They might be happy tears, tears of relief, or a bit of melancholy. Tears during or after sex can also be a purely physical reaction. Clinically speaking, crying after sex is known as postcoital dysphoria PCD or — occasionally — postcoital tristesse PCT. PCD symptoms may include tearfulness, sadness, and irritability after consensual sex, even if it was perfectly satisfying.

Sex can be an emotionally-intense experience—no matter how close you are with your sexual partner , the very act involves a degree of vulnerability. You did just see each other naked , after all. And if you've ever found yourself fighting back tears in the breathless aftermath , you're not alone. There are even several terms for the phenomenon: Post-sex crying is also known as postcoital dysphoria PCD , postcoital tristesse "tristesse" is the French word for melancholy or sadness , or more plainly, post-sex blues. But what causes someone to get sad after sex?

When sex with your partner is fun, happy, and—most importantly—consensual, your mind and body are liable to react in a number of different ways. Your feel-good emotions run high, and your adrenaline pumps, and the result may include you shaking, moaning, writhing, or even laughing with joy. And according to sex therapists, there are a number of reasons this emotional response is a completely and totally normal experience. Another possible explanation of why an orgasm may bring about tears is that the heightened experience can be—in addition to full of pleasure—frightening or startling, leading people to feel out of control. To this point, Cooper says that if sex or masturbation is followed by uncontrollable fits of crying, seeing a sex therapist may be an appropriate next step.

Crying after sex, or post-coital tristesse PCT , is something that many people experience. There are several possible causes. Medical professionals might also refer to this condition as post-coital dysphoria.