12 Potential Causes Behind Nausea After Sex

Disclaimer: This article on nausea after sex is meant to be a source of valuable information for the reader; however, it is not a substitute for direct expert assistance. Seek help from a medical professional if you’re experiencing a severe case of this condition.

Wait, you can feel nausea after sex? Well, yes. It can be a daunting fact as it can occur in various ways. However, it doesn’t have to be a constant factor in your life. Assuming that you have experienced it since you came across this article and clicked on it.

There are ways to solve this dilemma, but it’s also important to find the root of it. That way, prevention can be enacted.

In this article, we’re going to provide you with just that, from learning the different root causes of nausea after sex, how to prevent it, and also when to see a medical professional. The latter will and should always be a priority regarding your health.

But First, What is Nausea?

Healthline defines nausea as a symptom linked to “stomach discomfort and the sensation of wanting to vomit.” That ill-settling feeling that has you in flight or fight mode, in need of privacy for what’s to come. Because in severe cases, it can lead to actual vomiting.

Now add sex — it’s that painful stomach discomfort with the strong urge to vomit that is triggered by post-sexual intercourse.

Possible Reasons Behind Nausea After Sex

Nausea after sex can be caused by several factors, from physical, psychological, and sexual as well. Knowing these very factors is advantageous in detecting what may be igniting your case of nausea after sex. You won’t feel stuck and have all possible options to cancel out.

Read up on the potential causes of such discomfort through this section.

1 Vasovagal Syncope

According to Healthline, this response occurs when the vagus nerve is stimulated. This nerve is present in the cervix and regulates your internal bodily functions, from digestion to blood pressure and heart rate.

Additionally, the cervix is already filled with numerous nerve endings alone. Hence, triggering the vagus nerve through cervical penetration or wild sex can bring drawbacks to your body, such as nausea after sex, if you aren’t careful enough.

2 Nerves and Anxiety

Sex can be a nerve-wracking activity. Whether it’s your first time in your life or it’s an activity you engage in regularly, your nerves may get the best of you. It may be from the uncertainties of how sex feels on you or engaging with it with a certain person, among many others. Reasons like this can make your stomach upset and even nausea after sex.

Another instance your nerves and anxiety can affect is if you bottle it up throughout the deed, then upon reaching an o, that wave of nausea just hits you strongly. From there, your body is weakened and may just be a mood breaker.

3 Dehydration and Hunger

No human body can function on empty fuel. And by fuel, we mean water and nutritious foods like protein, vegetables, fruits, and fiber. These are the factors that build up a healthy diet, building up your strength, stamina, and endurance. A lack of these factors can affect your overall bodily performance, sex included. And if you’re someone prone to nausea, then nausea after sex may just be a part of a crashing aftermath.

4 Endometriosis

This condition occurs in vulva owners, wherein the endometrium or the tissue involved in building the uterine lining outgrows the uterus. It can extend most especially to the pelvic area (e.g., ovaries, fallopian tubes, etc.). Since it can’t leave your body, it can cause inflammation and swelling. As a result, that area cramps up and you have an unusual bleeding pattern.

Due to such pain from this condition, some people say that they experience nausea after sex. Nobody likes nausea on top of these other symptoms, staining your views and excitement for the deed. 

5 Sexual Aversion Disorder

This cause is almost like a more extreme case from the previous post with its own standalone differences. Sexual Aversion Disorder is when someone showcases strong avoidance of all or almost all kinds of sexual contact with a sexual partner.

Or, in other words, you’re avoiding sex and anything else related to it. It can be acquired or lifelong, and it can be due to sexual performance anxiety, sexual trauma, your upbringing, and many more.

So, in the case wherein you aren’t able to avoid sex or the topic of it, it can trigger symptoms such as nausea after sex.

6 Lack of Foreplay

Foreplay is critical whenever you have sex, whether it be penetration, oral, outercourse, etc. It’s what gets your body warmed up for what’s to come and puts your mindset in the zone. The intimate, sexual zone. Like a workout, you need to warm up to prepare your bodies to make the most out of your energy and avoid injuries or discomfort.

The same goes with sex, wherein if you don’t take foreplay seriously, it can affect how you perform penetration or any type of sexual activity. Since such sex can be intense, it can make you dizzy and go beyond what you’re capable of. As a result, nausea after sex can occur.

So don’t be lazy when you try to build up the steamy mood!

7 Allergic Reaction

In rare cases, it’s possible for an allergic reaction in your body to trigger nausea after sex. It can be through the discharges exchanged (e.g., semen, squirting, vaginal discharge, etc.) or any sex-related tools used (e.g., condoms, lube, etc.) The degree of such allergy varies from mild to severe. Thus, it’s important to know if you have allergies that can harm your sexual performance so you can avoid them.

8 Sensitivity to Certain Scents

It’s common for some people to be more sensitive to certain surroundings than others. You’ll further unravel that if you engage in sensation play, wherein certain scents from sweet to sour ones may trigger nausea after sex. After all, the nose cannot lie and it can highly impact your overall mood. So even if sensation play is exciting, involving your sense of smell can be omitted and you can test with your other senses instead.

9 Painful or Intense Sex

Being diagnosed with chronic illnesses prior, such as endometriosis and the rest we’ll discuss later on, can lead to painful sex, which can then result in nausea after sex. Any illness that affects your pelvic and sexual health can then impact the way you have and enjoy sex.

Aside from this, performing sex through the wrong sex positions or going at a rough pace can brew pain for both the giver and receiver. Thus, nausea after sex may occur.

10 Post-Orgasmic Illness Syndrome (POIS)

This rare illness occurs mainly in penis owners (but vulva owners aren’t out of the question either), wherein this study defines it as a “series of a cluster of bothersome symptoms following ejaculation”. 

And it just so happens that nausea after sex is one of them, alongside extreme fatigue and muscle pain. Some of those penis owners also share that they experience a flu-like state when they reach their o’. As a result, they don’t engage in the deed anymore to avoid it.

11 Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

This disease is caused by bacteria, including the ones involved with STIs. As a result, it affects the internal female reproductive organs such as the fallopian tubes and cervix. It can be life-threatening if it’s not treated immediately. And if you have sex with this disease, it’s known to trigger nausea or even vomiting after sex.

12 Sexual Trauma

Past sexual experiences that are negative leads to sexual trauma, reshaping the way you view sex. By negative, it can be forced, non-consensual sex (rape), harassment, assault, or overall having bad sex. It varies per person, along with its degree of negativity. With the former, it can be a challenge to come face to face and confront it. Professional help may be needed to overcome it. With the former, such trauma makes you ignore sex completely.

But reliving and thinking about those experiences can trigger an urge to vomit aka. nausea because of how terrible it was.

Tips to Prevent Nausea After Sex

Whether the nausea you experience after sex is mild or extreme, it’s always smart to prevent it right away. You don’t want to go through the paranoia of such when sex should be something enjoyable and pleasurable. It’ll just tamper the whole experience thinking that way. So less worrying, more action taking through this section of helpful tips!

1 Practice deep breathing exercises.

We may not realize that our bodies can tense up during sex. But really, it should be a time when we get to unwind and relax, letting our bodies enjoy the rhythm against another person. Or maybe even a sex toy. Hence, you need to breathe and let go. Practicing deep breathing exercises can help normalize your awareness of your breathing patterns and avoid tensing up. Every movement is dictated by a breath, and you should be in control of it.

2 Stick to comfortable sex positions.

Okay, someone might say that such positions are boring. But maybe it’s because you haven’t explored enough or haven’t realized that there’s more to sex positions that can spice things up! However, prioritizing comfort must be of utmost importance. To be “boring” or feel unwell, choose your battle.

3 Hydrate more!

As mentioned earlier, dehydration is a cause of nausea after sex. So don’t run on an empty engine, and drink a lot of water before, during, and after sex. But aside from avoiding dehydration, hydrating is good for the body and boosts your energy throughout the deed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Eager to know a little bit more about nausea after sex? Keep reading this short FAQ section filled with answered queries about the topic.

1 Is nausea after sex common?

Not exactly, but it doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. So when it does happen, it helps to get it checked by a medical professional or backtrack your own lifestyle habits to figure out where it must’ve been triggered.

2 Is nausea after sex the same as vomiting?

No. Nausea is more on the feeling of wanting to throw up while vomiting is the actual act. Vomiting after sex can be due to something serious within your body, so again, consult with a medical professional.

3 Does nausea after sex mean I’m pregnant?

No. Although nausea is a common symptom associated with pregnancy, feeling nausea after sex doesn’t equate to pregnancy. For one, it takes a while for sperm to fertilize an egg and be implanted. Pregnancy is not a quick and easy process, so you can scratch that out from your list of fears.

Takeaway

Nausea after sex is caused by mild to extreme reasons. All of which vary per person, hence it’s important to get yourself checked to take any necessary acts of prevention. Alongside seeking professional treatment, especially in more intense cases, making the right lifestyle choices is crucial too. Prioritizing these key factors can bring improvement to your nausea after sex, lessening the urge bit by bit so it’ll make you freely enjoy sex once again. 

We hope this guide provided you with a better path to improvement and treatment, beloved reader!