Feeling queasy after sex isn’t typically the point of this activity, but it can happen. From deep penetration (which can cause a vagal response) to using flavored lubes, there are a few possible causes.
Luckily, it’s rarely a sign of a serious problem, but it’s always worth getting to the bottom of why you’re feeling this way.
Causes
If you’re feeling nausea after sex, it’s important to talk to your partner about it. This may help you figure out what is causing the feelings of nausea so that it can be resolved. It’s also important to get regular STD tests to ensure that you aren’t suffering from any sexually transmitted diseases.
If the nausea is related to a past sexual trauma, it might be helpful to seek out counseling or support from a mental health professional to work through this emotional discomfort. It could also be a sign of underlying physical problems, such as cervical infections or uterine fibroids.
Another cause of post-sex nausea is motion sickness. This is caused by the movement of your body during sex, which can trigger nausea in people who are predisposed to it. If this is the case, your partner can try to slow down and not move back and forth or up and down so much during sex, which will lessen the nausea-causing effects.
For women, if the nausea is caused by deep penetration that stimulates the cervix or uterus, it’s possible that you are pregnant (though morning sickness typically doesn’t occur until around two weeks after your missed period and six weeks into your pregnancy). In this case, communicating with your partner about how to be more gentle during sex and avoid stimulating your cervix or uterus as deeply might ease your symptoms.
Treatment
There are several ways to combat nausea after sex, according to the experts. If you’re suffering from motion sickness, for example, taking a dose of motion-sickness medication like dimenhydrinate or meclizine may help. If your nausea is due to nerves or performance anxiety, practicing relaxation techniques or seeing a therapist may alleviate your symptoms. If your sex-induced nausea is due to an underlying health condition, it’s worth talking to a doctor as soon as possible.
Another common cause of post-sex nausea is contact with the cervix, which creates the vasovagal response that can drop your heart rate and blood pressure, leaving you feeling faint. This is especially true around the time of your period when the cervix drops lower and is more sensitive, Dr Streicher explained.
Plain old dehydration could also be behind your feelings of nausea after sex, Dr Lakhani said. Make sure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day – six to eight glasses a day is recommended. If your nausea is accompanied by pain, it may be a sign of an underlying health issue like endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease (where tissue that lines the womb grows in other parts of the body) or even a UTI, she added.
If you’re experiencing regular episodes of sex-induced nausea, try changing positions during penetration to control how deeply your cervix is being penetrated. Adding a lubricant can also help reduce irritation to your genitals. And if you’re feeling anxious or nervous about sex, try to relax and take your time during lovemaking to ease your discomfort.
Prevention
If you’ve ruled out a physical cause for your nausea and it seems like it might be psychological, there are a few things you can do. First, use lube (read our guide to choosing the best sex lubricant). It can make all the difference when it comes to smooth sailing afterwards.
Next, you could try taking some motion sickness medication before sex. These can be found over-the-counter or at your local drugstore. If your nausea is linked to stress or performance anxiety, practicing mindfulness techniques such as meditation or breathing exercises might help. If your nausea is accompanied by pain, it might be a sign of something serious, such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disorder or even a urinary tract infection. If that’s the case, you should visit a gynecologist as soon as possible.
If you’re feeling nauseous after sex, it’s likely due to deep penetration that stimulates the cervix. This can trigger a vasovagal response, which can lead to a drop in heart rate and dizziness that makes you feel sick. You can avoid this by asking your partner to penetrate less deeply or by switching to a different position that doesn’t require penetration of the cervix. If you find yourself feeling nauseous after sex often, it might be time to see a therapist for sexual trauma or other psychological issues you may have.
Follow-Up
There are a few reasons why you may feel nauseous after sex. One reason is that you’re dehydrated. You should drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day (more on this topic here).
Another reason is that you have a medical condition. If you experience nausea after sex, you should consult with your doctor to diagnose the problem.
For example, if you’re experiencing nausea after sex and it is accompanied by pelvic pain or dysorgasmia, you should talk to your doctor. These symptoms could be a sign of endometriosis, an underlying health issue that causes tissue similar to the lining of the womb to grow in other areas of the body. The pain can also be caused by ovarian cysts or pelvic inflammatory disease, which are both serious conditions that should not be ignored.
Finally, nausea can be a result of general anxiety about sex. If this is the case for you, try to work with your partner to find ways to reduce your feelings of anxiety before and during sex so that you can enjoy it more often. Also, talk to a mental health professional if you’re having trouble managing your anxiety on your own. They can help you identify triggering triggers and develop healthy coping mechanisms. They can also help you establish a healthy sex routine that can alleviate your nausea after sex.
