Here’s Why You May Feel Nauseous After Sex, According to Experts

Even with the very best sexual aftercare, nausea immediately after intercourse is a extremely serious phenomenon. According to Shieva Ghofrany, MD, FACOG, a board-accredited ob-gyn and advisory board member for PS’s Issue Centre, while it truly is not always widespread to really feel nauseous immediately after sex, it really is also not unheard of. The problem is that there’s isn’t really considerably study on the matter, so it is really difficult to pinpoint the correct cause at the rear of this phenomenon. That explained, if your belly feels unsettled following sexual intercourse, you’ll want to get to the bottom of it.

Fortunately, there are a handful of frequent factors that gurus imagine may possibly be contributing to nausea after sexual intercourse, including cervical stimulation and distressing intercourse. Ahead, we requested specialists to break down the current exploration and reveal why you might come to feel nauseous immediately after sexual intercourse. Examine on to see what they had to say about probable triggers, useful treatments, and when to take into consideration in search of additional health-related treatment.

Experts Featured in This Report:

Shieva Ghofrany, MD, FACOG, is a board-licensed ob-gyn and advisory board member for PS’s Affliction Heart.

Lauren Streicher, MD, is an ob-gyn and healthcare director of Northwestern Medicine’s Centre for Sexual Drugs and Menopause.

Joy Berkheimer, LMFT, is a relationship and relatives therapist and chief sexologist at The Sexual Wellness Awards.

Why Do I Come to feel Nauseous Soon after Intercourse?

Nausea right after sex can manifest for a range of explanations, from cervical stimulation to sexual aversion disorder. Listed here are some of the most frequent culprits, in accordance to ob-gyns and a scientific sexologist.

Cervical Stimulation

A person of the most possible causes for nausea after intercourse has to do with the cervix — the gatekeeper concerning your vaginal canal and your uterus. Dr. Ghofrany notes that the cervix has many nerve endings, such as the vagus nerve, which is accountable for regulating inner organ features these kinds of as digestion, heart amount, and specific reflexes like coughing and vomiting. This usually means that cervical stimulation throughout intercourse can in some cases result in difficulties.

“Call with your cervix for the duration of intercourse, or cervical stimulation, can build a vasovagal response in which your blood strain and pulse fall,” claims Lauren Streicher, MD, an ob-gyn and health care director of Northwestern Medicine’s Center for Sexual Medication and Menopause. Specified sex positions or deep penetration may possibly exacerbate this cervical stimulation and make your nausea worse. “The suffering that sometimes occurs with penetrative sexual intercourse, for specific people, can lead to a vasovagal response with nausea,,” Dr. Ghofrany explains, noting that discomfort must often be evaluated. Your cervix also modifications all through your cycle, dropping lessen through your interval, which may possibly make you much more vulnerable to nausea after penetrative sexual intercourse.

Write-up-Orgasmic Disease Dysfunction

If your signs and symptoms expand further than nausea, you may well be working with publish-orgasmic sickness dysfunction. Authorities mentioned the situation further on an episode of the Sky Women’s Wellness podcast with Carolyn Moyers, DO, FACOG, MSCP-IF. “It is described as a flu-like condition,” claimed Sarah Cigna, MD, MS, FACOG, IF, assistant professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and director of the SAGA (Sexual Well being and Gender Affirmation Middle).

Signs consist of headaches, nausea, and intense exhaustion adhering to an orgasm, all of which can previous anyplace from 2-7 times. “It really is incredibly disabling, so these patients, they’re going to typically avoid sexual exercise wholly,” Dr. Cigna claimed. We nevertheless really don’t know specifically what brings about this situation, but therapy may possibly involve hormone modulators or beta-blockers.

Distressing Sex

Painful sexual intercourse could be the consequence of an underlying wellness issue (these kinds of as endometriosis), but it can also lead to nausea. “Girls with endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease could practical experience agonizing intercourse,” Dr. Streicher states. Other elements that could perform a purpose in unpleasant intercourse and nausea include things like vaginal or cervical bacterial infections and fibroids, which are noncancerous growths in the uterus. Dr. Ghofrany adds that rigorous uterine contractions (as a final result of orgasm) can also boost the chance of painful intercourse and nausea — as can deficiency of foreplay before intercourse. No matter of the precise motive, “If you practical experience any variety of intercourse that is agonizing, you must see a gynecologist,” Dr. Streicher claims.

Hyperventilation

Dr. Ghofrany states it is really possible the way you breathe could make you sense ill just after sexual intercourse. “[Nausea] can also take place because of to hyperventilation from the breathing sample that can precede an orgasm,” she claims. On a connected notice, sluggish, deep respiration can enable rest the vagus nerve (which we know is also tied to submit-intercourse nausea).

Allergies

In some conditions, nausea after sexual intercourse may possibly be the final result of an allergy. “Uncommon allergic reactions to semen or its elements, such as latex or lubricants, can also lead to nausea,” notes Joy Berkheimer, LMFT, chief sexologist at The Sexual Wellness Awards. Other signs or symptoms of a semen allergy include things like itching, swelling, burning, and issue breathing, per the Cleveland Clinic. If you suspect you may perhaps have a semen allergy, you can be identified with a skin exam.

Sexual Aversion Problem

If you persistently experience nauseous right after sexual intercourse, it really is also important to know about prospective psychological aspects. “The most common purpose for nausea following sex would be from a physical trigger,” Dr. Ghofrany clarifies — specifically trauma. “Individuals who have experienced sexual trauma in the earlier might experience nausea, even in the absence of a at this time traumatic sexual experience,” Dr. Ghofrany states. Extra hardly ever, nausea is a symptom of a psychological situation recognized as sexual aversion ailment. “We never know how often it occurs in girls, but we know that it can stem from past sexual trauma, or being introduced up in a quite spiritual environment in which sex was ‘bad,'” Dr. Streicher tells PS. The DSM defines sexual aversion condition as the intense avoidance of all sexual make contact with with a partner, resulting in distress or interpersonal issue. Therapies like cognitive behavioral treatment or panic treatment can aid, but normally discuss any certain fears with your health practitioner for the most effective professional medical advice.

Other, additional normal psychological brings about for nausea right after sex include anxiousness and overall unease. “Emotions of anxiousness and nervousness can play a considerable job in inducing distress, top to nausea and an upset abdomen,” Dr. Berkheimer says. “It is not unheard of to truly feel uneasy for the duration of sexual encounters, particularly when involving precise partners.” Assess the place you are in and the companions you happen to be with, and make confident both equally are aligned with what you seriously want.

How to Handle Nausea Immediately after Intercourse

In accordance to the experts, the greatest way to deal with nausea is to determine out the root bring about. For example, Dr. Ghofrany clarifies that if you might be enduring nausea soon after sexual intercourse due to a vasovagal response from cervical stimulation, then making certain ample hydration and continual blood glucose degrees may enable lessen signs. Similarly, if uterine contractions are contributing to nausea and discomfort, using NSAIDs in advance of intercourse may assistance with “spasm-like” ache. Dr. Berkheimer also suggests taking your time to move following orgasm, taking deep breaths, and sitting down up gradually. “[If] you often reply badly to aggressive sexual or sensual ordeals, you want to practice your boundaries and advise a companion about your sensitivities,” she provides. Nevertheless, each and every man or woman and predicament is special, so for the ideal personalised tips, it can be ideal to discuss with your healthcare provider.

When to Search for Medical Consideration

Generally talking, Dr. Ghofrany suggests trying to find health-related attention for any kind of discomfort connected with intercourse. This can enable defend you from a lot more really serious troubles like infections, pelvic masses, or pelvic inflammatory ailment. In addition, if your nausea persists even immediately after trying to tackle potential triggers, it’s usually a very good concept to examine with your medical professional.

— Additional reporting by Chandler Plante

Emily Shiffer is a freelance writer dwelling in Pennsylvania. She is a previous on-line staffer at Men’s Well being who at present writes about the newest overall health and wellness traits for POPSUGAR.

Chandler Plante is an assistant editor for POPSUGAR Wellness & Physical fitness. Previously, she worked as an editorial assistant for Persons journal and contributed to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Team. In her cost-free time, she overshares on the world-wide-web, making content about serious health issues, attractiveness, and disability.