Few individuals openly discuss experiencing unusual reactions during orgasm, such as producing odd sounds or even shedding tears.
A recent study has revealed that experiencing peculiar symptoms during sex, such as nosebleeds or hallucinations, might not be as uncommon as one might think. These ‘peri-orgasmic phenomena’ could actually indicate that bodily functions are operating normally.
Researchers in gynecology, delving into the scarcely studied area of female climax, have discovered that side effects like fits of laughter, uncontrollable crying, headaches, hallucinations, and nosebleeds can all be typical reactions to an orgasm.
This small-scale research, published in the Journal of Women’s Health, is believed to be the first to investigate the frequency of these occurrences and how often women experience ‘peri-orgasmic phenomena’.
The study’s lead author, Professor Lauren Streicher of Northwestern University, stated: “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.”
Professors Streicher and James Simon from George Washington University used social media to gather responses from women on a topic that many might find too delicate to discuss face-to-face.
A total of 86 participants shared their experiences with these peri-orgasmic phenomena, indicating to the researchers that such side effects might be more common than previously assumed.
Among the respondents, 61 percent reported experiencing physical symptoms during climax, while 88 percent noted a strong emotional response.
Over half (52 percent) dealt with multiple symptoms, whereas around one in five (21 percent) experienced both physical and emotional reactions during orgasm.
The lead author emphasized that documenting these symptoms is crucial to normalizing the range of female sexual experiences.
Professor Streicher remarked: “Women need to know that if they have uncontrollable peals of laughter every time they orgasm (and nothing was funny), they are not alone.”
Despite the diverse range of symptoms reported, only 17 of the 86 respondents noted consistently experiencing these orgasmic side effects.
The study also revealed that these phenomena were more frequent during sexual intercourse, with only 23 percent reporting such experiences during masturbation or with a vibrator.
While this initial study highlighted the range of peri-orgasmic phenomena women may experience, further research with larger participant numbers is needed to determine how common these symptoms truly are.
Only 2.3 percent of those who viewed the video inviting women to share their unusual climax symptoms completed the survey, acknowledging a physical or emotional response.
“Normal and common are not the same thing,” Professor Streicher clarified to BBC Science Focus. “Also, this survey does not reveal the true prevalence of these symptoms. Many people who viewed the [social media post] with symptoms may have chosen not to respond.”