Sheplaying, bringing more enjoyment and no more pain!
One ordinary weekend, I received an invitation to an event from Sheplaying that was so full of warmth and care that it seemed to say to me, “My dear, time to explore the world within you.”
During the time when I was experiencing Sheplaying, I realized that I no longer felt pain; it was more comfortable than the toys I had been using, and it was as if I had found a “companion” who knew my body better than I knew myself. Apparently, Sheplaying is just a “cold” toy, but I felt warmth in the company of Sheplaying.
In life, pain always seems to follow women—the hidden pain of menstruation, the severe pain of childbirth, even the discomfort of intimate moments, etc. These topics have echoed among girlfriends’ whispers: Why do women always have to bear more pain than men?
With curiosity and disbelief, I have embarked on a journey to Sheplaying’s offline themed event, with the thought in my mind, “I want to know myself better than anyone else.”

01. The Secret of Pain

In ShePlaying’s first part of this initiative, I learned that painful areas that are stimulated send signals to the brain, which serves as a reminder. So, pain is meant to alert us to try to avoid pain in the future. By this logic, boys and girls perceive pain with the same degree of sensitivity. But in practice, this is completely not the case.
There is a key element, one of which is hormones. Depending on the sex, they are divided into estrogen and androgen. Scientists have conducted comparative experiments by injecting different estrogen and androgen hormones into the same species of animal. The results then revealed that estrogen increased the sensation of pain, while androgens, also known as testosterone hormones, eased the pain. In other words, assuming the same cut on the hand, a woman’s brain is alert to far better pain than a man’s. Since women’s bodies are more likely to perceive pain, it’s all the more important for men’s to be gentle with them.
This makes me think that every intimate contact made with Sheplaying is a tender care for the body, which makes me deeply feel that Sheplaying really does “bring more enjoyment.”.

02. The Pain Test of Pregnancy

The second part of the sheplaying activity that followed talked about how women perceive pain differently at different times.
When does a woman’s perception of pain become lower? It is when they are pregnant.
This is the time when a woman’s body experiences an increase in endorphins and a decrease in pain when she feels pain. It’s at this point that a woman’s pain sensation will be similar to a man’s. It’s actually quite understandable; the idea is to increase a woman’s pain tolerance to be able to make it through pregnancy and labor as smoothly as possible. There are times when a woman’s pain level is low, and then there are definitely times when it is high, and that is when the follicles are still maturing. During this period, when women feel pain, endorphin production decreases instead, so that their pain is much more aggravated.
As also stated above, pain means warning, and it reminds women that they must protect themselves from harm at this time. In terms of human evolution, this series of hormonal changes is actually still considered for the purpose of reproduction. For instance, the physical strength of women determines that they will be in a vulnerable position, and the increased perception of pain will allow them to better avoid some of the dangers. At this point, my heart was filled with respect and gratitude for my mother, who had endured so much pain to give birth to me.
Sheplaying, as a part of women’s self-care, spiritually conveys the message that “you deserve to be treated gently, no matter when.”

03. The subtle relationship between pain and estrogen

At the end of the ShePlaying event, I learned how estrogen increases inflammation, which in turn increases women’s pain sensitivity. It has been researched that estrogen enhances the inflammatory response, which makes pain more sensitive. Some scientists also believe that women have more immune cells, which will make them more sensitive to injury and have a stronger natural pain response.
Although women’s immune systems may seem stronger, it also makes them more susceptible to autoimmune diseases.
There are many types of autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis, nephritis, and lupus erythematosus. Many of the patients with this disease are women. The cause of this phenomenon, however, has not yet been fully found. There is, however, data compiled to show that for the new coronavirus, the prevalence of males is higher than that of females. So, both men and women have their own gender advantages and disadvantages.
Sheplaying is such a caring companion, helping us to reduce pain and increase pleasure on the path of exploring ourselves and pursuing pleasure.

By the end of the event, I was filled with unprecedented peace and empowerment. During the ShePlaying program, I was not only able to deepen my understanding of the relationship between gender differences and pain perception, but I also gained revelations about the wisdom of the female body.
No matter who you are, sometimes we need not only a tool but also a “partner” who understands and respects us on our journey of self-exploration and physical pleasure. In this journey, Sheplaying has become an important part of my search for self and pleasure and has made me appreciate and care for my body more.

Sheplaying, “No More Pain, More Joy Awaits!” …