Orgasms for Good Health!
Jeff Morris
There’s much more to orgasms than just pleasure, and Dr. Derrick DeSilva wants you to know that. He’s been compiling the health benefits of orgasms, and he intends to discuss his findings on Friday, April 28, when he will present “The Benefits of Orgasms in the Aging Population” at the AMMG Conference in Miami. During this presentation, the clinical benefits along with the data to support the clinical benefits of an orgasm will be reviewed.
Information on orgasm has not always been easy to obtain. Dr. DeSilva points out that, for whatever the reason, female orgasm in particular has traditionally been seen as somewhat of a taboo subject. Research into female orgasm has left much to be desired, particularly when compared to research into male orgasm. In a 2014 study into the variation in orgasm occurrence, it was revealed that 63% of single women experienced an orgasm during sexual intercourse with their partner. This figure is in comparison to 85% of single men. Why the difference? It’s something that researchers are now beginning to study.
Dr. DeSilva says one key factor could be that the male orgasm is typically linked with ejaculation and, therefore, potential reproduction. By contrast, it could be argued that the benefit of orgasm for women is of no obvious reproductive purpose and instead is just a source of pleasure. However, research is beginning to reveal the health benefits of orgasm for women and men beyond the exhilarating pleasure of climaxing.
What is an orgasm? Dr. DeSilva points to several physical sensations, including involuntary release of muscle tension, a series of muscular contractions, verbal and auditory emissions of pleasure, and increased heart and breathing rate. “But,” he notes, “not everybody experiences sex and orgasm the same way.”
Also, especially among the aging population, there are numerous roadblocks that interfere with the ability to reach sexual climax. Dr. DeSilva will enumerate these, particularly the many prescription medications that affect orgasm.
One of the chief benefits of orgasm is improved mood, Dr. DeSilva points out. He cites the mood hormones that are released; he notes regular sex can help to combat the blues, and it can also keep us connected to our partner—and a strong relationship can do wonders for our mental well-being.
Dr. DeSilva also remarks on improved cognition; he cites a 2013 study by Rutgers University researchers, which showed that orgasm in women during masturbation caused the brain to light up in the cortical, subcortical, and brainstem regions.
For men, research has found that engaging in regular sex makes them less likely to suffer from prostate cancer, and that ejaculation helps to release toxins from the body and promote healthy functioning. In fact, Dr. DeSilva says, a decade-long study published in the British Journal of Urology International determined that ejaculating at least four times per week can lower the risk for prostate cancer by up to 30% in men over 50.
Dr. DeSilva has also found evidence that orgasm can combat pain, build up the immune system, and improve cardiovascular function. He has also found studies showing the increased blood flow during orgasm and release of substances including oxytocin and collagen have positive impact on the skin.
Additional evidence links frequency of orgasms with longevity. In one four-year Welsh study cited by Dr. DeSilva that followed 918 men between the ages of 45 and 59, it was found that those with “high orgasmic frequency” lowered their mortality risk by as much as 50%. And other researchers found a link between orgasms, health, and longevity, particularly in women who orgasmed frequently, who lived longer than their female counterparts who didn’t.
Dr. DeSilva concludes, “There are no side effects with an orgasm…just benefits.”
Derrick DeSilva, Jr., M.D. will present “The Benefits of Orgasms in the Aging Population” on Friday, April 28 at Clinical Applications for Age Management Medicine in Miami, Florida.
For information about upcoming Age Management Medicine Conferences, visit agemed.org.