Expert explains the bizarre orgasm effect that's more common than you think
Topics: News, Health, Sex and Relationships
Gerrard Kaonga
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images
Topics: News, Health, Sex and Relationships
An expert has broken down why this surprising phenomenon can sometimes happen when you orgasm, and why you need not panic if it happens to you.
An orgasm can be.... well, pretty amazing, and there are songs, pieces of art and every other creative outlet dedicated to this euphoric feeling across the world.
With that said, while most of us are aware of that feeling, there is quite an odd thing that can happen for some people, and it would likely have you panicking just a tad.
A woman who often experiences this particular phenomenon has opened up about the ins and outs of it all.
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Taking to Reddit, she penned: “During particularly strong orgasms, my hearing is severely impaired for about five minutes, sometimes longer.
“It feels like my ears are getting blocked but it can’t be removed by yawning, gaping, [or] equalizing the pressure. In addition to surrounding sounds being very low, there’s a strong hissing in my ears.”
That is one way to bring you crashing down from a massive high; fearing you are now losing your hearing.
As you can imagine, the woman had a fair few questions and was asking if anyone had a similar experience.
Thankfully, a Sexual health nurse, Sarah Mulindwa, has explained that this phenomenon actually has a name and is perfectly normal.
Speaking to Metro, she said: "It’s called transient tinnitus, and while it might sound like something out of a medical drama, it’s a genuine phenomenon. Think of it as your body’s way of saying, ‘That was intense’."
Mulindwa, who speaks on behalf of Lovehoney, explained that this could happen to both men and women and noted that there are three main reasons why this can occur - the first reason is a pressure shift in the ear.
She continued: “Orgasms cause a spike in heart rate and blood pressure, which can mess with the delicate pressure balance in your inner ear. That shift can distort how sound is processed, leading to temporary hearing change.’
The second reason is that blood is rushing to different parts of the body when you get down to it and are really turned on.
Mulindwa added: "Blood flow can be redirected away from certain areas, including the cochlea, the part of your ear that is crucial to hearing. Less blood equals less clarity."
And thirdly, it can come down to ‘neural modulation’, simply put, your brain being overloaded.
Mulindwa closed by saying: "Your brain is doing a lot during orgasm; releasing dopamine, oxytocin, and other feel-good chemicals. In the process, it might temporarily dial down activity in areas responsible for hearing, especially if it’s prioritizing pleasure over perception.
"In short, your brain’s reward system goes into overdrive, decreasing activity in other areas."