Researchers find 'postcoital dysphoria' affects both sexes

Men and women both suffer from feelings of sadness, tearfulness or irritability following sex, researchers have found. While the condition, known as Postcoital Dysphoria, has been recognised in women, the new study is the first to find it affects men as well. It found 41 per cent of men reported symptoms at some point in their life.

' The study breaks down the results of an international anonymous online survey of 1,208 men from Australia, the USA, the UK, Russia, New Zealand, Germany and elsewhere,' said Professor Robert Schweitzer from QUT's School of Psychology and Counselling. '41% of the participants reported experiencing PCD in their lifetime with 20% reporting they had experienced it in the previous four weeks. Up to 4% suffered from PCD on a regular basis.'

The paper Postcoital Dysphoria: Prevalence and Correlates among Males - has been published by the international Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy.

Maczkowiack revealed the men who had experienced sadness following sex described experiences ranging from 'I don't want to be touched and want to be left alone' to ' I feel unsatisfied, annoyed and very fidgety. All I really want is to leave and distract myself from everything I participated in'.

' Another described feeling 'emotionless and empty' in contrast to the men who experienced the post coital experience positively, and used descriptors such as a 'feeling of well-being, satisfaction, contentment' and closeness to their partner,' he said.

Prof Schweitzer said the results indicated the male experience of sex could be far more varied and complex than previously thought. It also had implications for future therapies and more open discourse on the male sexual experience.

'The first three phases of the human sexual response cycle - excitement, plateau, and orgasm - have been the focus of the majority of research to date,' Professor Schweitzer said.

'The experience of the resolution phase remains a bit of a mystery and is therefore poorly understood.' he said.