Friday Five: 5 Ways Sex Affects Your Brain

Good mood, better skin, better sleep… We've all heard a few of the benefits of sex but have you ever wondered how it can affect your brain?

Keep reading and find out which 5 hormones and neurotransmitters are released during sex 🔥

1. Dopamine: The “Feel-Good” Chemical

This neurotransmitter is your brain’s natural reward system. During sex, your brain releases a surge of dopamine which creates that 'good feeling' we know well after doing something enjoyable – and what amplifies feelings of pleasure and satisfaction.

This motivates you to seek out more of what feels good further reinforcing the pleasurable feelings you experience during orgasm.

2. Oxytocin: The “Bonding” Hormone

Also known as the “love hormone,” oxytocin is released in large quantities during sex and especially during orgasm. It helps foster emotional closeness and trust between you and your partner, which is why you often feel a deeper connection and intimacy after sex.

This hormone also plays a key role in bonding with loved ones, labor, delivery, and lactation, as well as other aspects of human behavior.

3. Endorphins: Nature’s Painkillers

Sex can leave you feeling euphoric and deeply relaxed, thanks to the release of endorphins. These hormones are natural painkillers that reduce stress and alleviate discomfort, much like during a workout. It’s one of the reasons you might feel incredibly calm and content afterward.

Endorphins are produced in your pituitary gland and hypothalamus, both located in the brain.

4. Norepinephrine: The “Alertness Booster”

During moments of arousal, your brain also releases norepinephrine, which increases focus, heart rate, and arousal.

This is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter and it heightens your sensory experience, making the physical sensations of sex more intense and exciting. It also keeps you fully present in the moment, adding to the overall pleasure.

5. Serotonin: The “Mood Stabilizer”

Finally, serotonin plays a role in balancing your mood after sex. Post orgasm, this neurotransmitter contributes to a sense of calm and satisfaction, contributing to a sense of emotional balance and contentment.

While serotonin levels vary between people, it’s often responsible for that relaxed, peaceful feeling after intimacy.

Having high levels of serotonin can help with:

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder

• Social anxiety disorder

• Panic disorder

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Did you know your brain was able to do all of this?🤯

Now that you do, use the hormones and neurotransmitters released during sex to your advantage🔥