In a recent article Felix Conrad challenges the notion of post-orgasmic clarity (PNC) as a definitive insight into one's “true self,” especially in the context of gender identity.
He explores how neurochemical shifts after orgasm—such as a dopamine crash and prolactin surge—trigger temporary emotional vulnerability, introspection, and even regret. These moments are sometimes mistaken for revelations, but the author argues they’re fleeting physiological events, not existential truths.
Applying this to autogynephilia discourse, Conrad dismisses the idea that less intense crossgender feelings following climax discredits a possible transgender identity. Instead, it suggests that identity is shaped over time, not defined by transient states.
Felix writes:
Advocates of the autogynephilia narrative often place undue emphasis on the refractory period, suggesting it unmasks a person’s “true self.” But this approach is flawed and reductionist. It mirrors the error of telling a depressed person their sadness is their true state, dismissing their joyful moments as illusions. Both perspectives fail to account for the complexity and fluidity of human emotions, desires, and identity. Post-orgasmic vulnerability reflects only a momentary shift in brain chemistry, not an ontological reality.
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