'Orgasmic phenomena' explains why some people have unusual reactions during climax

A new study has delved into sexual climaxes and how people experience different 'episodes' in the euphoric state, which can even include hallucinations and nosebleeds.

It's no secret - sex can feel pretty darn good.

But when it comes to the number of people laughing or even crying after feeling the pleasure associated with an orgasm, the number is higher than you'd think.

It's something known as peri-orgasmic phenomena - and no, it's got nothing to do with Nando's.

A scientific study investigating the phenomenon published in December 2025 found that some women can experience several physical and emotional responses while climaxing.

While studies have been carried out on the duration or frequency with which people are doing the deed nowadays, this one is focused on the act itself.

The data was published in the Journal of Women's Health, becoming the first study to document the frequency of these peri-orgasmic phenomena episodes.

Women have reported feeling the phenomena during orgasm (Getty Stock Image)

Lead study author Dr Lauren Streicher explained: "While there have been case reports of women laughing, crying or having unusual physical symptoms during orgasm, this is the first study to characterize what these phenomena are and when they are most likely to occur."

Responses can also include laughter, nosebleeds, yawning and headaches among other things.

The study involved around 3,800 women being shown a short video explaining peri-orgasmic phenomena, before being asked to complete an anonymous six-question survey about unusual responses they may have had while orgasming.

Steicher, along with the Northwestern University team, found that 2.3 percent of participants reported these symptoms, as the lead author wanted to bring attention to it in order to normalise the spectrum of female sexual responses.

She added: “Women need to know that if they have uncontrollable peals of laughter every time they orgasm (and nothing was funny), they are not alone.”

Speaking of the 86 women who claimed they had gone through peri-orgasmic phenomena, 61 percent said they'd experienced physical symptoms, while 88 percent admitted to having emotional responses.

A combined 21 percent experienced both, while over half experienced several symptoms.

Over half of participants reported experiencing symptoms with a partner (Getty Stock Image)

Physical responses reported

• Headache (33 percent)
• Muscle weakness (24 percent)
• Foot pain/tingling (19 percent)
• Facial pain/itching/tingling (6 percent)
• Sneezing (4 percent)
• Yawning (3 percent)
• Ear pain/other ear sensation (2 percent)
• Nosebleed (2 percent)

Emotional responses reported

• Crying (63 percent)
• Sadness or feeling urge to cry after positive sexual experience (43 percent)
• Laughing (43 percent)
• Hallucinating (4 percent)

A whopping 69 percent of these women said their orgasms would occasionally feature these experiences, while 17 percent said they noticed these symptoms consistently.

Over half of participants reported experiencing symptoms during sexual activity with a partner, while nine percent reported having these responses during masturbation and 14 percent admitting it happened with the use of a vibrator.