14 Proven Benefits of Orgasm for Women (& Sometimes Sex)

My initial interest here was to research all the benefits of orgasm for women, both to maintain health and to actively promote healing.

I specifically wanted to know just how much of a difference there was between the benefits of orgasms achieved alone and orgasms as a result of intercourse. Not as a replacement – sex with a human being you are crazy about is hands down one of the best experiences in the world!

But I was interested in understanding if orgasms could genuinely be used as a wellness tool, to improve your emotional and physical wellbeing. You know, like preventative medicine, similar to regular exercise and a healthy diet, which should not have to be dependent on whether or not you have a partner.

There are many claims out there about the benefits of orgasm for women and about sex in general – it almost seems magical. So I set out to discover how many of those claims were actually supported by the data, and just how strong that data was.

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Benefits of orgasm for women – intercourse vs masturbation?

Let me start by pointing out that it can be challenging to differentiate between the reported benefits that come (no pun intended) strictly from orgasm from the ones you might enjoy even if there is no climax.

For one, the studies on sexuality many times will not specifically mention if the sexual acts studied always resulted in orgasm, particularly in the case of women.

And on the other hand, a lot of them might be based on reported sexual activity. This means people filled out questionnaires about sexual habits and satisfaction, and were not actually measured while performing those acts.

A third point is that depending on the study they might have looked at only sexual intercourse or only self-pleasure (masturbation), or some other mix. So whatever benefits concluded won’t necessarily apply interchangeably.

And actually, a fourth very relevant point, measuring what is really happening to the body during sex in a scientific way is no mean feat! Heads have to be very still for those brain scanning machines, and sensors are limited when it comes to measuring two people tussling in passion.

So it makes sense that many studies are done on masturbation because it’s easier to measure and actual intercourse might need to rely more on people’s reports (which is problematic).

An added difficulty is the ever growing differences reported between the sexual experiences for men vs women in the last decades.

Before getting into the actual list of the benefits of orgasm for women, let’s take a general look at what happens to the body during sex.

Your body during sex – solos, duets & ensembles

Generally speaking, the sexual response is similar for both genders and was famously first described by Masters and Johnson, in the 60s.

Their four-phased model has since been modified to include more nuance, specifically for the case of women.

They now usually acknowledge a blurring of the lines between the phases, as well as some overlapping of the sequence that is not as linear as it seems to be for men.

The 4 phases of the sexual response

Arousal: this is the excitement phase. The parasympathetic nervous system takes care of swelling the genital walls and clitoris with blood. Things start to feel overheated down there. Estrogen activates the vaginal walls to start secreting lubrication, which is when you start to feel wet. This can last up to several hours.

Plateau: this is a continuation of the arousal, as it grows and reaches a maximum level just before you climax. The duration of this phase depends on how long you can keep yourself almost there without actually having an orgasm. Here the blood flow continues to swell the genital area and your breathing, heart rate and blood pressure steadily rise.

Orgasm: upon orgasm, there is an increase in lubrication and the vagina tightens. There is a peak in heart and respiratory rate, as well as in blood pressure. You will also experience a series of contractions in your pelvic floor muscles and uterus.

Resolution/refractory period: coming down from the climax, your entire body relaxes and feels a sense of satisfaction. For women this phase might not necessarily follow until after they’ve experienced a second or third (or more, wink, wink) consecutive orgasms.

THE BENEFITS OF ORGASM FOR WOMEN

So, when I was looking for information on the benefits of orgasm for women I came across many lists of different sizes, with all kinds of claims. I then tried to find the studies behind each of those claims to see just what they looked at and how they looked at it.

This is where things get a bit complex. Some of the studies talked about sexual intercourse (heterosexual, of course) and others specifically looked at the orgasmic response.

Some were performed on both genders, while others were specific to women. Others studied mice and other mammals and then tried to suggest how it might apply to humans too. It just gets more muddled and nuanced as you go along.

So my initial list became shorter and ended up including not just the benefits of orgasm for women, but sometimes of sexual intercourse as well.

For every point in the list below I will specify if the studies looked at masturbation or intercourse, as well as if the climax (if reported) came (sorry, last time) as a result of self-pleasure or partnered sex.

1 – It regulates your menstrual cycle

One of the less well known benefits of orgasm for women.

There were studies performed on college women that reported that women who had regular weekly intercourse had average cycles of 29 days (ranging between 26 to 33 days). This is considered a regular cycle.

On the other hand, women who had less frequent sex tended to have more extreme cycle lengths.

These results were based on 3 different studies, performed on different groups (of varying sizes) of women. However, they were very short in length (just a few months) and they didn’t really factor in lifestyle, so take that into account.

One of the studies did include a subgroup of women who recorded only masturbation, but the results in this group did not register an association between that and cycle regulation.

None of the women on these three studies were on hormonal birth control or had DIUs.

2 – Anti-aging for your brain

There is good evidence for sex fighting cognitive decline as we age and even encouraging neurogenesis (new brain cells).

Two different studies done on older adults (aged 50-89) reported that frequent (weekly) sexual activity was a significant predictor of better overall cognition, specifically in the areas of verbal fluency and visual-spatial ability, for both men and women.

Both studies looked at a period of over 12 months and made no distinction between actual intercourse, masturbation, or petting in their definition of sexual activity. In both studies different adjustments were made for things like age, education, wealth, and physical activity or health.

It is important to note that other studies found a strong link between high rates of mental, social, and physical activity (i.e., a more active and engaging lifestyle) and good cognitive health in older adults.

Since sex is such a complex activity, mixing the social with the physical, it engages both mind and body. It’s not entirely clear how much of that protective quality has to do with the sexual experience as a whole, and how much is down to the physical act itself.

There are also interesting studies done on mice that suggest that sexual activity actually creates new brain cells (neurogenesis), so that’s another factor to keep in mind.

Related content: How To Increase Growth Hormone Naturally

3 – It improves fertility

This happens in two different ways.

The first way

The first way has to do with the immune system. Regular sexual activity throughout your cycle has been shown to have an impact in regulating the immune system.

There is an increase in what are called helper T cells and immunoglobulin antibodies. Now, there are different types of Helper T cells.

Type 1 Helper T cells help your body fight foreign threats. Type 2 Helper T cells help the body recognize and protect those “foreign bodies” that are important for pregnancy (i.e., sperm or even the embryo).

Likewise, immunoglobulin antibodies come in different guises. Immunoglobulin A antibodies are usually found in the mucous of the reproductive tract and help to protect it from infections.

Immunoglobulin G antibodies, on the other hand, are usually found in the blood and fight disease without affecting the uterus.

If you’re having regular intercourse, there will be significantly higher levels of type 1 Helper T cells during the follicular phase of your cycle (from menstruation to ovulation) and much higher levels of type 2 during the luteal phase of the cycle (from ovulation to following menstruation).

The same is true for the A antibodies, which will be higher during the follicular phase, and the G antibodies, higher during the luteal phase.

This basically means that if a woman is having regular intercourse, the body understands that there is a possibility of pregnancy and adjust its immune response to help the body recognize, accept, and help maintain that pregnancy.

The second way

The second way in which sexual activity can help you conceive is related to the actual climax.

There are contested studies linking the female orgasm to the “transport” of the sperm further up the canal, as it were.

There is another study, though very small (only six women), that found a link between the female orgasm and a higher retention of sperm, i.e., less “backflow”.

So in theory, more sperm in the birth canal, higher chances of a fertilized egg.

The science isn’t that strong on these two last points, but I’d say either way, it is definitely worth a shot!

In any case, it would be a lot more fun to go for it, than to not.

4 – It strengthens your immune system

A boost in immune response is one of the definite benefits of orgasm for women.

There is another study done on over 100 college students (male and female) linking frequent sexual activity (once or twice a week) to an increase in salivary Immunoglobulin A antibodies.

These are the ones that protect the body’s mucous membranes (like your mouth or vagina) from infection.

Sexual activity in this study was defined as partnered sexual activity (i.e. does not mention masturbation).

It found no link between length of relationship or sexual satisfaction and higher levels of antibodies. That means the fact they were having regular sex seemed to be enough.

5 – It makes you (physically) younger

This is one of my favorite of the benefits of orgasm for women.

A study done on 40 women measured levels of estrogen during genital stimulation and self-reported orgasm. At both times the estrogen levels increased.

Estrogen has a role in keeping the youthful appearance of skin, particularly protecting the collagen and helping skin stay firm and elastic.

Likewise, the antiaging effects of sex as purely aerobic exercise are important. During arousal, throughout the sexual activity itself, and during orgasm, your heart and breathing rate increase. This floods your blood stream with extra oxygen, which rushes to the muscles and skin.

This increase in blood flow also carries with it nutrients that will nourish the cells and maintain elasticity of the tissues in general.

Aerobic and HIIT exercises have also been proven to lengthen telomeres in humans, helping to fight cellular aging.

Estrogen will increase even during masturbation, but to get the fullest possible benefits as aerobic exercise, partnered sex would definitely be the best.

Either way, orgasms are a powerful antiaging tool that will literally help keep you looking younger longer.

6 – Provides pain relief

During sex the body is flooded, amongst other things, with endorphins. They play an important part in the sexual experience and in achieving orgasm, although science is not entirely clear how that works.

In any case, endorphins are the body’s natural pain-killers and scientists believe they might be related to the intensity of the orgasm high, together with oxytocin.

Endorphins are analgesic (not anesthetic), which means they relieve the pain without dulling the sensation to touch.

7 – Increases your libido

The areas of the female brain that light up towards and at the moment of orgasm are related to sensory perception, emotions, motor and spatial attention. So, touch, movement, sexual/pleasurable memories, or imagery.

Other key areas that’re also triggered, and that connect to these areas, are part of the reward circuit system of the body.

Through substances like oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine they’re responsible for encouraging reward-seeking activities, like eating, drinking, maternal behavior, or having sex. In other words, they help to reinforce the behavior that was associated to their release.

In the case of sex, having these neurotransmitters coursing through your body during the sexual activity will help you reinforce that activity. So, the more you do it, the more you’ll want to do it.

These hormones are released regardless of the type of sexual activity, so treat yourself!

8 – Increases your pain threshold

In two small studies (20 women in general), vaginal self-stimulation (masturbation) significantly increased their threshold to pain.

This is interesting in itself, but especially so because when the stimulation was done by the women themselves, so that they would reach orgasm, the pain threshold increased by as much as double what it had when it did not produce orgasm.

The studies also concluded that the lower sensitivity to pain did not affect the sensitivity to touch, as mentioned earlier.

9 – Protects cardiovascular health in later life

Another of the often talked about benefits of orgasm for women is better cardiovascular health.

The multitude of studies on sex and cardiovascular health tend to associate regular sexual activity with improved heart health for both genders, although the matter becomes much more nuanced when the studies are performed on older adults (65 and over).

This study looked at partnered sexual activity in over 2000 people (men and women). They made no distinction between long and short-term relationships and defined sexual activity as any voluntary sexual activity with another person. So it includes actual intercourse and/or petting, with or without orgasm.

They factored in other things like education, income, self-reported physical and psychological health.

Generally speaking, it seems that moderately frequent sex is linked to a lower cardiovascular risk (in men and women), but very frequent sexual activity starts to be more of a risk for men, though it does not seem to affect women.

On the other hand, a better quality of sex, which is also linked to a healthy relationship quality, seems to lower cardiovascular risk for women, though not in men.

In short, high levels of physical pleasure and emotional satisfaction were significantly related to lower cardiovascular risk in women.

10 – It strengthens your pelvic floor muscles

This is one of the great benefits of orgasm for women we should all be more aware of. During an orgasm there are repeated muscle contractions of the entire pelvic floor muscles.

This is a set of muscles that basically support the lower abdominal organs and maintain continence of the urethra, anus, and vagina in women. In other words, they make sure we are able to control urine and fecal flow, which tends to loosen with age.

They’re also critical for “load management”, meaning the stability of the spine and lower back. They help minimize strain and reduce back, hip, and knee joint pain as we get older.

This paper runs through all the major research done on the importance of the pelvic floor muscles, if you want to read more about each point in detail.

Firm pelvic floor muscles also have the added benefit of increasing the intensity of the muscle contractions during orgasm. This means that the more you have orgasms, the more you’ll be improving the pelvic floor muscles’ response and firmness – like any other muscle.

11 – It reduces belly fat

One study measured female waist circumference in relation to different types of sexual activity, including orgasm during intercourse and orgasm from masturbation.

They found that smaller waist size was associated with vaginal orgasms, i.e., orgasms resulting from intercourse.

Interestingly, a larger waist circumference was linked to higher masturbation (the paper did not specify if with or without orgasm) and older age (less surprising).

The study looked at 120 women and it controlled for age, relationship and cohabitation status. It did not take into account lifestyle choices, such as diet, habits and exercise, so take it with a grain (or several) of salt.

Nevertheless, it did differentiate between a great number of types of sexual activity – seriously, they got very specific! – so it could be significant.

12 – Stress relief and better sleep

Stress relief is one of the more known benefits of orgasm for women. Oxytocin is considered the human bonding “love” hormone by excellence. It has a big role in social memory and attachment, as well as in sexual and maternal behavior.

It’s most famous role is that of ensuring mothers connect and bond with their newborns. However, it also helps social interaction, emotional recognition, and feelings of attachment between humans in general.

It has an anti-anxiety effect by decreasing the release of stress hormones in the body. Lower oxytocin levels are related to depression and psychological distress across the board.

It’s released during events like breast feeding, massage, physical affection and, of course, during the arousal phase of sex. There are very high levels released at the time of orgasm, which will help flush the cortisol in your system and induce a relaxed state.

The important role of oxytocin in social memory and attachment means you can expect higher levels of this hormone to be released in activities involving fellow humans – so intercourse better than masturbation.

13 – It increases general wellbeing and satisfaction

Perhaps one of the less surprising benefits of orgasm for women. Along with the dopamine and endorphin release that happens during the sexual response and makes us feel good, there is also prolactin.

Prolactin is involved in over 300 biological activities in the body. The most famous function is related to the development of breast tissue and milk production in new mothers. It’s also connected to progesterone release during the luteal phase that’s important for achieving and maintaining a pregnancy. It also has an important role in the homeostasis (inner balance) of the body and maintaining a good immune response.

It’s released in high quantities during orgasm and seems to be related to the feeling of sexual and physical satisfaction in humans following sex.

The amounts released are apparently related to different levels of physical satisfaction. It seems that the prolactin release following intercourse is 400% higher than the one following masturbation, suggesting that intercourse is more satisfying to the body than masturbation. I think most people would probably agree.

14 – It activates your pituitary gland

One of the least known benefits of orgasm for women. It seems that unique to women is the activation of the pituitary gland at the time of orgasm.

A small PET neuro-imaging study performed on 11 women and 11 men found that both masturbation and partner-induced orgasms flooded the women’s pituitary gland with blood. The same was not the case for men.

The study also looked at just clitoral stimulation, orgasm attempt and faked orgasm – none were found to produce the same blood flow to the pituitary gland.

The pituitary gland is called the “master gland” of the body.

It’s responsible for producing hormones that regulate vital processes, such as your metabolism, growth, sexual reproduction, thyroid function, blood pressure and others.

It’s the pituitary that produces oxytocin, growth hormone, luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormones (vital for your fertility), as well as the prolactin discussed above.

So there you have it – 14 OTHER great reasons to get excited about sex and have more orgasms!

It was definitely fun to research and my mind was blown on a couple of points for sure. I hope it was good for you too!

Let me know in the comments below!

14 Proven Benefits of Orgasm for Women (& Sometimes Sex)

Benefits of orgasm for women – intercourse vs masturbation?