The Prevalence and Correlates of Postcoital Dysphoria in Women
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Excerpt: Psychological distress and reports of past sexual abuse…explained only minimal variance in PCD prevalence, prompting further research into this significantly underinvestigated sexual difficulty.

International Journal of Sexual Health

Brian S. Bird, Robert D. Schweitzer, Donald S. Strassberg, 23:14–25, 2011 DOI: 10.1080/19317611.2010.509689

ABSTRACT

This study examined the lifetime and 4-week prevalence of postcoital dysphoria (PCD) and its relationship with psychological distress and reports of past sexual abuse. Among 222 female university students, 32.9% reported having ever experienced PCD whereas 10% reported experiencing PCD in the previous 4 weeks. Multiple regression analyses revealed support for the hypothesis that lifetime and 4-week prevalence of PCD would be positively correlated with psychological distress. Lifetime prevalence of PCD, but not 4-week prevalence, was also correlated with reports of childhood sexual abuse. These factors explained only minimal variance in PCD prevalence, prompting further research into this significantly underinvestigated sexual difficulty.