Human orgasms usually result from physical sexual stimulation of the penis in males typically accompanied by ejaculation and of the clitoris and vagina in females. Physical stimulation is not requisite though, as possibilities exist to reach orgasm through psychological means alone. During sleep, a sex dream can trigger an orgasm and the release of sexual fluids.
The health effects surrounding the human orgasm are diverse. There are many physiological responses during sexual activity, including a relaxed state, as well as changes in the central nervous system , such as a temporary decrease in the metabolic activity of large parts of the cerebral cortex while there is no change or increased metabolic activity in the limbic i. In a clinical context, orgasm is usually defined strictly by the muscular contractions involved during sexual activity , along with the characteristic patterns of change in heart rate , blood pressure , and often respiration rate and depth.
There is some debate about whether certain types of sexual sensations should be accurately classified as orgasms, including female orgasms caused by G-spot stimulation alone, and the demonstration of extended or continuous orgasms lasting several minutes or even an hour.
In both sexes, they are extremely pleasurable and often felt throughout the body, causing a mental state that is often described as transcendental, and with vasocongestion and associated pleasure comparable to that of a full-contractionary orgasm. For example, modern findings support the distinction between ejaculation and male orgasm. Orgasms can be achieved during a variety of activities, including vaginal , anal , oral , manual , non-penetrative sex , or masturbation.
They may also be achieved by the use of a sex toy or an erotic electrostimulation. Achieving orgasm by stimulation of the nipples or other erogenous zones is rarer.
