WHAT’S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT SEX AND SEX HEALTH?

Gentle, loving intercourse without the goal of orgasm produces a comforting neuroendocrine “cocktail”. It differs profoundly from the fiery neurochemicals of passion-driven sexual arousal. For example, a gentler, heart-centred approach to sex appears to release soothing levels of the “bonding hormone” oxytocin. And relatively less of the fiery surges of dopamine, the neurochemical associated with intense arousal. As a matter of physiology, orgasm is the most intense high that humans can engineer without artificial means. The event of orgasm occurs in the brain, wherever we may feel it happening. During intense sexual arousal a release of potent neurochemicals activates portions of our brain known as “the reward circuitry”. This experience shares much in common with the neurochemical release of drugs of abuse. In fact, addictive activities and substances only “work” because they hijack this circuitry in our brain. Just as alcohol can lead to a hangover after the initial buzz, orgasm produces its own aftermath. The neurochemical blast of climax sets in motion a complex series of neuroendocrine dominoes. These continue to fall until the brain returns to homeostasis. Some people notice their effects immediately. They may roll over and snore, feel unusually needy, or request “space”. In others the effects are delayed, self-medicated, or even preceded by an afterglow, such that the person affected doesn’t make the connection between cause and effect. Already researchers know that testosterone spikes briefly 7 days after ejaculation. In women, prolactin surges are common at orgasm and on the following day. Scientists will need years to map the neuroendocrine cycles after climax in humans. To date, most of the relevant work has been done on rats, often by experts in search of lucrative sexual enhancement drugs. Once we understand orgasm’s hidden costs, do we use our “urge to merge” for short-term gratification anyway? Do we avoid those costs by withdrawing into defensive, isolating celibacy? Or do we master ourselves and then steer for Synergy, making deep feelings of oneness and wholeness our goal? Our choice may have implications for everyone touched by the ripples of our lives. Metaphysics teaches that our thoughts, feelings and expectations help to shape our collective experience. The latter course may have more potential for good than we’ve yet realised. It’s why sex matters so much.