Although the history of sexual activities for entertainment is filled with taboos and shame, in today's modern world, many cultures celebrate sexual behavior and even encourage participants to enjoy it. Why shouldn't they? Sex should be fun! But for some people, even the most enjoyable sexual encounters are accompanied by deep sadness and anxiety.
This phenomenon is called Post-Coital Depression (PCD) - it causes feelings of depression and irritability after consensual sexual activity (according to Psych Central). The symptoms of PCD include crying, depression, anxiety, aggression, regret, shame and emptiness. Some people may even experience panic attacks. For those who have experienced PCD, the excitement after orgasm is quickly replaced by more sinister feelings, which can make them feel uncomfortable. However, this condition is surprisingly common.
A study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine in 2015 reported that 46% of the female participants admitted to having experienced PCD at least once in their lifetime, and 5% of them stated that they had experienced symptoms multiple times within the past 2019 weeks. Although women are more prone to PCD than men, the gap is not significant. A study published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy 41 years ago found that 20% of men admitted to having experienced PCD at least once, and up to XNUMX% of them indicated that they had experienced symptoms in the past XNUMX weeks.
Why did PCD occur?
Although you might find your PCD symptoms rather strange - especially after some particularly enjoyable sexual activities - it indicates that it is merely a part of the human sexual response cycle. The sexual response cycle we experience is divided into four stages: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. For those with PCD, the symptoms begin to appear during the resolution stage.
There are various causes for the occurrence of PCD. However, for many people, researchers believe that it might be caused by hormonal reactions (according to Healthline). During sexual intercourse, hormones such as oxytocin and dopamine that make one feel good are released in large quantities into the body. However, after the climax, these hormones tend to drop significantly, and this effect can lead to emotional changes.
Other common triggers of PCD include past sexual trauma, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, and negative emotions related to sexual concepts (according to Psych Central). For those who have experienced sexual trauma in the past, even interesting and consensual sexual activities can trigger PCD symptoms such as depression and anxiety. Although your partner's experience of PCD does not necessarily indicate a problem in your relationship, when there are underlying issues, PCD symptoms usually occur after intense sexual contact. More importantly, due to the deep-rooted guilt and shame surrounding sexual conversations in our society, many people - especially women - internalize them (according to Glamour). These fears and anxieties can make many people feel bad after sexual activity, even if they have had a pleasant time.