Ah, the post-sex afterglow. Catching your breath as you lie next to your partner, both of you sweaty and satisfied, no thoughts swirling around your mind. It is maybe (probably?) one of the best feelings in the world.

And for good reason. There’s loads of evidence that shows sex is good for you: during sex, your body releases a hormone called oxytocin (dubbed the ‘love hormone’), which peaks at orgasm, and which not only helps you feel more bonded to and intimate with your partner (hence the afterglow!), but also calms your nerves, lowers your stress levels, and can even help reduce pain.

There’s a whole host of physical benefits too. According to a series of recent studies, regular sex can lower your risk of heart disease and prostate cancer, improve your sleep quality, and even boost your immune system. Win, win, win, win.

Obviously the level of your afterglow depends on the quality of the sex you’re having — and you’re probably not going to feel so great after mediocre or even bad sex, in which your pleasure wasn’t prioritised at all.

To give you an insight into how women feel after good (and mediocre) sex, we pulled some of the best responses from an r/AskWomen thread on the topic. Read on, enjoy, and reminisce ;)

15 women on how sex affects their minds and bodies

  1. “Mood: always improved. Confidence: it doesn’t make me feel better about myself, but it does make me feel secure and wanted. It makes me feel like my relationship is doing well and we are connected. Emotional wellbeing: I love it, I feel bummed when I go too long without it. It makes me sleep better and feel happier.” [via]
  2. “I feel like a whole part of me is shut off if it isn’t a part of my life.” [via]
  3. “Depends entirely on the sex and the partner. Some sex is life-affirming and soul-soothing; some sex is so mediocre that it makes me feel lonely and depressed while it’s happening; most sex is somewhere in the middle.” [via]
  4. “For me, sex affects a lot. I could be having a horrible day — feeling like shit, depressed, unattractive, mood fucked up in general, just feeling like everything is so bad — but 15 to 20 mins with my boyfriend and it’s like a switch, everything just changes and I feel good, so much happier, confident, and just pumped to go on with my day.” [via]
  5. “It gives me a massive boost — I’m happier, more secure in my relationship, and I let small things go easier.” [via]
  6. “If I go too long without sex, my judgement feels clouded. I get headaches and migraines frequently, but orgasms help reduce tension.” [via]
  7. “Sex helps lighten my mood. If I’m feeling low or sad, it lifts me up. If I’m stressed, I experience low arousal but that’s when I need love the most and it has the most benefit. It can be a fun and playful experience. To feel wanted and desired by the person I also desire and love feels incredible. Emotionally, it’s a beautiful way to connect. I appreciate it very much as a way to connect and convey love and care with someone special, and feel it contributes positively to my emotional wellbeing.” [via]
  8. “It’s not just sex itself, but sex *with my husband* that is the important bit. It elevates my mood and improves my feeling of well-being.” [via]
  9. “It makes me confident, and I feel like a new person after doing it. It makes me feel hot too. Sometimes, I feel like it also adds some glow to my face the morning after.” [via]
  10. Sex definitely helps me feel more relaxed, happier, more connected to my husband, and more positive about my body. We often discuss that sex feels like more of a necessity than an optional activity. Like eating, or sleeping, it’s essential maintenance of the person and the partnership.” [via]
  11. “It has zero impact on any part of my life. Because I haven’t done it in seven years. And seven years ago was my first time. It wasn’t bad, no horror stories. Yeah, I’m horny, but I’m also chill.” [via]
  12. “Bad sex makes me feel violated, angry, and sad. Good sex makes me feel buoyant, joyful, inspired, and connected (also desperate for more more more more).” [via]
  13. “I can sleep better so I’d say I’m pretty happy with that.” [via]
  14. “I’m rarely in the mood for it but then I also get ratty if I go too long without it.” [via]
  15. “Vitamin D is extremely important to my mental health and wellness.” [via]

Some responses have been edited and condensed for clarity.