Did you know that 10 August was National Orgasm Day in the US? In Australia, it was on 18 May – three months earlier because Aussie males have problems with premature ejaculation?
Sorry, not a good joke. One in three men have experienced premature ejaculation, while 10 to 15 per cent of women have never had an orgasm, and we doubt either of these groups is laughing.
We must note, however, that issues related to orgasms may not be as serious as we make out, especially when you consider that a lot of women say the most satisfying sexual experience involves the feeling of being connected to someone else and has nothing to do with having an orgasm.
So, if “connection” is your thing, what are you missing out by not having an orgasm? Potentially, quite a lot, because there are medical benefits in having regular orgasms, be you male or female, or whether you experiencing an orgasm with or without a partner.
A 2009 study, for example, found that having an orgasm raises the levels of oestrogen in your body, which, in turn, prevents a decrease in collagen – an important protein in maintaining the appearance of youthful skin.
It’s also said that the mental concentration required to have an orgasm provides a temporary relief from anxieties, and any such relief, no matter how short, is a good thing. The same can be said for temporarily raising your heart rate if, in fact, you work hard enough to qualify.
An orgasm once or twice a week is also good for your immune system. People who regularly orgasm have higher immunoglobulin levels – up to 20 per cent – and are therefore less likely to catch a common cold, than people who only orgasm every blue moon.
Orgasms can also be relaxing, as they boost endorphin levels and flush inflammatory hormones out of the body, and energise the hypothalamus gland, which regulates appetite, emotions and body temperature.
And while orgasms can’t cure cancer, they help the body’s natural detoxification process which can help prevent cancer.
Of course, you’re not going to be thinking about these things when you reach that climactic moment, but it is nice to know that something so satisfying is also so good for you.
Have you noticed the health benefits of orgasm?
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