Ep. 52
If you’ve noticed changes in your libido since your concussion, or you feel more symptomatic after sex or orgasm, you are not alone. This is a question our team hears often, and it’s one many people find hard to ask out loud.

In this episode, Dr. Paul Hrkal, Dr. Cameron Marshall, and Melinda Krynen Hill answer a real member question about libido changes and symptom flares after intimacy, and break down the different layers that can be involved.

– Hormones can shift slowly after a concussion. The pituitary gland helps regulate reproductive, thyroid, and adrenal hormones. Changes can build gradually, sometimes 6 to 12 months or more after injury, rather than showing up right away.

– The nervous system and physical capacity both play a role. Arousal relies on a calm, parasympathetic state, while climax is a quick shift toward sympathetic activation. With autonomic imbalance after concussion, that shift can feel like a lot. 

– Sex is also a form of exercise, so if your heart rate threshold is low, that can contribute to symptoms.

– Mood, confidence, and fatigue matter just as much. Living with symptoms can affect how we see ourselves. Fear, anxiety, low mood, and heavy fatigue can all lower desire, and each one points to a different kind of support. A rise in libido can also happen, and it can sometimes be a way of coping with loss.

Takeaways

Talk about it. Changes in intimacy are common, and sharing them with a provider or someone you trust is a helpful first step.

Work on isolating variables. A sub-symptom threshold exercise program can help you learn whether the physical effort of sex is a trigger, or whether something else is going on.

Consider getting objective information. Hormone testing and a mood evaluation can help you and your care team understand which layers apply to you.

Timestamps
0:30 Welcome and today’s member question
1:06 Hormones and the pituitary gland
2:51 The parasympathetic to sympathetic “toggle” and symptoms after orgasm
3:55 Fear, anxiety, and the nervous system response to intimacy
6:32 How PCS affects confidence, identity, and desire
8:14 Symptoms, fatigue, and exercise intolerance
10:01 Sub-symptom threshold exercise: how to isolate the physical variable
11:30 Four areas to explore and where to start
12:49 Hormone testing and working with your care team
13:53 Depression, anxiety, and fatigue: telling them apart
15:23 Why libido changes can sneak up months later
16:18 When libido increases: the hormone and coping perspectives
19:58 Parting words: normalize the conversation
23:19 Closing

Remember, recovery is possible. You are not alone. 

Learn more about the Concussion Fix program for PCS – https://www.concussionfix.com/

Hear what people are saying about the Concussion Fix Program – https://concussiondoc.io/offer/love-page/

Take part in one of our free 90-minute patient workshops to learn how you can conquer your PCS – https://webinar.concussiondoc.io/s/qMKYfx

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so you can be notified about more valuable content on concussion recovery!

Learn more about the Concussion Fix program for PCS – https://concussiondoc.io/offer/the-concussion-fix/

Hear what people are saying about the Concussion Fix Program –https://concussiondoc.io/offer/love-page/

Take part in one of our free 90-minute patient workshops to learn how you can conquer your PCS –https://webinar.concussiondoc.io/s/qMKYfx

Remember, these insights are not medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment plan.

Intro song credit – I Feel Good – All Good Folks, Orfium (Hexacorp Ltd.)- downloaded from Uppbeat.io