The vagina is “not just a sex organ at all, but a powerful mediator of female confidence, creativity and the sense of the connections between things,” writes Naomi Wolf, summarizing her book, Vagina: A New Biography. Her recent work explores the concept of the brain and vagina operating as a ‘single system’ and the psychological as well as physiological effects of chemical reactions or imbalances like depression.
An author, social critic, and political activist, Naomi aims to raise awareness of the pervasive inequities that exist in society and politics through her work and encourages people to take charge of their lives, voice their concerns and enact change, particularly women whom have trouble voicing their agency.
The relationship between the brain and vagina
“When a woman has an orgasm,” she writes, “and, even before that, when she feels empowered to think about pleasurable sex, anticipate it, focus on how to get it, and feels in control of and knowledgeable enough about her body to know she can probably reach orgasm during sex– her brain gets a boost of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Then, in orgasm, opioids and oxytocin are also released. This experience does not just yield pleasure, a fact that is well known; it also yields specific states of mind. Dopamine is what I call the ultimate feminist neurotransmitter: it yields motivation and goal-orientedness, trust in one’s own judgement and, most notably of all, in my mind, confidence.”
Women are two and a half times more likely than men to take an antidepressant medication — and for many, it’s affecting their sex lives.Feeling pleasure and the fulfillment that comes with a healthy sex life is incredibly important for women’s holistic well-being. While pleasure floods the body with good chemicals, mental health conditions like depression and anxiety can greatly damage how women experience their bodies and sex by numbing pleasure receptors, creating cloudy feelings in the mind that distant women from their surroundings, and creating an alienation between ‘the self’ and the physical self (the body) which is disconcerting in general.
“The whole process of sexual arousal starts with the ability to anticipate pleasure, which is lost with depression,” says Dr. Goodwin, a National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression board member. “People who are depressed are locked in the moment of their suffering.”
The relationship between the brain and the vagina is certainly complex, and definitely two-sided. Anxiety, for example, can lead to decreased blood flow and vaginal dryness which can make sex unpleasant, painful, and even unsafe as tears in the vaginal walls can increase the likelihood of STI transmission. Depression can hamper the ability for women to feel arousal and thus get lubricated, to connect intimately, to feel pleasure, and to orgasm.
A lack of sexual desire can even breed resentment towards a partner as many women agree to have sex even when they’re not in the mood. Often, women are afraid to speak up and say no, especially within a relationship, but it’s important to remember that sexual assault can occur between anyone, and that “No” to a stranger should be just as effective and meaningful when used within a relationship.
How to prevent depression from affecting your vaginal health
For women who are suffering from a mental illness that affects their ability to feel pleasure, there are various methods to try overcoming it and we encourage you to try all of them! A healthy sex life is often ignored in conversations about overall well-being because of the shame, social stigma and taboos that surround a woman openly wanting or enjoying sex is a human right, as is mental health.
The first and most important step is to speak to your doctor to address the underlying issues so that you can be prescribed medication, if appropriate, or enrolled in counseling/therapy. If you do try anti-depressants, be aware that many inevitably cause a lack of sex drive, so you may need to spend a few months trying various drugs to assess their compatibility with your system and needs.
Secondly, talk to your partner! Communication is often the greatest challenge for couples in bed, but once you both are on the same page, you’ll be able to spend more time trouble-shooting, focusing on what you do and don’t like, trying new positions, or adjusting issues in the relationships that manifest in the bedroom. If your down there needs a little extra help, pick up some organic, non-irritating lubricant at the drug store along with your next purchase of Maxim organic tampons!
In the spirit of our mantra for the year, exercising your feminine voice, we hope this gave you the strength to do it in one more important realm of women’s health. Either way, we’re not doctors, so if you’re experiencing any signs of depression, it’s best contact a medical professional, which is yet another way to use your voice in a positive way.
Rock on ladies!…Your vaginas will thank you for it!