muscles between the ribs may contract as a result of quicker breathing and heightened arousal.
Pelvic floor muscles wake up during orgasm, with contractions of the network of muscles there affecting the length and intensity of the orgasm.
During orgasm, hormone levels fluctuate. Prolactin, which is associated with satisfaction, rises, signaling the body to relax as excitement fades. Vasopressin, linked to blood pressure and pair bonding, also increases, contributing to feelings of attachment with a partner
At the moment of orgasm, the brain experiences a deluge of pleasure chemicals that boost overall well-being and stave off pain
Fear and anxiety melt away
Hormones and chemicals fluctuate during the peak. Prolactin levels, which are linked to feelings of satisfaction, increase. This signals to the body that the excitement is tapering off and it’s time to relax.
Vasopressin, which is involved in blood pressure regulation, also increases during orgasm. The hormone is believed to play a role in pair bonding, linked to feelings of attachment with a sexual partner.
Ghrelin, often referred to as the ‘hunger hormone,’ stimulates post-coital appetite, reflecting the body’s shift in focus from the immediate pleasurable effects of sex.
Dr. Margarida Rafael, a licensed psychologist and a relationship and sex expert, told Health Digest, ‘This helps explain the relationship between pain and pleasure, and why pain is not felt as strongly during arousal and orgasm.’
Skin flushes
The sudden rush of pink to the cheeks is a result of rapid blood flow throughout the body due to the release of hormones during orgasm.
This leads to dilated blood vessels near the skin’s surface, resulting in pink, flushed cheeks.
The skin also becomes warmer, and sweat glands open up.
The first place you might notice it is the face, but the flush is most pronounced around the chest and back.
The surge in adrenaline causes the iris (the colored part of the eye) to relax, allowing the eyes to become larger and, therefore, receive more light, enhancing vision
Pupils dilate
At the point of orgasm, the sympathetic nervous system, generally responsible for the fight-or-flight response, wakes up and triggers the release of adrenaline and other hormones that prepare the body for physical activity, such as providing more oxygen to muscles.
The surge in adrenaline causes the iris (the colored part of the eye) to relax, allowing the eyes to become larger and, therefore, receive more light, enhancing vision.
It’s believed that this is an evolutionary response to preparing for challenging activities that require visual clarity. Modern humans’ ancestors may have used dilated pupils as a nonverbal cue to other potential mates that someone was aroused.
