You may have heard the French expression " la petite mort " in intimate moments or casual conversations; for those who do not know its meaning, it has to do, of course, with sex.
For some, the word "orgasm" is too common for the out-of-body experience it brings to people. And let's face it, some things just sound sexier in French.
"La petite mort", from the French, the little death, is an expression that means "loss or brief weakening of consciousness."
Philosophers have suggested that this statement speaks of the "psychological loss" that occurs after sex. The idea lies in the fact that orgasm not only causes a physical release, but also a spiritual release.
Others argue that "la petite mort" refers to something more literal: The idea that an orgasm brings us a little closer to death. Of course, the cultural connection between death and sex existed long before "la petite mort" entered the French lexicon.
Aristotle believed that orgasms made women incapable of bearing children. Throughout history, from medieval times to the Victorian era, doctors feared that one's life force could be "spent" by having sex. Thankfully, none of these beliefs turned out to be true.
