Why You're Horny When Hungover

If there's one positive that comes from a night of drinking, it's the hangover horniness. You may know the feeling: it comes when you're laying in bed and you suddenly think to yourself, "Wait, should I masturbate right now?" despite having a raging headache.

For whatever reason, there's just something about the morning after one too many vodka sodas that makes some people tired, nauseous, anxious, and irrationally horny.

Being horny when you're hungover is normal, confirms Kinsey-certified sexologist and sex researcher Tara Suwinyattichaiporn (aka "Dr. Tara"), PhD. But this blissful hangover symptom doesn't necessarily happen for everyone, and it also doesn't happen every single time you're hungover.

Below, our experts explain more about hangover horniness, and how you can turn your hangxiety into an endorphin-filled orgasm instead.

Also known as a horny hangover, hangover horniness is what happens when you're — you guessed it — horny and hungover. "It's the feeling of sexual urges that someone experiences when they are hungover after a night of drinking," Dr. Tara says. Because even when you feel like dog shit, it's still possible to want sex.

If you have a case of the hangover horniness, it's possible you're craving a boost of feel-good hormones that come from good sex and orgasms, Dr. Tara says. This would be like your subconscious knowing what's good for you.

It's also possible your body wants to use sex as stress relief. "You may experience increased horniness and seek out sexual activity as a way to cope with the unpleasantness of your hangover or just as a way to enhance your mood," Dr. Tara adds.

Scientifically, you could feel extra horny because of how your body metabolizes alcohol. "When we consume alcohol, it can disrupt neurotransmitter levels and alter hormonal balance. During the consumption phase, alcohol often acts as a depressant, slowing down neural activity and dulling sensations," psychologist Barbara Santini explains. "However, as the body metabolizes alcohol and blood alcohol levels decline, there can be a rebound effect, leading to increased arousal and heightened sensitivity."

If you want to take on your hangover horniness, by all means, do it. But before you jump into a complicated sex position, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Don't use your hangover horniness as an excuse to text your ex. Instead, Dr. Tara recommends masturbating. Using a vibrator or sex toy is a great way to scratch your horny itch, and it's probably more enjoyable than sex with your ex anyway.

If you do have a partner, try mutual masturbation. This is when you face your partner and masturbate in front of them. "You can still get the benefits of orgasms, but you don't have to perform a lot of 'exercise' movements, which are harder when you're fatigued and dehydrated from a hangover," Dr. Tara explains.

Opt for a lazy sex position. When you have a queasy stomach and delayed motor skills, it probably isn't the best time to try the piledriver sex position. Instead, the spooning sex position, where both partners lie on their sides facing the same way, can be an easy way to maximize your pleasure.

Maybe think twice about anal sex. Poop isn't something to be scared or ashamed of, especially during anal sex. But if you are experiencing hangover diarrhea and don't want it to turn into a literal shit show, it may be best to stick to other forms of sex instead.

Taylor Andrews is a balance editor at POPSUGAR who specializes in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, and more. In her six years working in editorial, she's written about how semen is digested, why sex aftercare is the move, and how the overturn of Roe killed situationships.