There are so many pivotal moments in life that will make you cry genuine tears of joy: a beautiful wedding, the birth of your first child, an emotional episode of Grey's Anatomy, and according to science, even some really bomb sex. In an intimate discussion about intimacy on yesterday's episode of The Real, the hosts confirmed that if you've ever shed a tear because the D was so bomb, you're not alone, sis.
Although Jeannie Mai said she couldn't relate, Tamera Mowry-Housley and Adrienne Houghton said they have no shame in their crying game during sex. In the past, Adrienne has been candid about the thrills of married sex with her husband, Israel Houghton, revealing that they don't go more than 12 hours without banging it out, but yesterday, she filled us in on how real it can really get. Although it's not a Viola Davis-style breakdown in the bedroom, it is a reflection of the pure joy and bliss you're experiencing with your partner. Adrienne explained:
"Literally a tear just comes out of your eye. It's not emotional."
Adrienne admitted that she's not the only one who's been so overcome with joy in the bedroom that their tear ducts couldn't take it. She's revealed that she's also seen her man cry after sex:
"They're just overwhelmed with how much they love you or how bomb you were…they're just like 'that was amazing!'"
While shedding a tear or two while getting your freak on may feel weird at first, both sexperts and scientists say that it's totally normal.
In fact, sex psychotherapist Sarah Nasserzadeh, Ph.D. says that crying during or after sex is just "emotional sweating". Good sex can be hella relaxing, and that level of comfort can cause all kinds of emotions to run up and through you. While sometimes, sadness after sex can also be an indicator of a deeper, underlying issue like post-coital dysphoria, or PCD, (which requires serious, professional attention), according to Adrienne, crying isn't always a sign of sadness.
In the same way that you would cry during a deep yoga session or a massage, your tears just serve as a form of emotional release, and those emotions aren't all necessarily negative. Experiencing a deep connection with a partner during a sexual experience causes the release of oxytocin, which increases your level of bonding, empathy, and trust, and crying can be a genuine sign of gratitude or appreciation.
So if you ever see your man's eyes sweating with tears of joy after an intense romping session, rest assured, those ain't allergies. You just put it down.
Featured image by Greg Doherty / Getty.
