Most women will have at least one story about a disappointing sexual escapade, or an intimate relationship that left them unfulfilled. Reddit forums are littered with anecdotal evidence of the orgasm gap; the phenomenon that women have fewer orgasms than men during heterosexual sex.
It’s rarer to hear women complain about having too many orgasms. So when Nicole Kidman admitted that she had to stop filming the erotic thriller Babygirl several times because she was so turned on, it gave many pause for thought.
How many orgasms are too many? MailOnline’s sex expert Tracey Cox has warned that too much of a good thing can occasionally upset the body’s hormonal balance, causing mood swings and fatigue.
Kidman, 57, almost suffered a sexual burnout while filming Babygirl, which will be released in January.
In Bodies Bodies Bodies’s next film from director Halina Reijn, the 57-year-old Oscar winner plays a powerful CEO who has an illicit affair with a younger intern (played by Iron Claw actor Harris Dickinson).
Nicole Kidman recently admitted that she had to stop filming the erotic thriller Babygirl several times because she was so turned on
The Oscar winner plays a powerful CEO who has an illicit affair with a much younger intern in Halina Reijn’s next film.
The drama, which received a six-and-a-half-minute standing ovation during its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, also stars 64-year-old Antonio Banderas as Kidman’s on-screen husband.
According to The Sun, Kidman recalled feeling so overwhelmed by her intense on-screen romp that she declared, “I don’t want to have an orgasm anymore.”
The Perfect Couple actress explained: ‘There were times when we were filming and I was like, “I don’t want to have an orgasm anymore.”
‘Don’t come near me. I hate doing this. I don’t care if I never get touched again in my life! I’m over it,” Kidman continued. ‘It was so present for me all the time that it almost seemed like a burnout.’
Commenting on the possible side effects of a prolonged period of pleasure, Tracey joked: ‘I’ve never heard of ‘death by orgasms’ in humans!’
Although having multiple orgasms is considered safe for humans, Tracey recalled an experiment where scientists wired a mouse so that each time a lever was pressed, it caused an orgasm.
“The mouse died within 24 hours of an orgasm overdose,” she continued. ‘Hopefully with a smile on my face.’
However, having too many orgasms in a short period of time can occasionally upset the body’s hormonal balance, she added.
Kidman recalled feeling so overwhelmed by her intense on-screen romp that she declared, “I don’t want an orgasm anymore.”
Babygirl premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in August and will be released in the UK in January
The film also begins with Harris Dickinson as the younger man who seduces Kidman’s character
Tracey explained: ‘Orgasms cause the release of chemicals such as oxytocin, dopamine and endorphins, which make us feel pleasure. But too much of this in a short period of time can lead to intense irritability.
‘Repeatedly increasing these hormone levels can disrupt the body’s balance and lead to mood swings and fatigue.’
Experts also warn of the risk of prolonged stimulation causing abrasions and bruises, as well as overstimulation during the refractory period.
The refractory period is the recovery phase after orgasm, during which time it is virtually impossible to climax again.
Women tend to have a shorter refractory period, making them more likely to orgasm more than once during a single sex session.
Overstimulation can sometimes be painful, especially during this recovery period when the genitals are hypersensitive.
For maximum pleasure, Tracey previously shared eight steps that will help you achieve multiple orgasms.
She suggested experimenting with the way you breathe, explaining that some experts believe holding your breath can deepen the feeling of an orgasm.
Others recommend breathing more deeply to experience a more pleasant release.
Tracey’s other tips include trying “different stimulation and orgasm triggers,” practicing Kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles in your pelvic floor, and experimenting with “peaking.”
Peaking involves bringing yourself to the brink of orgasm, letting it subside, and then climbing back up toward sexual release.
Finally, Tracey advised: take your time.
There is some evidence that the strength of your orgasm depends on the duration of foreplay and other forms of stimulation you experience during sex.
‘Although most of us can masturbate to orgasm in a few minutes (especially if we use a vibrator), it feels more satisfying during sex with a partner if you are in the ‘plateau’ stage (the stage after arousal and before orgasm) have lingered before you tip over,” Tracey added.