Guide to Intimacy with Arthritis: Sex as a Painkiller

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Guide to Intimacy with Arthritis

Question
"Does an orgasm really release amounts of natural cortisone? (Or is my husband just teasing?) I know one feels better after sex. Is this why?”

Answer
It’s not cortisone that makes people feel good after sex, it’s the body’s own natural painkillers, endorphins. At orgasm, says Seifer, the body experiences the same kind of endorphin surge that causes a “runner’s high,” and those endorphins could very well alleviate or at least distract you from your joint pain. The effect can last anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours.