Feeling Nauseous After Sex? The Reason Might Surprise You
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So, you just finished having fun in one of your favorite hot sex positions and you’re feeling great—until a bout of nausea after sex sets in. What gives? Sex is supposed to feel amazing, but there are a number of weird things that can happen after you have sex, including feeling nauseous.
“Nausea can happen after sex, but it is not a common occurrence,” says Sherry Ross, M.D., women’s sexual health expert, author of she-ology and the she-quel. Feeling anything out of the ordinary during or after sex, whether it’s painful sex or feeling a bit queasy, can really take the fun out of living out your sexual fantasies. You may feel nervous to engage in sexual acts moving forward, but more than anything you’re likely wondering why you’re having such a stomach-churning reaction to something that just felt so good.
To put it simply, “there’s so much that could be causing this [feeling]” Chelsie Reed, Ph.D., L.P.C., a mental health counselor and author of Sexpert: Desire, Passion, Sensations, Intimacy, and Orgasm to Indulge in Your Best Sex Life. While the potential causes for nausea after sex are likely physical, it wouldn’t be unheard of to be experiencing emotional issues or trauma that could trigger a nauseating sexual experience.
Just remember: persistent feelings of nausea or pain associated with sex should not be ignored. “If something doesn't feel right and sex is not enjoyable or avoided, it’s so important to address these feelings and symptoms with your trusted health care provider,” explains Dr. Ross
Below, experts share reasons for nausea after sex straight, so you can get back to enjoying your time in the bedroom.
What causes nausea after sex?
Painful or intense orgasm
“Often the reason why nausea occurs during or after sex is due to pain and uterine contractions associated with an orgasm,” explains Dr. Ross. This can also be related to another underlying condition or the type of sex you engage in, such as aggressive sex or a specific sex position.
Certain sex positions
Pain caused by sex, which can lead to nausea, is often related to specific sexual positions, deeper penetration, or aggressive sex, explains Dr. Ross, who suggests avoiding positions that facilitate deeper penetration if you experience nausea after sex. She notes that communicating with your partner to find what makes you feel good is important.
Additionally, Reed notes that changing positions too quickly or positions that make you dizzy (like being upside down) may affect your sense of stability and can cause nausea.
Vasovagal response
A common culprit for feeling nauseous during or after sex is the vagus nerve—a nerve that begins all the way up at your eyes and extends down to your stomach and groin, says Reed. “When you stimulate the vagus nerve too much, in certain ways, you can get nauseous,” she explains.
Lack of foreplay
The purpose of foreplay isn’t simply just to get in the mood (though that’s certainly an important part of the equation), but it’s also meant to “actually prep your body for sex,” and during foreplay, the body “shuts down our gut,” explains Reed. Pausing that system generally should help avoid discomfort such as nausea—so if you’re lacking in the foreplay department, that may be the problem.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Sexually transmitted infections or PID can also be a cause of discomfort during or after sex, says Dr. Ross. These types of infections can also cause fever, chills, abdominal pain, and abnormal vaginal discharge outside of intercourse in addition to nausea after sex.
Endometriosis
Nausea, in general, is a common endometriosis symptom in addition to severe menstrual cramps, pain with intercourse, infertility, diarrhea, and constipation, Dr. Ross previously explained. And according to Dr. Ross, nausea after sex may also be related to the condition.
Scents in the bedroom
If you like to experiment with sensory play in the bedroom, including the use of food or perfumes, or use products like flavored lubes, then scent may be playing a role in your discomfort. These sorts of scents can certainly cause nausea during or after sex, notes Reed.
Sexual trauma
“Emotional issues including depression, anxiety, and past or current sexual trauma, can also bring on nausea during sex,” says Dr. Ross. If the person you’re with reminds you of a traumatic situation it may lead to a sense of disgust and feelings of nausea, Reed explains.
Sexual aversion disorder
Sexual aversion disorder refers to feelings of anxiety surrounding sex, including nausea. But someone with the disorder would also experience more symptoms of anxiety, like sweaty palms, nervousness, and heavy breathing, explains Reed. “Mostly, there’s the overall emotional feeling of ‘I don’t want to’ or ‘this doesn’t feel right,’” Reed notes. “And if you don’t want to [have sex], don’t do it. But if it’s something you want in your life, and it feels intimidating, then you can certainly seek treatment.”
When to see your doctor
“The severity and frequency of having nausea after sex would determine when to see a healthcare provider. If it's infrequent, not disruptive and more of a one off, then there is nothing to worry about,” explains Dr. Ross. “If nausea happens frequently after sex or orgasms, you should contact your health care provider for a consultation to ensure there is not an underlying medical condition.”
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