When we think of the pleasure of an orgasm, we usually think of sexual release. But what would you say if I told you there were other things that could give you the same type of pleasure? Believe it or not, you don’t have to have sex to receive that type of stimulation – we have compiled 7 different sensations that affect your mind and body the same way.

1          Meditation

The verdict is still out on the overall benefits of meditation, but there are many people who swear by meditation as a path to tranquility. It’s not hard to begin finding similarities to a sexual orgasm, but in this case the experience is more spiritual than physical.

Both sex and meditation have the ability to free us from our conscious thoughts, and research shows that the two activities both increase the blood flow to the prefrontal cortex. Meditation and sex both bring the user to a state of bliss while distracting us from our pain, stress, and body consciousness.

2        Exercise

You’ve probably heard of the “runner’s high”, but there may be more to it than that. Separate studies, performed by NY Magazine as well as Indiana University, found that as many as 40% of women may be able to experience a feeling similar to an orgasm while performing certain types of exercise.

The exercises responsible for this phenomenon might be different from one woman to another, but most often the exercises involved include abdominal strengthening, cardiovascular activity (which increases the blood flow to the vagina), and many exercises which involved tight clothing that may rub against the sensitive areas.

3        Childbirth

Although we don’t typically want to associate our children with orgasms (and for good reason), some women experience a phenomenon called an “orgasmic birth”. In this scenario, the baby’s head will push against the same places inside the mother that would be stimulated during intense sexual activity. This causes a pleasure that helps to counteract some of the pain otherwise involved in childbirth.

An estimated 3% of births will result in this type of orgasm, which is likely assisted by the body’s production of oxytocin – the same bonding chemical that is released when we reach climax with a sexual partner. This hormone is released in order to help the mother form a bond with her baby, and along with beta-endorphins and prolactin create a type of molecular ecstasy.

4        Dreams

Most women are aware that there is a direct connection between their imagination and their sexual stimulation. However, what most aren’t aware of is that genital stimulation is sometimes triggered by completely non-sexual thoughts. This often happens during REM sleep, while our brain is mostly shut down – while simultaneously having increased circulation to the vaginal and pelvic area.

When we think of wet dreams, we typically think of a sexual experience, but unlike men, women do not require direct genital stimulation or particularly erotic thoughts to encourage this type of nocturnal release. (Although they certainly don’t hurt!) The research on this particular phenomenon goes all the way back to 1953, when it was reported that as many as 37% of women are able to orgasm this way.

5        Sounds

Of course the sound of her partner moaning will likely bring a woman closer to orgasm – but for some women, other sounds (such as whispering and the tapping of fingernails) can elicit a fantasy response in the female brain – even if there is no direct sexual connection to be made to the sound.

This particular phenomenon is referred to as an automatic sensory meridian response, or ASMR for short. While this isn’t exactly like an orgasm, it can produce the same sorts of tingles that you might experience in the middle of sexual activity – and it’s not only from sounds, either. Some women feel these tingles while having their hair played with, having their makeup done, or getting an eye exam.

6        Sneezing

I’m sure we’ve all seen that meme that claims that a sneeze is basically 1/10 of an orgasm. Well, as silly as that sounds, there’s actually some truth to it – at least for many people. While there isn’t a lot of scientific evidence to back this one up, there are some significant similarities between the two activities.

First, the nose (like the genitals) contain erectile tissue, so anatomically they are more similar than you might think. Second, both orgasms and sneezes release endorphins in the brain – the “feel-good” hormones that are also associated with “coregasms” (#2). Lastly, they both imply a sense of build-up and then a release, which eliminates the frustrations associated. Scientists might not confirm this one, but we sure do.

7         Shopping

Do you know a woman who is really, really into shopping? Well, science explains that one, too – Focus News determined that when we find a good deal shopping, our brain chemistry shows the same reactions as having mind-blowing sex. The same outlet reported that overspending can create the exact opposite reactions, though, so only savvy shoppers are going to feel this one.

Of course, this phenomenon won’t extend to every woman – so if you’re not really a shopper, most likely you can’t pick this one up just by starting now. Wouldn’t it be great if you could, though!

This list is in no way conclusive – there are millions of things that cause a similar type of release, but they are different from woman to woman. What are some of yours?

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