Orgasms get all the attention—and rightly so, I’m not here to take the spotlight off your mind-blowing moment of mental bliss—but let’s be honest, the show isn’t over when the moaning stops. Orgasm is just a few seconds but the cuddles can be hours of post orgasmic sustained hormonal release.
Post-sex cuddling, snuggling, spooning, skin-to-skin sighs—that delicious afterglow—isn’t just cute and cozy. It’s biologically powerful. Emotionally anchoring. Sexually sustaining. Honestly, if you’re skipping the aftercare cuddle session, you might be short-changing yourself—and your partner—of the sweetest and most sacred part of the whole experience.
According to sex researcher Dr. Justin Lehmiller in his blog What You Do After Sex Matters, “the best sex isn’t over when the orgasm ends—it’s just entering a new, deeper phase.” If you are new to Dr. Lehmiller, we absolutely love him and his Sex & Psychology Podcast. Check him out!
Let’s dive into that in-between space where our bodies are humming, our hearts are soft, and our minds are unusually open. Spoiler: that’s where the magic is.
Most of us know oxytocin as the “cuddle hormone” or “bonding hormone.” But what most people don’t realize is that it doesn’t release in one big orgasmic pop. It's not a one-and-done party trick. Oxytocin releases gradually and steadily, often ramping up after sex, especially if we stay physically connected.
That’s right. The connection doesn’t peak with climax—it deepens with closeness. With cuddles. With quiet, touchy, unhurried intimacy after the act. Have you ever felt that tingle when touching or being touched by your partner after sex? Each touch, releasing more of that wonderfully connecting Oxytocin and deepening your bond together. …
