Despite what some people think, sex doesn’t make you weaker. Sex uses muscle groups, increases your heart rate and burns calories, just like any workout.
Some diseases or medication side effects can cause leg weakness that spreads up or down the body. Abnormal growths that affect the spinal cord or nerves can also cause weakness.
Causes
There are many reasons you might feel tired after sex. One is that sex is a cardiovascular workout and can make you exhausted. Another is that your body releases a lot of chemicals during sex, including hormones and endorphins that can make you sleepy. Then there’s the fact that sex can also wear you out physically and cause sore muscles.
Leg weakness is common and can be improved with medications or physical therapy, depending on the underlying cause. But some causes of leg weakness aren’t as easily treatable and can be serious. If your leg weakness is sudden in onset or associated with arm weakness, numbness or vision problems it could be a sign of a stroke and you should seek medical attention immediately.
Other causes of leg weakness can include systemic diseases, inflammatory conditions and medications side effects. These can affect the brain, spinal cord or nerves that travel to the legs and can lead to weakness. Herniated or ruptured discs that cause pain, numbness and tingling in the back and legs are another cause of leg weakness. Leg weakness can also be caused by damage to the nerves in the spine that can happen due to disease, injury or abnormal growth. When this happens one side of the brain or the spinal cord may be affected more than the other causing asymmetric leg weakness.
Symptoms
There’s no doubt sex can give you an adrenaline rush. But sex can also leave you feeling spent, just like any physical activity. “During orgasm, you’re having a cardiovascular workout, and the body releases a cocktail of neurochemicals that can make you feel exhausted afterward,” says Greer.
Women often experience muscle soreness in their thighs after sex, especially if they’re new to sexual intimacy. They may also experience pain in the lower abdomen and pelvis or have light bleeding. This pain is likely due to a muscle pull and should subside within a day or two. However, if this pain persists for more than a week it could be an indication of pelvic inflammation or a sexually transmitted disease.
If you’re experiencing painful sex with a partner, try using lubricants or engaging in foreplay before you take a turn. Stretching and warming up your muscles before the act can also help prevent pain during sex.
Weak ejaculation is a common problem for many men. Typically, it’s not a serious health issue, but you should see your doctor if it persists. Depending on the cause, you might need to make changes to your lifestyle or use medication to improve your sperm count. You can also try acupuncture or massage to treat your symptoms. If these treatments don’t help, you might need a more invasive treatment.
Treatment
Fortunately, leg weakness can usually be completely recovered if it’s diagnosed and treated in the appropriate time frame. It is important to see a doctor as quickly as possible to make sure that the cause is not something serious such as nerve or spinal cord damage.
In fact, many of the causes of weakness may be prevented with a little lifestyle modification. For example, making sure that you’re getting a good amount of sleep and avoiding stimulants like caffeine and nicotine can all help. Other changes you can make include reducing stress and taking antidepressants as prescribed by your doctor.
If you’re experiencing shaking or pelvic pain after sex, you should also talk to your doctor about it. It could be a sign of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) caused by sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, mycoplasma, and trichomoniasis. These infections can cause pain before, during, and after intercourse.
Alternatively, the shaking and pelvic pain that you’re experiencing could be a result of orgasm. During orgasm, the body releases a combination of hormones and neurotransmitters that can cause feelings of euphoria and exhaustion. Moreover, the shakes can be caused by a drop in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate, which can lead to dizziness. Taking a hot bath and consuming a diet that includes potassium-rich foods, such as bananas and avocados, can help.
Prevention
In some cases, legs may shake after sex due to muscle tension that is released during orgasm. It could also be a result of the position you’re in during sexual intercourse. For example, if you’re in a tight position for too long, your muscles will be clenched even more, leading to the shaking after sex. Try switching up your leg positions throughout sex to prevent this from happening.
It’s also important to be hydrated before and during sex. When you’re hydrated, your body will be better able to handle any stressors that come with orgasm and sex. Additionally, it’s a good idea to snack on potassium-rich foods such as bananas, avocados, and yogurt before and during sexual intercourse. This will help your muscles to contract less and will reduce the pain after sex.
While sex is amazing, it can be tiring. That’s because sex is a lot like a cardiovascular workout, with a build-up of blood pressure and a release of endorphins. Moreover, orgasms can also make your body feel tired. For this reason, you’ll likely feel your best after sex in the morning, right before bed.
