Laughing or Crying After an Orgasm: What Does It Mean?
Have you ever found yourself laughing or crying after an orgasm? If so, you might ask why it happens and what it means. As a matter of fact, the most common explanation is the emotional explosion that occurs after orgasm.
This explosion is conditioned by different elements. Among them, is the biochemical and hormonal cascade that your brain receives, and the connection you feel with your partner. However, what else could it mean to laugh or cry after an orgasm? In this article, we take a closer look, taking into account the opinions of experts from the scientific field.
The biochemical cascade of orgasm
When you have an orgasm, a biochemical cascade takes place in your brain and your body. In other words, certain hormones are released in all their intensity. Especially oxytocin. In fact, oxytocin can induce a state of hypersensitivity that could cause you to laugh or cry after orgasm.
This provides the biological explanation for laughing or crying after an orgasm. However what explains whether you laugh or cry? As a matter of fact, this is caused by other psychological and circumstantial factors. For example, in moments of great euphoria, hypersensitivity tends to lead to laughter. On the other hand, in moments of worry, it’s more likely to manifest itself as crying.
Crying after an orgasm
According to sexologist Nayara Malnero, crying after orgasm doesn’t usually correspond to disappointment or disgust, as many believe. Of course, in these cases, it’s recommended that couples learn to communicate with each other. Or, they could ask for professional help to clear up any doubts.
Malnero adds that what usually happens is that orgasm is accompanied by a physical and emotional discharge. In fact, accumulated tension is suddenly discharged. This shakes up your senses and crying is the manifestation of this state.
Therefore, in some way, sex is an escape route as it helps you to release stress. On the other hand, crying, according to the sexologist, usually happens in the refractory period. This is the time between an orgasm and when you feel ready to be sexually aroused again.
State of vulnerability
As we’ve already mentioned, on a psychological level, after an orgasm, your body and mind tend to relax. In those moments it’s more likely that emotions or intense emotional expressions appear. For example, crying or laughing.
Emotions and orgasm: happiness and well-being
Orgasm is a state that causes emotions such as well-being and happiness. In these states, tears are more likely to appear, not tears of sadness, but often of emotion itself.
This emotion is sometimes so intense that it’s confused with sadness. However, this isn’t generally the case. Don’t forget that, when you have sex with someone, if they mean something to you, it’s normal for you to get excited.
Sex can open a window to intimate connection. In fact, according to experts, crying after orgasm demonstrates one more element of this connection or interaction.
Laughing or crying after an orgasm shouldn’t be confused with postcoital dysphoria
Postcoital dysphoria can be another possible cause of crying after an orgasm. This is defined, colloquially, as ‘the post sex blues’. Indeed, it’s normal that, after such a high level of enjoyment, the descent is hard. That’s because the contrast between the emotions is extremely strong. This ‘grief’ translates into crying after orgasm.
Postcoital dysphoria was studied by psychiatrist Richard Friedman. He stated that the cause of this sadness could be located in the amygdala. In fact, he claimed that this part of the brain stops working during orgasm.
Postcoital dysphoria: more common than you may think
In 2015, Dr. Robert Schweitzer led a study that was published in the journal Sexual Medicine. The research analyzed the sexual experiences of more than 230 female university students. The results showed that 46 percent of them claimed to have had symptoms of postcoital dysphoria at some point in their life. Furthermore, over five percent had experienced it in the last month.
According to Schweitzer, the results suggested that this syndrome has evolutionary functions. Schweitzer also added that there’s a correlation between postcoital dysphoria and the levels of intimacy in relationships.
Emotions are on the surface after orgasm
Therefore, if you ever laugh or cry after an orgasm, don’t be alarmed. It’s completely normal, both from a biological and a psychological perspective.
Sex, especially the most intimate kind with that special person, brings many emotions to the surface. These are often intense. Consequently, it’s completely natural to let yourself get carried away with either laughter or crying after experiencing such an intense state of excitement and release.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Arcos-Romero, A.I. (2019). Estudio de la experiencia subjetiva del orgasmo. Universidad de Granada.
- Schweitzer, R. et al. (2015). Postcoital Dysphoria: Prevalence and Psychological Correlates. Sexual Medicine, 3(4): 235-243.
