Reaching orgasm is arguably the best part of having sex. For some people, it's the entire purpose of getting down between the sheets, but not all women orgasm every time they have sex. There are countless reasons as to why you may not climax; it can be related to inexperience, exhaustion, not being in the mood, lack stamina, or not really knowing what an orgasm should feel like. All things that are totally normal. That being said, there are some weird things that happen to your body when you don't orgasm.
Woman's Day recently reported that up to 30 percent of women have trouble reaching orgasm and as many as 80 percent of women do not reach orgasm by vaginal intercourse alone. Your mind and emotions control much of your sexual arousal, and they can affect whether or not you climax. Even with the many benefits of frequent orgasms, statistically speaking, it probably won't happen with every sexual encounter you have, especially if you are not connecting with your partner. But, how important is it to reach the Big O?
Here are a few surprising things that can happen to and within your body when you have sex, but don't orgasm.
1Vasocongestion
You've heard of men experiencing "blue balls" but did you know that women can experience something similar? No, it's not a myth. According to the experts at the University of California, Santa Barbara, vasocongestion, or “blue vulva” is the discomfort of unreleased pelvic congestion. During sexual arousal your vulva, uterus, and ovaries swell with blood. If you don't climax, it can cause a heavy or aching feeling.This discomfort will go away with time, but can also be relieved more quickly by having an orgasm.
2Increased Flowback
Biologist and author Dr. Robin Baker studied post-coital flowback which is "that collection of material that flows back out of the vagina sometime after intercourse." He found that there were fewer sperm in the flowback of women who had orgasms versus those who didn’t. This means that you may have a harder time getting pregnant if you don't climax during intercourse, according to the American Pregnancy Association, so it may be worth brigning up to your doctor.
3Decrease In Sexual Desire
Orgasms release oxytocin which helps produce feelings of bonding and attachment and can increase your sexual desire. Certified Clinical Sexologist Dawn Michael writes on Wellness.com that by not orgasming, a you may actually decrease your desire for sex. The good news is that you can increase your low sex drive by having more frequent orgasms.
4Increase Of Depression
As Naomi Wolf, author of Vagina: A Cultural History, told Time. Women who don't orgasm often experience sexual frustration which can lead to depression. "If as a woman, you are frustrated sexually and even worse, aroused but denied release, your dopamine system eventually diminishes in anticipation of sex," she said. "With low dopamine activation, you will suffer from a lack of ambition or drive." Not being able to orgasm can also cause low self-esteem which can worsen your depression symptoms.
5Increase In Cervical Infections
In her book Sex: A Natural History, Joann Ellison Rodgers wrote that a female orgasm can decrease cervical infections by promoting good bacteria and flushing out unfriendly bacteria from the cervix. This suggests that if you don't orgasm, the unhealthy bacteria that stays inside of you may put you at an increased risk for cervical infections.
