How it begins…
Orgasm happens slightly differently for most women, but it’s usually brought about by vaginal or clitoral stimulation. After clitoral or vaginal stimulation has begun, blood rushes to the genital area, causing it to become engorged, and extra sensitive (in a good way).
As you move closer to climax, your heart starts to race, your pupils widen, and your skin begins to flush.
And while you may feel more relaxed than ever, thanks to the rush of dopamine surging through your body, your muscles will actually start to tense up, in preparation for what’s to come (pun intended).
Hitting O Town
When you reach the Big O, the muscles in your vagina, anus and uterus will all simultaneously contract and then relax, causing you to feel an intense sensation of euphoric release.
Inside your brain, the feelgood hormones oxytocin and dopamine are surging, causing you to feel blissful and also compelling you to want to bond and feel close to your partner.
You might also feel oddly safe and chilled, thanks to a phenomenon research has suggested happens in post-orgasmic women as a result of the brain’s hippocampus and amygdala down-regulating themselves. These areas of the brain are directly responsible for emotional regulation and in particular, controlling intense negative emotions like fear and anxiety.
There’s no such thing as ‘normal’
Research has suggested that, in fact, several parts of the brain wind down during orgasm, which may explain why it’s hard to remember your own name when you come!
What’s important to know, is that the experience of orgasm is different for everyone, and there’s no “right” way to have one. For this reason, you should never put pressure on yourself to achieve an orgasm in a particular way. Some women can’t orgasm from sex and orgasm from masturbation exclusively, and that’s totally okay.
Because, no matter how you get to Oh Town, one thing’s universal – it feels freaking amazing!
Author: Nadia Bokody
Photo by Gabriel Matula on Unsplash
