When some women orgasm, they experience unusual physical and emotional responses such as laughing, crying, headaches, tingling, foot pain, nosebleeds and more. Known as peri-orgasmic phenomena, the responses are not related to the normal physiology of an orgasm.<\/p>\n
A new survey-based Northwestern University study is the first to break down how frequently and consistently women experience these responses, and when they’re more likely to occur (i.e. with a partner or during masturbation).\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the study found these responses are rare – only 2.3% of the sample – the findings are necessary to raise awareness and help reassure women these responses are within the realm of a normal sexual response, said lead study author\u00a0Dr. Lauren Streicher,\u00a0clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The findings also warrant further study to help women address their sexual health and well-being, she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“While there have been case reports of women laughing, crying or having unusual physical symptoms during orgasm, this is the first study to characterize what these phenomena are, and when they are most likely to occur,” said Streicher,\u00a0who also is the creator of\u00a0COME AGAIN, a new science-based guide to sexual\u00a0function for both\u00a0health care professionals and non-health care professionals.\u00a0“Women need to know that if they have uncontrollable peals of laughter every time they orgasm (and nothing was funny), they are not alone.”<\/p>\n
The findings\u00a0were published Dec. 29 in the Journal of Women’s Health.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A total of 3,800 women viewed\u00a0a short video\u00a0posted on social media that explained peri-orgasmic phenomena. They could then answer a six-question, anonymous survey about unusual physical or emotional symptoms\/responses they experience when they have an orgasm.<\/p>\n
Of the 86 women (18 years old and up) who self-identified as experiencing peri-orgasmic phenomena,\u00a061% reported experiencing physical symptoms, 88% reported experiencing emotional responses, more than half of respondents (52%) experienced more than one symptom and 21% experienced both physical and emotional symptoms.\u00a0While most (69%) women experienced these symptoms only sometimes with orgasm, 17% experienced them consistently with orgasm. The majority of respondents (51%) experienced symptoms exclusively with partnered sexual activity, 9% during masturbation and 14% with use of a vibrator.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Breakdown of the physical symptoms\u00a0among the 86 survey respondents:<\/p>\n
\n\tHeadache (33%)\u00a0
\n\tMuscle weakness (24%)\u00a0
\n\tFoot pain\/tingling (19%)\u00a0
\n\tFacial pain\/itching\/tingling (6%)\u00a0
\n\tSneezing (4%)\u00a0
\n\tYawning (3%)\u00a0
\n\tEar pain\/other ear sensation (2%)\u00a0
\n\tNosebleed (2%)
<\/p>\n
Breakdown of the emotional symptoms among the 86 survey respondents:<\/p>\n
\n\tCrying (63%)
\n\tSadness or urge to cry with a positive sexual experience (43%)
\n\tLaughing (43%)
\n\tHallucinations (4%)
<\/p>\n
Dr. James Simon, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The George Washington University, is a study co-author.<\/p>\n
Source:<\/p>\n
Journal reference:<\/p>\n