You can have too much of a good thing.
Nicole Kidman hit headlines earlier this week saying she “didn’t want to orgasm anymore” after filming steamy scenes for her upcoming erotic thriller “Babygirl”
And doctors have no confirmed that “orgasm burnout” experienced by the Oscar-winner is indeed a very real thing.
“Occasionally you may experience a degree of fatigue or burnout if you orgasm multiple times in a short space of time,” Kalila Bolton, co-founder of women’s sexual wellness platform SheSpot, told Yahoo Life.
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As Bolton put it: “When you orgasm, a huge rush of chemicals enter the brain, including dopamine and oxytocin – and it may take some time for you to feel balanced again after a particularly intense session.”
You may also feel extra sensitive in intimate areas after each orgasm which could create overstimulation and discomfort.
“If this is the case, this is a sign to take a break before going again,” advised Bolton. “To support your sexual health following sex sessions always make sure to drink plenty of water after sex, pee afterwards, and also wash around the intimate area.”
Barbara Santini, a psychologist and relationship adviser also revealed to the outlet that orgasm burnout is not just about physical exhaustion but there are psychological and physiological factors that play a part.
“While frequent orgasms lead to a surge of pleasurable neurochemicals, like dopamine and oxytocin, the body can experience a saturation point,” she explained. “When this occurs, the brain’s reward pathways become desensitised, meaning what once felt euphoric now feels overwhelming or even underwhelming. It’s the body’s way of signalling an overload.”
In order to address orgasm burnout, Santini advises recalibrating both mind and body. “I advise slowing down sexual activity and focusing on non-orgasmic intimacy, such as cuddling or sensual touch, to reintroduce a deeper connection without the pressure of climax,” she said.
“Emotional wellbeing plays a huge role, so mindfulness and open communication with your partner can be key in navigating this experience.”
In “Babygirl,” Kidman plays a powerful businesswoman who risks her career and family life to have an affair with her much younger intern, played by “Where the Crawdads Sing” actor Harris Dickinson, 28.
The Oscar winner revealed faking orgasms in her sexual scenes with Dickinson and Antonio Banderas, who plays her husband in the film, would become too much to handle at points.
“There were times when we were shooting where I was like, ‘I don’t want to orgasm any more,’” Kidman stated, according to The Sun.
Kidman even admitted that she would often say, “Don’t come near me” and “I hate doing this” during filming.
“I don’t care if I am never touched again in my life!” she joked.
It turns out that faking orgasms does also lead to real-life burnout.
Bolton noted that in Kidman’s case it was the prolonged imitation of orgasm while filming scenes that caused the burnout she described.
“This is another great lesson to all of us that regularly faking orgasms can be draining, both physically and emotionally,” she added.