An Epidemiological Survey of Post-Coital Psychological Symptoms in a UK Population Sample of Female Twins

Abstract

Postcoital psychological symptoms (PPS) is a virtually unexplored phenomenon in the female population even though women frequently complain about irritability and motiveless crying after intercourse and/or orgasm. The aim of this study was to explore the epidemiology and genetic influences of PPS in a UK population sample of women. 1,489 unselected female twins aged 18–85 completed questions on recent and persistent PPS and potential risk factors. Standard methods of quantitative genetic analysis were used to model latent genetic and environmental factors influencing variation in PPS. For identification of potential risk factors, regression analyses were conducted. Phenotypic variation in PPS was explored using a genetic variance component analysis (VCA) approach. We found 3.7% of women reported suffering from recent PPS and 7.7% from persistent PPS. Relationship satisfaction and experience of abuse were found to be independently associated with recent (OR 4.5, 95% CI 4.13–4.87 and OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.02–1.34, respectively) and persistent PPS (OR 2.53, 95% CI 2.17–2.81 and OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.09–1.26, respectively). VCA revealed that phenotypic variance was best explained by an additive genetic (AE) model, ascribing 28% (for recent PPS) and 26% (for persistent PPS) of phenotypic variance to additive genetic effects, with the rest being a result of individual experiences and random measurement error. To our knowledge, this is the first and largest study investigating the epidemiology of PPS. It seems that the most important targets for intervention and prevention occur outside of the family, such as relationship quality and satisfaction, and history of abuse.

Correlates of Female Sexual Functioning: Adult Attachment and Differentiation of Self

“…As a precaution, history of sexual abuse and psychological distress were entered into the first block of the hierarchical multiple regression models as a method of control. Although age was not correlated with any of the FSFI domains except for desire, it was possible that age remained a potential confound due to its previously demonstrated association with sexual difficulties [27]. As a check, the multiple regression analyses were run with and without age included at block 1.…”

Postcoital Dysphoria: Prevalence and Psychological Correlates

“…A very limited number of recent studies have drawn attention to a previously poorly recognized phenomenon known as postcoital dysphoria (PCD), or “post‐sex blues” [3]. PCD is the experience of negative affect characterized by tearfulness, a sense of melancholy or depression, anxiety, agitation, or aggression following sexual intercourse [4].…”

“…[2] reported that 32.9% of the women in their sample had experienced PCD symptoms in their lifetime. A study by Burri and Spector [4] investigated the experience of post‐coital psychological symptoms such as irritability and motiveless crying after sexual intercourse and/or orgasm in a sample of 1,489 female twins in the United Kingdom. They reported 7.7% of women reported experiencing these symptoms persistently and 3.7% of women reported recent experience of these symptoms.…”

“…In seeking to gain a better understanding of the postcoital experience in women, it is crucial to gain further understanding on how and to what extent women's sexual motivation and therefore functioning are influenced by the need to develop, maintain, or enhance intimacy with one's partner. Two components of intimacy relate to the role of attachment and to differentiation of self, in women's sexual functioning [4,10]. Attachment and differentiation of self are postulated to dictate how women manage intimacy in significant relationships [11].…”

Overlap of Postnatal Depression and Postcoital Dysphoria in Women- Implications for Common Underlying Mechanisms

“…Here, we sought to investigate Postcoital dysphoria (PCD) or post-sex blues, which is a form of distress associated with sexual activity, commonly defined as the experience of negative emotions such as tearfulness, feelings of melancholy or depression, anxiety, agitation, or aggression after sexual intercourse [7,8]. Previously, twin studies have revealed that sexual distress has a heritability of 46%, accounting for additive genetic and non-shared environmental factors [8].…”