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Negative Post-Coital Emotions – Is It Real?
Have you ever felt depressed after a nice satisfying sex? Tears you can’t explain, anxiety you can’t fix? Wondering if something is wrong with you and not your husband? Sometimes these tears have nothing to do with the relationship or sex for that matter.
What Is Negative Post-Coital Emotions (NPE)?
Women expressed post-sex vulnerability, remorsefulness whereas men expressed irritation and appeared to be unattracted to their sex partner. Researches term it as negative post-coital emotions (NPE).
Based on a recent study, nearly 50% of the total women population experiences this thing called post-sex sadness, explains Dr. Robert Schweitzer a psychology and counseling professor at Queensland’s University of Technology. Post-sex sadness may hit a woman in the form of irritability, depression or tears. Other studies have presented similar findings such as the study based on men and women from 4 different countries; America, Norway, Canada and Brazil. The female subjects confessed that 40% of the time they felt sad or teary after sex. In contrast to women, the male subjects revealed that they usually experienced negative feelings but for entirely other reasons.
What Causes NPE?
The researches came up with a theory that suggests for men, the sexual appeal of their partner makes a lot of difference particularly if they had countless sex partners. This may be a contributing factor in short term relationships. On the other hand, women think differently and get more emotionally involved even after a one-night stand. This emotional boost helps women fight for a long-term relationship instead of settling for a short-term commitment. They begin looking for paternal support and resources from their partner.
Brazilians psychologists conducted a research which revealed that PCD (post-coital dysphoria) also called Negative Post-Coital Emotions, happens in usually short lasting relationships but Schweitzer’s research suggested that it may even happen in long-term intimate relationships. He emphasized on the fact that there is no evident link between intimacy and PCD in healthy relationships. This may be justified by sadness that women feel even after having a close connection with their partner. Whereas any form of abuse may embark negative feelings after sex however that may not be the case every time. This kind of PCD is found more commonly in women.
According to Schweitzer, the sex is always satisfying for the women but some of them are more prone to feeling negative after having a good sex. This may be due to reluctance shown by these women in giving up themselves during sex, which everyone does in order to have peace of mind and body. And there’s nothing really wrong with them, it’s very natural to feel that way and many women do too however the extent of reluctance or fear may differ from one to another.
A study suggests that post-sex blues may be because of hormonal changes that occur after reaching sexual climax, but extensive research work is required to be completely certain about it.
So you have definitely no reason to feel the weird one out, studies suggest that post-sex sadness is actually a thing. It may be unclear at the moment as to what really triggers it but researchers are on their move.
References
- Schweitzer, R. D., O'Brien, J., & Burri, A. (2015). Postcoital dysphoria: Prevalence and psychological correlates. Sexual medicine, 3(4), 235-243.
- Fernandes, H. B., Kennair, L. E. O., Hutz, C. S., Natividade, J. C., & Kruger, D. J. (2015). Are negative postcoital emotions a product of evolutionary adaptation? Multinational relationships with sexual strategies, reputation, and mate quality.
