Appreciating the Orgasm as an Act of Self-Care

Have you ever been prescribed an orgasm? Walking out of my doctor’s Brooklyn office a few months ago, I was surprised to find exactly that word on a list of recommendations for treating my uterine fibroids. “I tell my patients to put having an orgasm on their to-do list,” confirms Jo Zasloff, certified nurse midwife and founder of Brooklyn’s Nettle Wellness. “It’s a prescription I actually give people.” While pop culture portrayals of the female orgasm continue to evolve—there is certainly progress between Jane Fonda in the excessive machine in 1968’s Barbarella to Miranda and Che in the kitchen in And Just Like That—the actual benefits of orgasms remain less widely explored. It seems that orgasms might have more to do with our overall health than we give them credit for.

So, what exactly happens when we orgasm? The intense contraction of the uterus is accompanied by aftershocks that have a ripple effect throughout the body and the brain. “The female orgasm is a variable, short-lived sensation of intense pleasure accompanied by involuntary rhythmic contractions of the pelvic circumvaginal musculature, often with concomitant uterine and anal contractions,” explains Macrene Alexiades, MD, a New York-based dermatologist whose practice treats not just the skin on the face, but also the vagina. As all the nerve sensations are triggered, your lateral orbitofrontal cortex, the region responsible for regulating logic and reasoning skills, is less active and arousal is heightened, says Monica Grover, MD, an OBGYN at New York’s VSPOT.  

The cascade of various hormones released by an orgasm can have a number of far-reaching benefits, starting with a positive impact on our pelvic health. “The uterus is a muscle that needs to be used and exercised, and people should care as much about keeping it strong as they do the rest of the body,” says Zasloff. The pelvic floor muscle (under the uterus, bladder and bowel) is connected to your back and abdominal muscles so strengthening it (something orgasms help with) is key to avoid strain and help support any heavy lifting, adds Grover. “Strong and flexible muscles hold up our pelvic organs, prevent prolapse, dramatically shift patterns of constipation, and help us maintain bladder control as we age,” says New Mexico-based doctor of Chinese Medicine Janine Mahon. Some also believe that the uterine muscle exertion of an orgasm can help address fibroids (noncancerous growths in the uterus), which is why they are sometimes recommended in cases like mine.

Orgasms’ increase of dopamine, oxytocin, norepinephrine, and testosterone levels can do wonders for our mental and emotional well-being. “These hormones and chemical releases can synergistically improve our moods and cognition, and diminish anxiety and stress responses,” says Grover. Alexiades points to a recent study showing that regular sexual activity throughout the pandemic was associated with significantly lower anxiety and depression scores. The increased blood flow and dip in cortisol (an inflammation trigger) is beneficial to the skin, too. “Recent studies have also suggested that oxytocin actually inhibits skin aging,” says Alexiades, who is known to some of her patients as “Sexiades” for her orgasm-mimicking skin treatments. Grover adds that orgasm’s estrogen release is also key: “It’s important as a building block for collagen synthesis and its structural integrity.”