Non-Genitally Stimulated Orgasms Increase Plasma Prolactin in a Menopausal Woman

Objective measures of orgasm in both women and men include increased plasma prolactin and characteristic pelvic floor contractions. Typically, these are induced by genital and other erogenous stimulation, but can occur through fantasy and willful activation of pelvic floor and abdominal muscles that likely stimulate pudendal, hypogastric, and pelvic nerves without any direct genital stimulation. It has been shown previously that non-genitally stimulated orgasms (NGSOs) from tantra result in lawful increases in prolactin in a premenopausal woman. The present study examined whether a systematic technique of pelvic floor exercises induces NGSOs that are accompanied by lawful increases in prolactin.

A menopausal woman trained in a systematic technique of pelvic floor movements and able to induce orgasms fully clothed with those movements alone, agreed to induce a 2.5-min and 10-min orgasm at 48-hr intervals, along with a control condition (10-min Pilates workout). Blood samples were taken immediately before, immediately after, and 15 min after each session, and analyzed for prolactin, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and total testosterone using ELISA. Pelvic floor movements were observed during a 5-min orgasm using the Lioness 2.0 biofeedback sensor.

Prolactin levels increased by to 110% and 141% of baseline, respectively, after the 2.5- or 10-min NGSO. No changes were observed in the other hormones. The Pilates workout resulted in a 12% decrease in prolactin levels. The Lioness sensor revealed that orgasms came at 7- to 15-sec intervals throughout the 10-min session, and were preceded by an upswing of pelvic floor contractions.

As with genitally-stimulated orgasms, increases in prolactin accompany NGSOs induced by specific pelvic floor movements and occur in women regardless of their reproductive status. The induction of NGSOs represents a new vista in the study of women's orgasms and a potential therapeutic intervention for women with orgasm difficulties.