Pre- and post-orgasm phenomena: Why some people laugh and cry during orgasm

Unusual afterglow?

A new study shows that during orgasm, some women experience a range of physical and emotional reactions, which may include laughter, nosebleeds, tearing, headaches and even hallucinations.

The study, published last month in the Journal of Women’s Health, is believed to be the first to examine the frequency of these events, collectively known as the peri-orgasmic phenomenon.

“While there are case reports of women laughing, crying, or experiencing unusual physical symptoms during orgasm, this is the first study to describe what these phenomena are and when they are most likely to occur,” said lead study author Lauren Streicher, Ph.D.

While only 2.3 percent of participants reported these pleasure-related symptoms, Streicher noted that increasing awareness of pre- and post-orgasmic phenomena is critical to normalizing the range of women’s sexual responses.

“Women need to know that if they laugh uncontrollably every time they orgasm (and there’s nothing funny about it), they’re not alone,” says Streicher.

To collect data, Streicher and the Northwestern team released a short video detailing the phenomenon during orgasm. About 3,800 women watched the video and answered an anonymous six-question survey about any unusual reactions they experienced during orgasm.

Of the 86 respondents who said they experienced the phenomenon during orgasm, 61% reported physical symptoms and 88% reported emotional reactions.

Of this group, more than half experienced multiple symptoms, and 21% experienced both physical and emotional symptoms.

Survey respondents’ physical symptoms:

• Headache (33%)
• Muscle weakness (24%)
• Foot pain/tingling (19%)
• Facial pain/itching/tingling (6%)
• Sneezing (4%)
• Yawning (3%)
• Earache/other ear sensations (2%)
• Nosebleeds (2%)

Survey respondents’ emotional reactions:

• Cry(63%)
• Feeling sad or wanting to cry due to a positive sexual experience (43%)
• Laugh (43%)
• Hallucinations (4%)

While the majority of women (69%) said their orgasms were occasional, 17% experienced them consistently.

Interestingly, more than half of the respondents experienced these symptoms only during sex with their partner.

On the other hand, 9% reported experiencing symptoms during masturbation and 14% experienced symptoms while using a vibrator.

Orgasms with or without these phenomena are crucial to a woman’s overall health, as regular orgasms help improve mental and physical functioning.

A good orgasm has the power to rewire the brain, releasing feel-good chemicals that enhance the connection between partners, including dopamine and oxytocin, while also promoting mental health.

Previous research has described female orgasm as “biologically elusive” and it was once thought to be unrelated to normal sexual function.

Fortunately, this myth has been debunked, as recent research shows that orgasms play a vital role in women’s health.

For those who want to further enhance their orgasmic potential, whether suffering from hysteria or not, consider exercising, practicing tantric breathing, or even stimulating sexual desire before intercourse.

A 2024 study suggests that cannabis can help women achieve more frequent, more satisfying orgasms.