The sexual act is a fairly wonderful act full of excitement and mischief. You meet someone you like, you touch each other, and before you know it, you are both naked and doing something that makes you both feel good. But what happens after sex to the body? What happens after sex to your heart rate? What happens after sex to your orgasm period? And more. Read this blog post to find out what happens after sex to the body.
After sex, the body goes through a series of physiological changes. These range from short-term changes like increased heart rate and elevated body temperature to long-term changes like fertility.
In This Article
After-sex effects of sex to the body:-
Sexual pleasure and arousal bring on different responses in the body, which is great for couples. Those pleasurable sensations can help you feel closer to your partner. However, this pleasure doesn’t come without its share of after-effects. Some of the after-sex effects include:
1. Heart rate increases
Sex is considered a great workout as each orgasm is equivalent to approximately one mile of cardio (anything that raises your heart rate counts as cardio). You receive cardio benefits like your heart pumping harder and longer based on how energetic you are during your sex session. It is advisable to drink water after sex to help you cool down and hydrate after sex.
2. Increased body temperature
During sex, the ductus arteriosus gets activated, the tube connecting your aorta and pulmonary artery. This activates the body’s heat production system, which regulates body temperature during sex.
After having sex with a partner, you might notice an increase in body temperature, which is normal and healthy. It is similar to how your skin gets flushed during exercise. However, you might get dehydrated if you notice this increase and continue with more sexual activities. If this happens, then you might experience fainting or dizziness, which is dangerous. When sex is done, men’s body temperature can increase by as much as 1.9 degrees, while women’s temperature can increase by 1 degree. However, this effect is less after orgasm.
3. Blood pressure:
Your body undergoes a change after sex. For instance, your heart rate and blood pressure increase. After climaxing, your blood pressure and heart rate return to normal levels. As a result, you feel more relaxed. Blood circulation: Sexual stimulation helps increase blood circulation to the penis, vagina and uterus (if a woman has reached orgasm). It also increases blood circulation in the genitals and hair follicles around the genitals.
4. Release of endorphins
Endorphins are the hormones that make you feel good and more relaxed. They trigger the pleasure response in your brain when you touch or experience something pleasurable. During sex, the production of endorphins is at its peak, so you feel more relaxed and calmer after having sex.
In women, endorphins are released during climax and pregnancy. In men, endorphins are released during and after ejaculation.
5. Orgasm release:
After sex, you and your partner will likely experience powerful feelings of ecstasy — similar to a runner who has finished a marathon.
The feeling of euphoria after orgasm is known as orgasm release, and multiple reactions in the body cause it. Your pituitary gland releases a hormone called oxytocin, which triggers your brain to release more dopamine, a feel-good chemical in the brain. This helps you experience euphoria after orgasm. Both female and male orgasm is pleasurable feeling after sex.
6. Post-sex headaches:
Many people experience headaches after having sex. These headaches are called post-sex headaches and can be very unpleasant. They’re caused by contractions of the cerebrospinal axis and can last for hours or even days. Post-sex headaches are most common in men, but women can also get them. While post-sex headaches are not dangerous, they can be very painful. The good news is that most post-sex headaches go away by themselves within a few hours. {1}
7. Plaques:
After sex, a man’s semen deposits in the female vagina and “plaques” it, giving the woman a “sticky” feeling down there. The secretions in the vagina also increase its pH value, which also increases the likelihood that bacteria will set up camp in the vagina. Also, the secretions contain testosterone, which makes a woman’s vagina more hospitable to viruses like herpes. Herpes in the vagina is commonly called herpes labialis.
As time passes, the plaques will gradually break down and disappear. But in some cases, a woman might experience irritation from the plaques, such as itchiness, burning, or pain. In this case, she should consult her doctor to find an effective treatment for it.
8. Burning Sensation:
It’s common to feel a burning sensation just after sex because of vaginal inflammation in females. It can be due to the penetration of the vagina as the urethra is closely situated to the vagina and is responsible for the temporary burning sensation or sting with urinating just after sex.
Also, one reason can be during intercourse; a lot of heat is produced in the genitals and thighs. However, after intercourse, the burning effect disappears, and the body returns to its normal state.
9. Depression:
Post-Sex Depression is a well-documented phenomenon in modern society. PSSD is when a person gets depressed and/or anxious after having sex. This reaction is extremely common and usually goes away within a few hours after having sex. Studies have shown that people with PSSD have normal sexual desires and are capable of having satisfying sex. Therefore, PSSD is not a result of sexual dysfunction. Instead, it’s a psychological issue caused by underlying psychological problems (such as anxiety).
Regardless of the cause, PSSD can be devastating and can negatively affect a person’s quality of life. Therefore, it’s important to seek help from a professional if you experience PSSD on a regular basis. So, next time your partner tells you not to jump out of bed after sex, don’t even bother arguing with them after all these negative side effects are temporary. {2}
10. Profurious sweating after sex:
According to one study, almost 30% of people experience sweating when they have sex. This is called profuse sweating after sex. Scientists don’t fully understand why it happens, but a few theories have been proposed. One hypothesis is that it is caused by adrenaline and cortisol, two hormones released during a fight-or-flight response. Another theory is that it is caused by intense orgasms, which trigger the release of endorphins. Regardless of why sweating occurs, it’s usually harmless and goes away after a few minutes. If you’re experiencing profurious sweating, just relax and wait for it to disappear.
11. Urinary Tract Infection:
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in the urinary tract. The urinary tract includes the kidney, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Bacterial infections in the urethra, or an infection in the bladder, can cause pelvic pain, lower urinary tract symptoms (such as burning during urination or urinating frequently), and UTIs. A urinary tract infection can cause pelvic pain and lower urinary tract symptoms anytime a woman has sex, not just right after sex. But vaginal infections are more likely to occur right after a woman has sex because bacteria easily access the vaginal cavity from the bowel to the urethra during her sexual act.
Therefore, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as symptoms appear. This usually includes drinking lots of fluids and taking antibiotics. In many cases, UTI clears up on its own after a few days and does not require treatment. However, if the symptoms persist, you should see a doctor.
12. Feeling sleepy:
After having sex, most people feel sleepy. In fact, the sex hormone oxytocin is responsible for making you feel sleepy after sex. Oxytocin is a hormone that increases feelings of trust, loyalty and caring towards your partner after having sex. This is why it’s often called the “trust hormone.” The effects of the hormone are so strong that it can cause sleep paralysis (a temporary inability to move when falling asleep or waking up), especially if you’ve had a lot of sex recently. In most cases, sleep paralysis only lasts for a few minutes and goes away on its own without treatment.
However, after orgasm, people usually feel energized again. Some people even feel the urge to dance or jump on the bed after orgasm.
13. The Final Word:
Healthy sex life is essential for the health of a couple. It promotes the growth of intimacy in a relationship and increases the level of trust between partners. When a couple shares sex with each other, it brings them closer.
However, as stated above, having sex has many after-sex effects too. These after-sex side effects may bother some people and prevent them from wanting to have sex again soon, but that’s not the case; most of these are temporary effects that disappear without causing much trouble.
References:
{1} Sex Headaches – Mayo Clinic (2022)
{2} Depression After Sex – Healthline (2020)
Disclaimer: All material on this site is provided for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider.
