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Topics: Health, Sex and Relationships, News
Gerrard Kaonga
Even after a great sexual experience there is an odd phenomenon many people feel engulfs them that is surprisingly common.
Getting older sees most people discover their sexuality and likes and dislikes in the bedroom, both with and without a partner.
However, there is an often unspoken feeling that many people feels comes over them when they have actually reached an orgasm.
And we aren’t talking about post-nut clarity here; the feeling of mental clarity after reaching an orgasm.
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But instead about being hit with a wave of blues, anxiety, shame or even an overwhelming urge to cry after masturbating or finishing with a partner.
Well, there is actually a term for this feeling - postcoital depression - and a surprising amount of sexually active people are believed to have experienced it at least once.
In fact, 46% of the 230 women aged from 18 to 55 surveyed in a 2015 study published in the journal Sexual Medicine said they’d experienced PCD in the past, while a 2019 questionnaire of 1,208 men revealed 41% reported an episode of PCD in their lifetime.
Sex and relationship psychotherapist Gigi Engle, spoke to Metro on behalf of 3Fun about the less talked about phenomenon.
She said: “Post-coital dysphoria often referred to as the ‘post-sex blues’ – is when someone experiences feelings of sadness or agitation after consensual sex, even if the sexual encounter was loving and pleasurable.
“This can happen whether orgasm was experienced or not, but often is a comorbidity with orgasm.”
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a lot of studies into the causes of PCD.
Mental health experts have weighed in on the phenomenon and offered a slew of possible reasons for the feeling.
Some have argued the post-orgasm feeling could be related to factors such as having a history of sexual abuse in your childhood or early adult years, and/or carrying feelings of resentment about sex.
It could also potentially be tied to feelings of anxiety or mental difficulties or things as simple as suffering from low mood or difficulties in life or a relationship.
In regard to managing the feeling, experts have noted that it is not always a cause for concern.
However, if it becomes an ongoing or permanent issue that a person should speak to a therapist.
Publication Psych Central has also noted that it may be worth considering couple counselling in order to address any underlying problems in a relationship as well.