Sex is meant to be a wonderful experience. But, let’s face it, that isn’t often the case for a variety of reasons. And one area where you may experience discomfort after performing the act is your stomach. (This is very natural.) If that is you, you might be asking why your stomach hurts after sex and how to stop it immediately. Obviously, any type of stomach ache is unpleasant, but it feels extra unfair when you’re doubled over in pain after something that should be, well, wonderful.
Some stomach pain can be induced by a variety of circumstances, including deep penetration during intercourse, which can trigger the vasovagal nerve, which connects the brain, heart, and digestive system. Muscles in the pelvis and pelvic floor typically contract involuntarily after orgasm, resulting in a cramping sensation after sex. While this sort of pain is typically curable, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen can often help alleviate symptoms.
Why Your Stomach Hurts After Sex—And How To Stop It
Here are 7 probable explanations for why your stomach hurts after sex.
#1. It’s due to your sex position
When people complain about the pain after sex, the first question doctors ask is what position they use most of the time. It’s possible that the deep penetration is causing the pain after missionary or doggie style.
What should you do?
Start with over-the-counter pain relievers from a licensed pharmacy shop. Taking one or two hours with a partner before sex might be quite beneficial for certain ladies. Try a position in which you are on top and in command, such as cowgirl or face-off. The idea is to choose a location where you have better control over the depth and frequency of penetration.
#2. You’re having vaginal dryness
Certain birth control tablets, according to Minkin, might cause dryness, although a larger amount of estrogen can be beneficial. And if you’re approaching menopause, you can definitely blame it on that.
What should you do?
What you should do is get some lubrication. If it fails, see your doctor about pharmaceutical choices.
#3. You are suffering from an ovarian or pelvic cyst
Many women develop ovarian cysts—fluid-filled sacs or pockets in an ovary or on its surface—at some point in their lives, though they most typically occur after menopause. Most are harmless and go away on their own after a few months, but others might enlarge and cause discomfort. Pelvic cysts are a little unusual. According to Shin, a pelvic cyst can form from scar tissue from past operations or from an illness in which fluid gathers in the pelvic region. When it comes to pain, she advises “thinking of the whole pelvic and vaginal area as one unit,” because discomfort in one location will most certainly influence another. “Sex can trigger pelvic discomfort in other locations.”
What should you do?
Your doctor will do an ultrasound to determine the cause of the problem, and you may require a laparoscopy to remove the cysts.
#4. You’re going through your period
“While sex may relieve monthly cramps and suffering, these sensations may recur later as a result of tightening uterine muscles and pressure on the cervix,” adds Dr. Roskin.
What should you do?
Taking ibuprofen before sex or using a heating pad afterward might help relieve period cramping during and after sex, as can delaying sexual intercourse if your cramps are extremely severe on a given day. If sex is unpleasant, changing up your sex positions might help.
#5. You’ve recently had an inflammatory condition or an infection
The uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries may get infected with a vaginal infection caused by bacteria that are typically present in the vagina or by a sexually transmitted illness like chlamydia or gonorrhea (a.k.a. pelvic inflammatory disease). It tends to cause pelvic discomfort as well as vaginal pain, making the infection much worse. According to Minkin, if a previous pelvic inflammatory illness resulted in pelvic scarring, it might be the source of post-sex pelvic discomfort.
What should you do?
You only need a prescription for antibiotics if there’s an infection. However, if there has previously been a pelvic inflammatory condition, your OB-GYN may need to provide painkillers or reduce the adhesions (during a laparoscopy, for example).
#5. It’s anxiety or uneasiness
“Pain after sex may be the result of mental delirium rather than a medical reason,” explains Dr. Roskin. “Earlier sexual trauma can sometimes produce sensations of discomfort or pain during or after intercourse.”
What should you do?
She recommends that you seek the advice of a certified mental health professional for assistance in dealing with these feelings or pressures linked to sex.
#6. You could have endometriosis
Endometriosis occurs when the lining of the uterus (womb) develops outside of the uterus. According to Shin, one of the most prevalent symptoms of the illness is pelvic discomfort during and after intercourse. Endometriosis affects between 2 and 10% of women and takes between 6 and 10 years to diagnose. When you have severe endometriosis of the pelvis, you may have thick adhesions (where pelvic tissues and organs attach to each other) in the pelvic region. As a result, the pressure applied to them during deep penetration can be rather uncomfortable, she says. However, discomfort without adhesions is possible since endometriosis generates pain due to inflammation.
What should you do?
Visit your gynecologist. Even if you have stomach discomfort, your doctor will most likely question you about your overall history of vaginal pain. Do you have menstrual pain? Do you bleed a lot? They may then advise you to have an ultrasound or a laparoscopy, which is a little operation to check your pelvis. According to Shin, this is the only guaranteed approach to identifying endometriosis. Your doctor will most likely prescribe birth control pills or endometriosis medications to treat it.
#7. Your uterus is stretched. Don’t panic
“At least 30% of women have a uterus that tilts backward, so it’s not unusual,” Minkin explains. However, if your uterus became tilted due to scar tissue from infection or endometriosis, “that would be unpleasant.” But, if it’s not unusual, why does a tilted uterus produce stomach pain? Doctors don’t really know, according to Minkin, but they believe it’s because scarring connects organs to other organs—organs that, uh, shouldn’t be attached—and they can be impacted during intercourse. Furthermore, if scar tissue connects your intestines to your uterus, it might be pushed or pulled during intercourse. That is really painful.
What should you do?
Your doctor will determine if your uterus is naturally tilted or if it is the consequence of scarring. If there is no scarring, consider a more shallow penetration sex position. If there is scarring, it is most likely caused by endometriosis, and your doctor will analyze and identify the best therapy for you.
Conclusion
Stomach pain can be caused by a variety of reasons, including deep penetration and vaginal dryness. Start with over-the-counter pain relievers like Motrin or Tylenol for pain after sex. A pelvic cyst is a growth that can cause pain and discomfort during and after sex. Swapping up your sex positions might help relieve discomfort. Fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) uterine tumors. They can produce muscular cramps, which could explain your pelvic pain after intercourse. Consult your doctor for an ultrasound or an MRI of the pelvis to identify fibroid tumors and their treatment options.
