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Love & Relationships
Post Orgasmic Depre
Chiedza Mebe
Have you ever had the most
amazing intimate encounter,
were two souls set alight a
powerful spark, a connection
so undeniable, only to feel extremely low
soon after? A number of people feel this
way, especially when they seek a deeper
connection and the only connection they
get is plus or minus twenty minutes of
bliss and after that it’s back to reality.
This has been coined a somewhat post
orgasmic depression. Medically this rare
condition is known as Post-orgasmic
illness syndrome (POIS) or Post-coital
tristesse (PCT).
Sadness after sex is a very real
condition. It is however, not common
to hear that some people feel depressed
soon after sex. The truth is suffer ers of
this condition are not alone, a number of
people feel that way. When the afterglow
of sexual intercourse is replaced with
negative feelings of depression instead of
positive mood boosting emotions it can
become frustrating
and confusing for
the sufferer.
According to
experts there
are many reasons why someone would
feel this way. The answer is usually
psychological. Some reasons include post
traumatic stress disorder for example in
rape victims, having sexual relations with
an abusive individual, not being ready
for sex, fears of rejection, guilt, shame,
emotional distance within a relationship
and low self esteem. Experts have further
pointed out that one’s biology may also be
against them.
The science behind this condition is
that one’s body creates the hormone
prolactin which counteracts the release
of dopamine, the sexual arousal hormone.
Prolactin is the cause of one’s depressed
state soon after sexual activity.
Walter Last the writer of the
Neurochemistry of sex, in his work stated
that “Orgasm is generally regarded as the
ultimate goal of recreational sex. Wilhelm
the nature and purpose of the orgasm
as a discharge of excess bio-energy with
additional liberation of feeling energy
and he also recognized the negative
consequences of blocked sexual energies.”
Last went on to explain that, “After
orgasm dopamine levels fall sharply with
the usual withdrawal symptoms. This
reaction tends to be immediate in males
and delayed in females. Also prolactin
levels rise and androgen receptors
fall after orgasm. Low testosterone is
associated with irritability and anger.”
This is usually why an individual may
after sex.
Psychiatrist Dr Friedman discussed this
very phenomenon where he prescribed
Prozac which also goes by the name
Fluoxetine to patients who experienced
this phenomenon. This medication is
known to be one of the most effective
anti-depressants on the market. Although
patients noticed a reduction in sexual
the results after taking the medication.
It can be hard for any sufferer to, not
that occur during and after a sexual
experience. There is a way out and your
you do suffer from this condition, if the
symptoms continue to present themselves
and you want to rid yourself of the
negative emotions that after sex brings it
would be wise to seek professional help.
TP
Page 42 The Parade - Zimbabwe’s Most Read Lifestyle Magazine
August 2014