Evidence of shifts after sexCurious about the evidence that arousal and climax can cause measurable shifts after sex in mood, perception, satisfaction and desire? Start here.

Also see Neuroendocrinology and sex for evidence of post-climax neuroendocrine shifts, and Other physiological shifts for evidence of additional measurable changes. Don’t miss these pages either: Too much? and Post-climax cravings.

All of these changes may underlie the shifts in mood, perception, etc. gathered in this section.

Association between Sexual Behavior and Depression in South Korean Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Postcoital Symptoms in a Convenience Sample of Men and Women

“Did You Climax or Are You Just Laughing at Me?” Rare Phenomena Associated With Orgasm

When Orgasms Do Not Equal Pleasure: Accounts of “Bad” Orgasm Experiences During Consensual Sexual Encounters

Quantifying the Sexual Afterglow: The Lingering Benefits of Sex and Their Implications for Pair-Bonded Relationships

Sex and Depression: In the Brain, if Not the Mind [New York Times piece by psychiatrist]

And consider this report: “Sex Life Challenges: The Finnish Case

Males

Postcoital Dysphoria: Prevalence and Correlates Among Males

Also see Other physiological shifts for research on testosterone, prostate health, semen output, etc. In addition, see Neuroendocrinology and sex, as many of those studies were done on males.

Females

The prevalence of sexual dysfunctions and sexually related distress in young women: a cross-sectional survey

The Association Between Sexual Behavior and Affect: Moderating Factors in Young Women

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on female sexual behavior 

An epidemiological survey of post-coital psychological symptoms in a UK population sample of female twins

Postcoital Dysphoria: Prevalence and Psychological Correlates

Sexual activity is inversely related to women’s perceptions of the facial attractiveness of unknown men

Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Seminal Plasma Hypersensitivity

Sexual frequency is associated with age of natural menopause: results from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation

Sex differences in post-coital behaviors in long- and short-term mating: an evolutionary perspective

Animals

The Evolutionary Origin of Female Orgasm

Events at climax

What Is the Trigger for Sexual Climax?

Too much? Post-climax cravings