The orgasm technique used unknowingly by women to intensify their climax

When it comes to sex, there’s one thing most women do instinctively as we climax. We hold our breath.

You may not even realise you’re doing it at first, until you come up for air as the last pulses of your orgasm subside, but many of us have been wondering why we have this reflex.

‘Whenever I masturbate, I hold my breath a lot,’ one Redditor wrote. ‘I do it leading up to the orgasm and when I actually orgasm. Am I putting my health at risk?’

‘It’s one of the only ways I can orgasm,’ another woman added. ‘My boyfriend doesn’t get it but that’s okay because neither do I.’

‘I do this as well!’ said another. But there’s a rhyme and a reason as to why we do this, according to sexual health nurse Sarah Mulindwa.

Why do we hold our breath to orgasm?

‘For many women, holding their breath happens instinctively as arousal peaks,’ Sarah tells Metro. ‘During orgasm, the body enters a highly charged state where muscles tense, sensations intensify and focus narrows. 

‘Breath-holding is part of that involuntary response – similar to how people hold their breath during moments of anticipation, effort or intense emotion.’

This response is largely driven by our sympathetic nervous system (SNS), Sarah adds. ‘It’s more commonly known as the body’s “fight or flight” response, which briefly takes over,’ she explains. ‘This can override conscious breathing and create that reflexive pause in breath as the body builds toward release.’

Essentially the SNS helps produce the orgasm in our body, and because our system is flooded with an increased heart rate and higher blood pressure, as well as uneven breathing in the run up to peak arousal, holding our breath is a response to this.

Does holding our breath intensify our orgasms?

For some women, yes.

‘Holding our breath can slightly increase pressure in the body and heighten internal sensations, which may make orgasms feel stronger or more concentrated,’ Sarah, Lovehoney’s sexual health nurse, explains.

‘It can also increase focus, blocking out distractions and allowing the brain to fully register pleasure. That said, intensity comes from a combination of physical stimulation, emotional safety and mental presence – breath is just one part of the picture.’

As well as intensifying the sensation, Sarah says: ‘Holding our breath can increase focus, and create a feeling of surrender or loss of control that enhances pleasure.

‘It may also help the pelvic floor muscles contract more strongly, which can contribute to a more powerful orgasm.’

Do men do this, too?

Holding our breath while we climax isn’t exclusively a female habit. One guy wrote on Reddit: ‘Does anyone else need to hold their breath in order to orgasm? I simply can’t cross that threshold unless I’m holding my breath.’

And Sarah agrees that men do it too, although it’s not quite the same.

‘Men can also hold their breath during orgasm, but it tends to be less noticeable or shorter,’ she explains. ‘That’s partly because male orgasm is usually quicker and more reflex-driven, while many women experience a longer build-up where breath, tension and control play a bigger role.’

Some women may also face the issue of not being able to orgasm unless they’re purposefully holding their breath, and Sarah admits this isn’t unusual.

‘For those women, breath-holding may be part of a learned arousal pattern,’ she says. ‘Over time, the body associates that specific combination of tension, focus and breath control with orgasm.

‘It doesn’t mean it’s the only way they can orgasm, but it may be the way their body feels most familiar and safe reaching climax.’

Does this orgasm technique have side effects?

Holding our breath so intensely might feel like it’s not good for us, but for healthy individuals, Sarah says ‘brief breath-holding’ during orgasm isn’t harmful.

‘That being said, prolonged breath-holding or bearing down excessively can cause light-headedness or dizziness,’ she adds. ‘If someone has cardiovascular issues, blood pressure concerns, or feels faint during sex, it’s better to avoid intentional breath-holding and focus on steady breathing instead.’

The most obvious drawback is that breath-holding can sometimes increase the tension rather than letting it release during orgasm, according to the nurse.

‘For women who struggle to orgasm, over-holding the breath can actually make it harder by keeping the body in a stressed state,’ she adds.

Ultimately, it’s what works for you

‘There’s no “correct” way to breathe during orgasm,’ the nurse says.

For some it comes easier if they hold their breath, while others prefer breathing deeply or even ‘moaning and vocalising’.

‘The key is listening to your body rather than forcing a technique,’ Sarah says. ‘Pleasure works best when the body feels relaxed, safe and allowed to respond naturally.’

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