This article was scientifically reviewed by Human Sexuality expert Dr. Laurie Mintz. She is a professor, researcher, private practitioner and Fellow of the American Psychological Association.

The tingling build-up of sensations, the rush of blood to your most sensitive areas, an overflow of hormones pulsing through your system, the greatest headrush known to humans. No, we’re not talking about eating ice cream, we’re talking about orgasms (although they sometimes elicit similar responses).

You (hopefully) have a good understanding of what happens physically during an orgasm. You’ve probably even noticed the many ways orgasms can affect your brain, like feeling less stressed, sleeping better, and having more energy. But exactly what is happening in that noggin of yours when you have an orgasm?

The female brain is even more complex than the so-called mystery of female sexual arousal. So let’s connect the dots to understand the neuroscience behind the female orgasm.

Before we can talk about orgasms themselves, we need to talk about what happens before. The buildup of sexual arousal in females. Imagine your brain as a composer in a great symphony. The name of this symphony? The sexual pleasure cycle.

Getting turned on comes from the combination of incoming sensory information, like kissing or seeing someone you’re attracted to, combined with the internal state, aka what’s going on in your mind. Sexual stimulation, outside of genital stimulation, can come from just about anywhere: smells, sounds, sights, and thoughts.

Many researchers break arousal from stimuli into two groups – unconditioned versus learned. The general consensus is that genital arousal is unconditioned. Depending on who you ask, smelling pheromones or other forms of tactile arousal like nipple stimulation or kissing may be a part of that group as well. Learned stimuli would be pretty much anything else that turns you on. Also, importantly, what the brain registers as sexually arousing can change over time (just think about a crush that now gives you the ick).

Sexual Pleasure Symphony

The brain orchestrates visual stimuli coded as erotic, weaving notes from hormones.

The brain is a complex creature. Its symphony of sexual arousal is constantly changing.

Research like this opens up many relevant and interesting questions:

Why is female sexual arousal more dependent on their mental state than males?

What critical role do hormones play in female sexual arousal and enjoyment?

What exactly happens in the intricate structures of the brain during orgasm?

A Clinical Climax

One study tracked brain activity in women during orgasm using fMRI. They observed activity gradually increasing, peaking during orgasm, and decreasing after. Activated regions included the frontal cortex, reward, motor, and sensory areas.

Researchers created an animation of an orgasm, using Nan Wise, Ph.D., as the subject. They used a “hot metal” color scale to show brain activation, from dark red to white, indicating the highest activity levels.

The animation shows brain activity starting in the genital area of the sensory cortex, moving to the limbic system. As orgasm nears, the frontal cortex and cerebellum activate, peaking in the hypothalamus as orgasm climaxes.

The hypothalamus, located deep within the brain, connects the endocrine and nervous systems. It manages sexual behavior, releases hormones, and regulates emotions. Oxytocin is released during orgasm.

Oxytocin, the “love hormone,” stimulates uterine contractions during labor and orgasm. Those orgasm sensations are largely due to oxytocin, making it a crucial hormone in these processes.

The nucleus accumbens, active during orgasm, is key to the reward system. Part of the dopamine pathway, it induces pleasure, with activity tapering off post-orgasm, linking pleasure to brain function.

Out of the Lab and into the Bedroom

As most of us are aware, research on female pleasure leaves something to be desired. We didn’t even learn about the full anatomy of the clitoris until 2005! Females are underrepresented in science in general, but specifically in studies on sexual health and arousal.

A lot of this is because of hesitation from researchers about having to deal with variables like attitudes towards visual sexual stimulation, periods, vaginal responses, and an inconsistency between measured and reported sexual arousal. Sounds like scientists and society not understanding or wanting to make space for the nuances of the female body. We also want to note that research that has been done has been on cis-women, and there is very little gender-diverse representation in sexual health research.

That takes us back to one of our other questions “Why does female sexual arousal seem more dependent on their mental state than male’s’”? Discussion on the orgasm gap aims to explain this. Factors like toxic beliefs about female pleasure, a lack of education on the nature of the female orgasm, and issues with sexual partners impact the brain’s ability to create its orgasmic masterpiece.

There is so much more to learn and understand about all things related to female orgasms, but especially the neuroscience behind them. Understanding what happens during female orgasm is not only fascinating for us science nerds but has practical and clinical applications as well.

The aim of most of this research is to help provide answers and solutions for those experiencing sexual dysfunction like anorgasmia (inability to reach climax). While the neurology behind orgasms is fun to learn about, hopefully, it can also help shed some light for people that aren’t experiencing the kind of sexual pleasure they want and deserve.

Natasha (she/her) is a full spectrum doula, reproductive health content creator, and sexual wellness consultant. Her work focuses on deconstructing the shame, stigma, and barriers people carry around birth, sex, and beyond.

You can connect with Natasha on IG @natasha.s.weiss. to help people navigate through their lives with more pleasure, softness, and sensuality.

VIEW ALL COMMENTS

Cam posted a thought provoking analysis.

The question is: Does female sexual arousal seem more dependent on their mental state than males? I don’t think so.

Cam shared their insights and experiences.

Regarding the orgasm gap. Talk with your partner to reach climax.

Understand your own body. Listen to your partner to know their needs.