Peri-orgasmic phenomena: Why some laugh, cry during climaxing

Unusual afterglow?

A new study reveals that during orgasm, some women experience a slew of physical and emotional responses, which can include laughter, nosebleeds, tears, headaches and even hallucinations.

Published last month in the Journal of Women’s Health, this study is believed to be the first to investigate the frequency of these episodes, collectively known as peri-orgasmic phenomena.

“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,” said lead study author Dr. Lauren Streicher.

While only 2.3% of participants reported these pleasure-adjacent symptoms, Streicher noted that raising awareness about peri-orgasmic phenomena is critical to normalizing the spectrum of female sexual responses.

“Women need to know that if they have uncontrollable peals of laughter every time they orgasm (and nothing was funny), they are not alone,” said Streicher.

To gather data, Streicher and the Northwestern University team posted a short video that detailed peri-orgasmic phenomena. Some 3,800 women viewed the video and answered an anonymous, six-question survey about any unusual responses they experience during an orgasm.

Of the 86 respondents who self-identified as experiencing peri-orgasmic phenomena, 61% reported physical symptoms and 88% reported emotional responses.

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

Physical symptoms among survey respondents:

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

Emotional responses among survey respondents:

• Crying (63%)
• Sadness or urge to cry with a positive sexual experience (43%)
• Laughing (43%)
• Hallucinations (4%)

While the majority of these women (69%) said their orgasms occasionally included these experiences, 17% experienced them consistently.

Interestingly, more than half of the respondents only experienced these symptoms during sexual activity with a partner.

On the flip side, 9% reported symptoms during masturbation and 14% with the use of a vibrator.

Orgasms with or without these phenomena are critical to women’s overall well-being, as regular orgasm contributes to improved psychological and physical functioning.

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

Previous research has described female orgasms as “biologically elusive,” and lady Os were once thought to be irrelevant to normal sexual functioning.

That rhetoric has blessedly been debunked, as recent studies show that climaxing plays a critical role in women’s wellness.

For those looking to further their own orgasmic potential, with or without hysterics, consider exercising, engaging in tantric breathwork or even sparking up before turning on.

A 2024 study revealed that cannabis can help women achieve more frequent and satisfying orgasms.