Sexual arousal can cause tear glands to produce tears. This is because of the hormones released during arousal that affect the eyes. It has been observed that when someone is aroused, their body releases chemicals called endorphins which can make them cry. This response is known as crying from joy. However, it can also happen for different reasons such as pain or sadness. When someone feels emotional distress due to an event happening around them while they are aroused, their brain may interpret this stimulus as something bad and trigger an autoimmune reaction which causes tears. For some people, this reaction might be more intense than others.
Some research suggests that men are more likely to experience sexual arousal-induced tears than women. One possible reason for this could be differences in hormone levels between the two genders; testosterone suppresses tear production whereas estrogen increases it. Another explanation is related to how the brain processes emotion during sex - women tend to have stronger connections between the amygdala (which regulates emotions) and the hypothalamus (which controls hormonal release), meaning that they feel stronger feelings associated with arousal and therefore react more strongly when experiencing it. Additionally, cultural norms regarding gender roles play a role in whether individuals express emotions publicly. Men may not feel comfortable showing vulnerability while engaged in sexual activity and thus cry less often than women do.
There are various theories about why sexual arousal leads to increased tears. One theory suggests that it is an evolutionary adaptation; animals who exhibited signs of submission by crying would attract mates better than those who did not display any sign of weakness. Another idea proposes that tears serve as a way to regulate body temperature during intimate moments because there is usually an increase in heart rate and respiration rate during these times. Yet another hypothesis claims that tears act like lubricants allowing sperm easier passage into female reproductive organs for conception purposes.