Why Does My Stomach Hurt After Sex

Why Does My Stomach Hurt After Having Sex

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26 Dec 2021

Written by Dr. Andrea Pinto on 27 December 2021

Sex should be a pleasurable activity, but in some cases, you may feel some pain after sex is over. There are different things that can lead to abdominal pain after having sex some of them are simple, common causes but others can be more serious and require attention. Its important to identify the cause of pain after sex, since this will determine whether you need treatment, or if its just a one-time occurence.

Read on to learn why your stomach hurts after having sex.

If Your Discomfort Has Become Terrible Or Is Interfering With Your Everyday Life Its A Good Idea To See Your Doctor As Soon As Possible To Get Checked For Fibroids And See If Thats Why Your Stomach Hurts

You may be considering fibroid surgery if youve been diagnosed with uterine fibroids due to these serious symptoms, including why your stomach hurts. You may have even been advised that hysterectomy, or the surgical removal of the uterus, is your sole option for treatment. We have some good news for you: the reality is that you have other options.

Tips For Preventing Pain After Sex

Occasional Pain

If you are feeling pain with sex only occasionally or if its not interrupting your day-to-day life, some things you can do to mitigate the pain is to take pain relievers, like Tylenol or ibuprofen, either before or after sex, applying heat , or supplementing with things like vitamin B-1, Omega-3s, or magnesium.

Pain with Vaginal Dryness

If you are experiencing vaginal dryness, try incorporating a good vaginal moisturizer like Restore into your routine. If you are having entry pain on a regular basis, make sure to incorporate plenty of foreplay, and try out a quality water-based lubricant like Almost Naked or BioNude.

Pain with Certain Positions

If you find that you are experiencing pain following particular sexual positions, it can help to mix things up in the bedroom by trying out different positions, such as woman-on-top, which can allow for you to control how deep your partner goes. Its also recommended to pee before sex, as this can take some stress off the bladder, thus minimizing abdominal pain after sex. We also recommend trying Ohnut, an innovative wearable product that allows you to customize how deep penetration goes.

Disruptive Pain

If you regularly experience intense pain or pain that is disruptive in other areas of your life, it is recommended to talk to your healthcare provider who will be able to diagnose and provide treatment for medical conditions affecting your sex life.

Either Way Get Thee To A Doc

You likely wont know the true culprit of your stomach pain until you consult a medical professional. If you have an infection, a gyno should be able to prescribe antibiotics to clear it up. If its something else that theyre not able to directly address, theyll likely refer you out to someone who can.

If the issue is due to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, a pelvic floor specialist would be able to address the muscles in and around the pelvis, which can provide relief, Dr. Gelman says.

Endometriosis Is Causing Pain Or Cramping After Sex

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Endometriosis is a serious condition in which the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus. Though it can cause terrible pain, people with endometriosis often have their pain dismissed and ignored. Endometriosis doesnt mean that sex is off the table, but it can cause pain both during and after sex, and the lower abdominal pain can range from mild to severe.

What to do: The Endometriosis Foundation of America recommends that people suffering from endometriosis try being intimate with their partners at different times during their cycles sometimes, the pain can be more intense at certain times of the month. If you think you may have endometriosis, definitely contact your health care provider.

Figuring out why you have stomach pain after sex might be a bit of a process, and may involve talking to a physician or other trusted health care provider. But, the best thing you can do is to find one you really like and trust, someone you feel comfortable talking to about the most intimate subjects. You deserve to have sex thats pain free.

Dr. Maureen Whelihan, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., board-certified OB-GYN practicing in Florida

Studies referenced:

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Does Pregnancy Play A Role In Cramps After Sex

As long as you dont have a high-risk pregnancy, its safe and healthy to have sex up until your water breaks. You cant harm your unborn baby by having sex while theyre in your body. However, your doctor may advise against you having sex if youve experienced:

a history of cervical weakness
a low-lying placenta

Pregnant women often experience cramping after sex. Thats because orgasms can set off contractions in the womb, which lead to cramps. This is especially common when a woman is in her third trimester of pregnancy. Relaxing for a few minutes can allow the cramping to ease.

It’s Because Of The Sex Position You Used

When patients see , MD, an OB-GYN at Yale New Haven Hospital, about pain after sex, she first asks them what position they do most. If you always have pain after missionary or doggy style, it could be because of the deep penetration.

What to do: First try over-the-counter pain medications, like Motrin or Tylenol. “Taking one or two an hour before sex can be very helpful for some women,” says Minkin. She also recommends trying a position where you’re on top and in control, such as cowgirl or face-off.

The key is choosing a position where you have more control over the depth and frequency of penetration, explains Ja Hyun Shin, MD, director of the pelvic pain clinic in the department of Womens Health and Obstetrics & Gynecology at Montefiore Health System. She also suggests trying a sideways position, like spooning, that allows for more shallow penetration.

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Stomach Pain After Sex Is Pretty Common

Like many things relating to womens healthcare, Dr. Gupta says stomach pain after sex is not unusual, it just doesnt get a whole lot of attention. It is more common than we think, she says. People just don’t talk about it.

Dr. Gelman agrees, but adds that just because its relatively normal doesnt mean it should go unnoticed or unaddressed. In general, pain with sex is a common problem, but stomach pain following sex is not necessarily something that affects the entire population, she says. It is definitely something a person should see their doctor about.

Post-penetration stomach pain isnt cause for panic on its own, but regardless, its an important thing to look into with the help of a professional.

What Pain Does Fibroids Make Your Stomach Feel

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Many people mistake uterine fibroid pain for regular monthly cramps, which is understandable given how difficult it is to compare ones own experience to that of others, since your stomach hurts as well which can be very normalized. If youre wondering do fibroids make your stomach hurt, know that, unlike period cramps, fibroid pain can worsen and become incapacitating over time. Some women have severe, abrupt stomach pain, while others just have a chronic, slow ache or a pressing sensation.

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Cervicitis: An Inflamed Cervix

Cervicitis is the medical term for an inflamed or swollen cervix. Caused by sexually transmitted diseases or exposure to physical objects or chemicals , cervicitis frequently shows up after sex.

Cervicitis can cause painful sexual intercourse, pelvic pain, and a feeling of pressure or bloating, along with abnormal vaginal bleeding and discharge.

Cramping After Sex In Early Pregnancy

Early on in your pregnancy, mild cramping after sex can be associated with implantation, which is the fertilized egg attaching to the wall of your uterus.

Severe one-sided cramping, with vaginal bleeding and dizziness, can be an indication of an ectopic pregnancy.

Cramping with heavy bleeding, a backache and pelvic pressure that feels like the baby pressing down could potentially be a sign of miscarriage during the first half of pregnancy.

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The Reasons Behind Pain After Maintaining Relationships

Sometimes, after sexual intercourse, we feel stomach pain. This pain is often actually a lower pelvic pain that is, it is not so much a stomach pain.

However, the two types can be given independently: abdominal pain , which is above, or pelvicdepending on each case. Specialists even talk about abdominal-pelvic pain.

But?why this pain appears? The reasons may be different. Lets see the 13 most frequent reasons:

What Causes Cramping After Sex

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Cramping after sex during pregnancy can have a few possible causes.

Menstrual-like cramps around conception can be caused by implantation.
Rarely, cramps after sex may actually be labor contractions especially if they’re painful enough to make you double over or are accompanied by blood flow that won’t stop. That could be a sign of something more serious, including early labor, miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Give your practitioner a call right away.

You’ll also want to talk to your doctor if your post-sex cramps come with symptoms like severe dizziness or headache to rule out preeclampsia.

If You Experience Post

Both Dr. Streicher and Dr. Khalil say that generally, if you experience abdominal cramps and pain after sex every once in a blue moon, its not something to worry about. Using a heating pad and taking NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen may help ease the discomfort. But if it happens more times than not, you feel a sharp pain during or after sex, and/or your symptoms last longer than a couple of hours, you should see a doctor to figure out whats going on. Regular or persistent post-sex abdominal cramping and pain is usually a sign that somethings off, and your doctor can help you sort it out and figure out the cause so that you can properly treat it and be able to enjoy sex without worrying about that nagging discomfort.

Lauren Streicher, MD, medical director of Northwestern Medicines Center for Sexual Medicine, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern Universitys medical school, The Feinberg School of Medicine, and author of Sex Rx: Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever
Susan S. Khalil, MD, director of sexual health at Mount Sinai Health System and assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine

Treating Stomach Pain That Occurs After Sex

So, now weve gone over some of the scary reasons that your stomach may hurt after sex. Of course, there are some other, less problematic, causes of post-coital stomach painyouve tried a new position, or youre not using enough lube. But sex should feel good. And stomach pain doesnt. So talk to your doc right away if pain during or after intercourse happens more than once.

Do you suspect that fibroids are causing your post coital pain? Come see our Houston specialists to learn your treatment options. Other fibroids symptoms include heavy periods, bloating, and pelvic pain, even when you arent engaged in intercourse.

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You Have A Cyst In Your Ovary Or Pelvis

Ovarian cysts fluid-filled sacs or pockets in or on an ovary affect many women at some point in their lives, though they most typically arise after menopause. Most are painless and go away on their own after a few months, but some might enlarge and cause discomfort.
Pelvic cysts arent like other cysts. Scar tissue from prior surgeries or an infection that causes fluid to gather in the pelvic area might cause a pelvic cyst.

Another Source Of The Pain Can Be A Womans Reaction To Sperm

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Sperm is an irritant to the uterus and the uterus will react when in contact with sperm. As such, the uterus will contract and this contraction may manifest as cramping and pain in the stomach, Tami Prince, M.D., an OB-GYN who works as a Medical Director with U.S. HealthWorks, told HelloGiggles.

Prince explained that sperm and bacteria enter the urethra during intercourse, which can lead to irritation and pain in the stomach and pelvic regions.

“I recommend showering immediately after intercourse in order to wash away remnants of sperm, as well as urinating immediately afterwards in order to rid the urethra from sperm and bacteria introduced during sex,” Prince said. She also suggested putting a warm compress on your stomach.

Typically the pain and cramping will go away on their own. But if the pain is severe and persistent, its important to schedule an appointment with your OB-GYN. Sex is meant to be pleasurable for both partners, and its hard to enjoy the pleasure of intercourse when youre anticipating severe pain in the aftermath.

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You Should Most Certainly Consider Visiting Your Doctor If Your Stomach Pains Are Accompanied By Other Symptoms Such As:

Abnormal vaginal or penile discharge
Severe pain or discomfort

The doctor will go through your symptoms and perform a physical exam. They might suggest certain tests to determine whats causing your stomach pains and design a treatment plan.

However, if you think it could be fibroids causing your stomach pains, were here to help.

What are fibroids? Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that develop inside or on the uterus. Some women acquire a single fibroid, while others develop several. They can be as small as a seed or as large as a melon, with the largest reaching more than 20 pounds.

Many specialists feel that lifestyle choices can impact fibroids formation and growth. Eating red meat, not obtaining enough fruits and vegetables, regularly drinking alcohol or caffeine, and not drinking enough water are all lifestyle issues. Obesity, high blood pressure, Vitamin D insufficiency, and starting menstruation at a young age have all been linked to fibroid growth.

Common Reasons Your Stomach Hurts After Sex

Post-coital cramps are more normal than you think and here’s why it happens.

Sex is an activity that brings with it a spectrum of different sensations, not all of which are particularly great. Sometimes, once the deed is done, you find your body reacting to the immense bouts of pleasure with uncomfortable bouts of painespecially in the abdomen area. This is an experience that many females go through post-coitus, and here are the most common reasons why.

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Cramping Can Also Be A Sign Of A Bowel Issue

Bowel issues like irritable bowel syndrome or Crohns disease can also cause post-sex cramping, says Dr. Streicher. This is more so because chronic bowel issues can impact the function of the pelvic floor muscles over time, leading to tensing and cramping that doesnt fully release when its supposed to. For some people, though, something as simple as severe constipation can make them tense up during sex and experience abdominal cramping afterward, she says. If thats the case, treating and clearing out the constipation could resolve the issue and get rid of any sex-related discomfort.

Why Does My Stomach Hurt After Sex The Bottom Line

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Many people ask the questions âis it normal for your stomach to hurt after sex?â

Experiencing a stomach ache after sex is perfectly normal many women have some type of abdominal cramping after intercourse, and, in most cases, the pain is benign and will go away quickly.

If, however, you experience chronic or overwhelming pain, make sure you see a doctor to see whatâs going on and discuss treatment options.

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Can Fibroids Make Your Stomach Hurt

Can fibroids make your stomach hurt? Do fibroids make your stomach hurt? Uterine fibroids can cause stomach pain after sex, why your stomach hurts, pressure, and discomfort, which is particularly common in women with big fibroids. You may have a heaviness or pressure in your lower abdomen or stomach that is more uncomfortable than painful. Alternatively, your uterus may grow, making it difficult to bend over or exercise due to stomach aches after sex.

The female reproductive system includes the uterus its also known as the womb. The uterus is pear-shaped and hollow and is approximately the size of a fist, located in the lower belly or pelvic region. Your fallopian tubes are attached to your uterus.