A recent study suggests that a significant majority of men suffer from “post-sex blues” following masturbation. Researchers at Nottingham Trent University investigated “postcoital dysphoria” (PCD)—a phenomenon characterized by unexplained sadness, anxiety, or agitation immediately after otherwise satisfactory sexual activity.

The findings, published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, relied on an online survey of 156 participants. The data revealed a stark gender divide regarding triggers. Over three-quarters of male respondents reported experiencing negative emotions after self-pleasure. In contrast, only 51 percent of women reported similar feelings following masturbation.

However, the dynamic shifts regarding casual sex. For women, uncommitted sexual encounters were the primary trigger for dysphoria, affecting 77 percent of respondents. Conversely, only 49 percent of men reported these negative emotions after a fling. Both genders reported the lowest rates of PCD within committed relationships, affecting just one in five men and one in ten women.

Study author Darcie Raftery suggests that societal stigma likely plays a role, noting that feelings of guilt and shame often drive these negative reactions to masturbation. She posits that normalizing self-pleasure could reduce the prevalence of PCD. Meanwhile, medical experts separately warn that excessive masturbation, particularly when combined with pornography, can lead to desensitization and physical issues like erectile dysfunction.