Sunday, September 7, 2008

Orgasms are great for pain relief

I sprained my ankle last Friday, on the very day we were preparing to go out of town to a conference/family getaway on Labor Day weekend. Delighted Husband hadn't been home ten minutes when he asked with concern how my ankle was feeling, I gave him a mischievous grin and said, "You know honey, orgasms are good for pain relief". And they were! By lifting my pelvis up with our Liberator wedge, it was easy to keep my knees and ankles up out of the way. By the time we were done, I forgot I even HAD an ankle. Much less a sprained one.

When I talk about our slogan "promoting pleasure for wives and the husbands who love them", sometimes people assume it's all about wild nights hanging from the chandelier. While special amazing nights and afternoons do happen, I think it's more important to redeem almost-missed opportunities when headaches or sprained ankles could keep you from having great sex, but they don't.

I had forgotten about this story even though it only happened a week ago. (What can I say? Sometimes I have a short attention span!) But I was reminded of this lovely pain-relieving event when my friend Shannon shared her story on Facebook talking about how an orgasm with her husband made her headache go away. She asked if anyone had had a similar experience, and I thought with a grin, "Yeah, I have!" so I shared my story. Sometimes we need to be reminded of our own good stories. Sometimes we need the spark of an idea to remind us to reclaim good things that have been brought into our lives and to remember them with gratitude. In our often crazy, bumpy road world, it's so important to cling to what is good and to smile at a happy memory. So often, a friend helps me do this.

I'm so thankful for community. There is this marvelous dynamic of 1+1=3 when we share our hearts with another. Yesterday, I prayed about a situation nearly all day and the big turnaround came when I called my girlfriends and prayed together. Today as I read my friend Shannon share her story, it brought to mind stories of my own that I needed to be reminded of. Yes we have to own our own heart and take care of it. Some personal choices mean the world to us. Yet, as the same time, when listening to other people share their story evokes something in our own heart, they are influencing us for greater good. I've been noticing this dynamic a lot lately. Sending out my love and thanks to Cristin and Sue and Shannon. The way you offered your heart yesterday made me a better woman.
Mwah!
Shula

9 comments:

Mark 9:24 said...

SW,

You have experienced orgasms making pain go away.

Would this help with my wife when she gets migraines?

Mark

Sensuous Wife said...

Mark,
I'm sorry to hear your wife gets migraines. Ouch!
I am not a doctor so there's no way I can say for sure whether an orgasm would help migraine or not.

I do know that orgasms release endorphines brain chemicals that are as powerful as narcotics.

Perhaps you and your wife could consider making orgasm a healthy fun part of your wellness plan. Wellness is about choosing in advance to build healthy stuff into your lifestyle. Orgasms promote hormonal balance, relieve stress and strengthen your bond as a couple. Sounds like wellness to me!

If you want a more definitive answer to whether or not orgasm could help prevent or alleviate migraines, I suggest you ask an endocrinologist who specializes in reproductive medicine. Those kind of doctors have special training in hormonal health as it relates to sexual function.

I pray God shows you and your dear wife her path to healing. I want her to be well and enjoy herself.
I wish you the best,
Shula

Bijoux said...

I have found that orgasms help with cramps as well.

Amazed said...

In a recent journal article by Randolph W. Evans, M.D. and James R. Couch, M.D., Ph.D., the authors open by saying,

"Occasionally, orgasm can trigger a Migraine but, in others, can relieve a Migraine. Dr. Couch's data suggests that some women who decline, 'Not tonight, I have a headache,' may be avoiding an effective treatment."2

study of Migraine relief with sexual intercourse in women was undertaken at Headache Clinic at Southern Illinois University. For those who obtained relief through orgasm, the level of relief varied, but it is interesting to note that of those who obtained any relief, the largest subset is those who obtained complete relief. Of study participants, 47.4% had complete relief, 49.1% had no relief, and for 5.3%, orgasm made their Migraine worse.2

In comparing the efficacy of orgasm to that of Migraine abortive medications, orgasm is significantly less effective than triptans or DHE, but when it is effective, the onset of relief is faster than.

Dr. Evans and Dr. Couch conclude their journal article with this statement,


"The issue of suppression of headache by orgasm does bring up the possibility of suppression of one multi-faceted, presumably neural origin syndrome (Migraine) by another neural event (perception of sexual orgasm). Perhaps there are other situations in which an indigenous neural process might be used to suppress Migraine. Certainly there are some interesting theoretical possibilities here."

Evans, Randolph W. & Couch, R. (2001). "Orgasm and Migraine." Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 111 (6), 512-514.

Sensuous Wife said...

Wow, thanks, Amazed!

I googled the article and read it on about.com

This particular quote caught my attention, " study of Migraine relief with sexual intercourse in women was undertaken at Headache Clinic at Southern Illinois University. For those who obtained relief through orgasm, the level of relief varied, but it is interesting to note that of those who obtained any relief, the largest subset is those who obtained complete relief. Of study participants, 47.4% had complete relief, 49.1% had no relief, and for 5.3%, orgasm made their Migraine worse.2

In comparing the efficacy of orgasm to that of Migraine abortive medications, orgasm is significantly less effective than triptans or DHE, but when it is effective, the onset of relief is faster than."

Wow, Mark. Sounds like it would be worth trying a few times. What do you think?

Sensuous Wife said...

Excellent point, Cocotte. Orgasms have always lessened menstrual cramp pain for me too.

Anonymous said...

Orgasms help with stomach and back pain, too.

Mark 9:24 said...

These are all very interesting replies. I really like the idea of orgasms being part of a wellness plan.

The reason I was asking is that my wife gets a migraine one to two days before the onset of menstruation. Every month.

Mark

Mark 9:24 said...

Oh yes. From what has been posted I'm sure willing to try sex and orgasm as a way to relive my wife's Migraines. If she agrees)

I'm just unselfish that way. :)

Mark