Study One in three women experiences melancholy after sex

Study finds: Postcoital dysphoria widespread
The Queensland Technical University (QUT) found in a study of more than 200 young women that one-third (32.9 percent) had ever felt a strong sadness after sex. It is still unclear what causes such a state of postcoital dysphoria.
QUT researcher Professor Robert Schweitzer searched for the frequency of experiences of negative emotions after satisfactory sex. About one third of the women reported that they had experienced some kind of sadness after sex. However, it was even more surprising that about ten percent of the women surveyed have this condition frequently or even most of the time.

The mourning is expressed, for example, in the form of tears, depression or irritability. Under normal circumstances, the period after sex causes a sense of well-being, along with mental and physical relaxation, according to Professor Schweitzer. Women who suffer from "postcoital blues" go through quite different feelings instead. Many sufferers reported melancholy, sadness, irritability, anxiety or inner restlessness. The exact reasons for this are still unknown. Schweitzer added that a woman described the condition as melancholy after sex. She had no sense of lack of closeness or love between herself and her partner and could not explain the cause.

Researcher does not see abuse experiences as a cause of dysphoria
For a long time it has been assumed that women who have experienced sexual assault during their lifetime associate later sexual encounters with these experiences. This condition is usually accompanied by feelings such as shame, punishment, loss and guilt. Schweitzer stated that his study does not support this theory. Although there is a small statistical link between dysphoria and abuse, this was true for only a few of the women surveyed. It has also been found that mental stress and stress have little impact on the phenomenon. Therefore, these reasons could be excluded as causes, so Schweitzer. It may be that a kind of separation anxiety provides the explanation, said the researchers. After having sex with her partner, the feeling of closeness and security could be transformed into separation anxiety.

Biological predisposition could trigger postcoital dysphoria
Robert Schweitzer suspects that a biological predisposition could play a role. It is still unclear whether the condition is related to the personality and self-esteem of women. It has to be investigated to what extent "fragile" women are more prone to postcoital blues than, for example, "strong" women. Professor Schweitzer's next study is to include emotional characteristics of women who have had experience with post-coital dysphoria.

Women affected much more often than men
People are taught that sexual experiences are always positive. But it looks like some women are prone to negative feelings after sex. Postcoital dysphoria occurs much more often in women than in men. Schweitzer explained that he only knew about a man with similar problems. There are very few studies on this topic. However, research on the internet showed that information about postcoital dysphoria is often sought. (As)