You may feel nauseous after sex because of hormones released during sexual activity. These hormones are known as oxytocin and dopamine.
They promote a sense of intimacy and love in relationships. However, these same hormones can cause nausea and headaches. Experiencing these side effects can be frightening. This article will address these questions and help you understand why this happens.
Dopamine
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger) that helps send messages between neurons in your brain. It also plays a role in controlling movement, memory and reward and motivation. A surge of dopamine is triggered by many positive experiences, including eating nice food, having sex, winning a game and earning money. Drugs can also cause a dopamine boost, which is why people become addicted to them.
The sex hormone oxytocin triggers a release of dopamine alongside adrenaline and serotonin (three happy chemicals), which can all make you feel high. The combination is what gives sex its pleasure and bonding qualities. It’s why orgasm is often associated with a feeling of euphoria and exhilaration. It’s also why you might feel nauseous after orgasm or ejaculation – the oxytocin and dopamine that are released can actually cause nausea.
Dopamine also controls movement and other body functions, and too little of it can lead to mental health conditions such as schizophrenia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Low dopamine is also linked with Parkinson’s disease, where one type of neuron in the brain degenerates. Medications that raise dopamine levels can help treat the condition.
Exercise, meditating and getting enough sleep are other good ways to raise dopamine levels. Talking to your doctor or therapist about your feelings can also help.
Endorphins
Endorphins are neurotransmitters that block pain signals between the brain and body and boost feelings of pleasure.1 These chemicals can also reduce anxiety, depression and stress.2 Endorphins are often called the “feel-good hormones” because they can give you a natural high when you engage in pleasurable activities.
You can boost your levels of feel-good endorphins by exercising, eating a healthy diet and practicing relaxation techniques. You can also eat spicy foods, like peppers, to get the same effect (but be careful not to overdo it, or you could damage your taste buds and stomach lining).
Sex, and sexual intimacy in general, is another natural way to increase your feel-good endorphins. During orgasms, the brain is flooded with this neurotransmitter. This explains why so many people report feeling amazing after sex!
Acupuncture is also known to boost endorphins. This ancient Chinese practice involves inserting thin needles into the body to stimulate your body’s release of these mood-boosting chemicals. If you’re looking to try acupuncture, it is considered safe and has been used by people for centuries! Regardless of the method you choose, always speak to your healthcare provider before starting a new treatment. They will be able to recommend a safe, effective treatment plan for you. If you’re suffering from severe anxiety or depression, they may recommend additional treatments.
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a hormone responsible for some positive emotions like trust and love. It’s also the hormone that causes contractions during childbirth, helps with breast milk letdown and promotes erections and orgasm in both men and women. It is a natural social bonding hormone, which explains why people who are close to each other tend to have more oxytocin than those who don’t know each other as well.
During sex, oxytocin is released in the brain, activating the same reward pathways that are activated when we use drugs of abuse like cocaine and ecstasy, eat a big meal, listen to our favorite song or snuggle with a loved one. Oxytocin also makes us less sensitive to pain, and it encourages feelings of trust and intimacy between partners.
In fact, sex is so good for you that it can even reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. It can even help you live longer, and it may improve your mood and immune system.
Some researchers have even sprayed people with intranasal oxytocin to study its effects, and they found that it increased self-perception as warm and trustworthy, while encouraging behaviors such as altruism and social bonding. Oxytocin may play a role in preventing some neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism and postpartum depression, by increasing levels of happiness and trust.
Stress Relief
There are many reasons you might feel high after sex, both the good and the bad. Some of these are fairly worrisome, like a possible sexually transmitted infection or an unwanted pregnancy. But other problems are more minor, such as headaches after ejaculation or nausea that can sometimes be a sign of pregnancy before a missed period.
These symptoms are caused by the same neurochemicals released during arousal and orgasm, which amp up feelings of pleasure and excitement but can also cause nausea. These chemicals can trigger your stomach to produce extra gas, which leads to bloating. If you find yourself feeling gassy after orgasm, try drinking a glass of water and taking some deep breaths. Then, focus on calming your nervous system by experimenting with quick stress relief techniques on the go.
For example, if you usually feel calm on the commute to work, experiment with different sensory inputs (like scents or music) to see what calms and energizes you best during stressful situations. You might even make these quick stress relief tools part of your daily routine, so you’ll always have the tools to help you refocus and feel better. Getting enough sleep, eating a plant-based diet, exercising regularly, meditating, and staying socially connected are all great ways to quell your body’s natural stress response.
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