Is there an orgasm during childbirth? 2026

The French psychologist Thierry Postel has carried out a study entitled Childbirth climax: The revealing of obstetrical orgasm, in which he has tried to find an estimate of the evidence of the pleasure that women feel during childbirth. To do this, they conducted an online survey of 956 French midwives. Although only 109 gave complete answers, 206,000 births had been registered by them throughout their careers. According to reports, 668 mothers had experienced orgasmic and pleasurable sensations during this labor, but only 9 had enjoyed orgasm during the birth itself.

In conclusion, Postel's study concluded that an orgasmic experience can be achieved in 0.3% of births.

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Following this same line, the author of the documentary Orgasmic Birth: The Best-kept Secrety of the book Orgasmic Birth: Your guide to a safe, satisfying and pleasurable birth experience, Debra Pascali-Bonaro, comments "most women associate childbirth with the traditional belief that it is a painful and sacrificial action. What they do not know is that it can be an extremely pleasant experience, with intense sensations of pleasure, which ultimately take control of one's body to give rise to a safe, memorable and joyful birth.”

Bonaro affirms that all women can achieve obstetric orgasm with training and focus, but that they must first eliminate the ancient belief of associating it with pain.

How can you experience an orgasm during childbirth?

It's simpler than it may seem. Let's start with the anatomical part. The center of female pleasure, considered our particular penis, is the clitoris. From the outside we can only see the tip of the iceberg, a small portion of this structure, but the reality is that it is much larger since it extends into the interior of our vagina and forms what is known as the “G Spot” or anterior entrance. That is why many women experience orgasms vaginally, because the clitoris is still present in the first portion. At birth, the baby rubs this entire area, stimulating it very intensely and facilitating sensations of pleasure.

When our water breaks, we enter the chemical part. A host of hormones come into play. Relaxin, adrenaline, endorphins or oxytocin are some of them. Relaxin is responsible for relaxing our body, promoting mobility and stability.

Adrenaline prepares us for action by activating our body. Endorphins act as the body's natural anesthetics. And, finally, oxytocin, one of the most important. Known as the "love hormone" it is the main cause of orgasms and sexual arousal. For this reason, during labor contractions, many women can have orgasmic or pleasurable sensations, since they are similar to those produced during the climax itself. Furthermore, if the woman is in a calm and trusting environment, the birth will be shorter and will be experienced with less stress on the part of the child and the mother.

Finally, a part of physical and mental preparation comes into play. If the woman has done relaxation exercises and meditation, she will be able to relax and focus her attention on pleasure more easily. In addition, having attended childbirth preparation classes, practicing Pilates or yoga will help your muscles, both external and internal, be ready for the physical effort they are going to face.

For more information, you can consult the website, where materials, courses and detailed information on obstetric orgasm are displayed.