After sex, some men experience sadness and regret, which is known as Post-coital tristesse.

You probably have experienced it, but didn’t know what it was. Well, it’s actually normal, and the word for it is PCT (post-coital tristesse), ‘tristesse’ being another word for sadness. Not everyone experiences it and many sufferers may suffer great feelings of anxiety for five minutes or even 2 hours after intercourse.

So, what leads to the depression? Post-coital tristesse is said to be as a result of the loss of semen and the exhaustion of the body following a round of sex. Rather than feel the usual relief that ensues (after dopamine is released), the body feels weak and exhausted. There’s even a Latin adage that goes, ‘omne animal post coital triste’ loosely translated to mean ‘all animals are sad after sex’.

Post-coital tristesse can be found in from the works of famous philosophers like Aristotle. After an orgasm, a hormone used in production of breast milk (prolactin – also found in men) rises high. In fact, it escalates as high as 400 percent during sex than during masturbation. The feeling can also be experienced of you have intercourse with someone you don’t care about.