More than pleasure: what your body does with stress, sleep and mood

An orgasm feels good. Everyone who has had one knows it, no need to prove it. What comes up less often: meanwhile your body throws a little chemical celebration and unwraps the gifts one by one. So let's see what is inside the packages.

The stress hormone, cortisol, is wonderful when you need to flee from a bear. It is rather less useful when it is only deadlines and unread emails chasing you. Arousal and orgasm help switch the body out of fight-or-flight mode into a calmer state: the heartbeat slows, the muscles loosen, and the body can finally breathe out.

At the peak the brain, in the best sense, really pours it on. Dopamine, which brings satisfaction; oxytocin, which gives closeness and calm; serotonin, which balances you out; and endorphins, the body's own natural painkiller. Together this foursome is roughly the concentrated extract of a good day, just working a good deal faster.

If you have noticed that afterwards you get irresistibly sleepy, no, you are not imagining it. After orgasm, prolactin levels rise, which is linked to relaxation and drowsiness, while oxytocin quiets you further. Studies on sex and sleep suggest many people fall asleep faster and rest better afterwards, and there is no hangover in the morning.

It is not only about your head. Arousal boosts blood flow around the pelvis, which is good for the tissues and for natural lubrication. Regular, gentle stimulation can also help keep the pelvic area toned, and many people find it a pleasant part of looking after their body.

As the hormonal balance shifts, many women experience dryness or discomfort. Regular, gentle stimulation, perhaps paired with a good water-based lubricant, can help maintain blood flow and tissue elasticity. It is not a miracle cure and does not replace a specialist, but in many cases it is a pleasant addition to looking after your body. If you are curious which piece suits you, take our short quiz.