Sadness after orgasm (depression after intercourse) is a condition that affects more than 1/3 of sexually active women. It manifests itself with feelings of depression, irritation and anxiety that appear immediately after intercourse. Surprisingly, even women who are happy in relationships and derive satisfaction from sex complain of similar ailments. Who is at risk of lowgasmic depression and what are its causes?
Feelingsadness after orgasmis a symptom that we don't usually associate with sexual excitement. Meanwhile, a study published in the International Journal of Sexual He alth has shown that almost 33% of women have experienced feelings of depression, melancholy or irritation at least once in their lives after intercourse. 10% of respondents admitted that such symptoms accompany them regularly, even if they love their partner, and sex gives them satisfaction.
What are the sources of this unusual ailment and who may it concern?
Sadness after orgasm: symptoms
Sexual intercourse is divided into four main phases: sexual arousal, plateau, orgasm and relaxation. In the latter, the muscle tension accompanying the excitement subsides, and a mixture of hormones acting as natural antidepressants begins to circulate in the blood: serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. As a result, we feel physical and mental relaxation, we are overwhelmed with bliss, and we feel better.
- What is an orgasm? What happens to a woman's body when she has an orgasm?
- Anorgasmia, or morbid lack of orgasm
Sometimes, however, as the cited studies have shown, instead of relaxation, there is a whole range of feelings that differ significantly from standard reactions to sexual stimuli. These include: sadness, discouragement, anxiety, fear, melancholy, irritability, crying, shame, and even anger and aggression towards your partner. In medical terminology, an ailment with similar symptoms is called PCT, or post-coital tristesse. It is sometimes referred to as poor gas depression or dysphoria after intercourse.
PCT symptoms may last from several minutes to even several hours after intercourse. Importantly, these ailments also occur in men, but it is harder for men to admit to them, hencethe impression that it is the domain of only women.
Sadness after orgasm: reasons
Researchers still do not agree on the unequivocal causes of poorgasm depression. Among the most frequently mentioned factors are:
- biological predisposition - scientists speculate that certain personality types are more prone to depression after orgasm;
- incorrect patterns of sexual behavior - these are most often taken from home, as well as patterns of thinking about sex shaped by religion and culture, which treat this sphere of human life as something bad, unclean. People who have such an image of human sexuality may feel shame, guilt, and therefore also sadness, fear, frustration after intercourse;
- life problems - stress related to the inability to cope with everyday problems may have a negative impact on the quality of sexual life, and thus prevent you from deriving full satisfaction from your relationship;
- low self-esteem - post-orgasm sadness is often caused by low self-esteem and distorted body image. Then the suppressed complexes can manifest themselves in the form of dysphoria after sexual intercourse;
- bad relationships with your partner - both open conflicts and hidden resentments towards your partner can have a direct impact on our reactions during sex. It is worth remembering that orgasm is a state in which we lose control over our emotions, so an outburst of negative emotions can reveal our real relationship to the other person;
- hormone fluctuations - this factor mainly affects women who are more exposed to hormonal changes in the body. Post-orgasm sadness may be related to premenstrual syndrome or taking oral hormonal preparations;
- experience of sexual abuse in youth.
Sadness after orgasm: treatment
Treatment methods for poorgasmic depression largely depend on the severity of symptoms. If the feeling of sadness has appeared once, or it comes back no more than once every few months, it is probably due to periodic hormonal changes or mood swings. In this case, treatment is not necessary.
However, if depressive symptoms after orgasm occur regularly and have a negative impact on the relationship with your partner, appropriate therapy should be initiated. It is worth starting with the analysis of your own emotions, especially the negative ones, because they have the greatest impact on the quality of sexual life. It is necessary to consider what sphere they relate to, whether they are related to everyday problems, withthe attitude of the partner, or maybe they result from our complexes and low self-esteem. Therapy with a specialist, preferably a sexologist, is essential, who will help to discover the source of the problem and propose an appropriate method of treatment. If the ailment is deeply rooted in childhood experiences (sexual harassment, oppressive upbringing), the help of a psychotherapist may be necessary.