What does an orgasm feel like? 10 women share their experiences

Climax, release, orgasm, the big O. We have many words for it, but no word truly captures what an orgasm is. It remains fascinating. Almost magical sometimes. A physical sensation that takes over, quiets your mind and completely lifts you out of yourself for a moment. For some it’s an explosion, for others a wave or deep sigh of release. Because an orgasm feels different for everyone and is so difficult to describe, these ten women have tried to describe as honestly and accurately as possible what happens in their body at that moment.

1. “My mind literally shuts down”
The moment I climax, my thoughts disappear completely. I normally tend to analyze a lot, but not during an orgasm. It’s like someone clicks a switch. I sometimes hear my sounds, but I’m not consciously aware of making them. Only afterwards, my mind slowly returns and I feel just how relaxed my body is.

2. “It starts as tension and ends as softness”
With me, an orgasm builds slowly. First, I feel tension in my lower belly, as if everything clenches. Then there’s a moment where there’s release and my whole body softens. My muscles relax, my breath deepens. It’s not an explosion, but a deep unleashing.

3. “It’s like my body takes control for a moment”
I can’t control or plan an orgasm. It either happens or it doesn’t. When it does, it feels as if my body takes over from my mind. My hips move on their own, my breathing quickens and I don’t have to think about anything anymore. I actually enjoy that loss of control.

4. “I feel it all over my body, not just there”
For me, an orgasm isn’t in a single spot. It radiates out. My chest, my arms, even my toes tingle. Sometimes I get goosebumps. It’s as if my nervous system is wide open for a moment. And then my body feels warm and lazy, almost floating.

5. “It affects me emotionally too”
After an orgasm I often feel vulnerable. Not weak, but open. Tears suddenly come sometimes, without me being sad. It’s more like a discharge of tension that I was apparently holding on to. Afterwards, I feel lighter and closer to myself.

6. “My orgasms aren’t always intense, but they are deep”
I often hear stories about intense climaxes, but it doesn’t always feel like that with me. My orgasms are more subtle. More like an inner wave than an outburst. But I do feel them deep inside, as if something just clicks into place. That feels just as satisfying.

7. “It’s different every time”
Sometimes an orgasm is quick and intense, sometimes it lasts longer and feels scattered. It depends on my mood, my cycle and how safe I feel. I don’t recognize a set pattern and I like that actually. My body responds differently every time.

8. “Time doesn’t seem to exist for a moment”
During an orgasm, I have no sense of time. It could be short or feel long, but that doesn’t really matter. The moment itself feels disconnected from everything around it. Afterwards, I sometimes have to take a little time to settle before I can continue.

9. “My breath plays a big role”
I notice that my breathing changes when I climax. First, it gets shallow and fast, then just deep and slow. It feels like my body resets itself. As if tension is literally being exhaled.

10. “It’s a surprise every time”
I experience such a huge difference in how it feels. A clitoral orgasm is easier for me and feels intense, but shorter. An orgasm during penetration often lasts longer, but feels duller. Usually, my orgasm is more intense when the road leading up to it took longer, and it can really feel like an explosion. But the funny thing is that it doesn’t have to be that way; so it’s always a surprise.