Having a stomach ache after sex can be scary, frustrating, and embarrassing. Sex is supposed to be an intimate celebration of your relationship with another person, so feeling bad after sex can be very disconcerting.
If you’re asking yourself: “Is it normal for your stomach to hurt after sex?” don’t worry. There are a number of reasons (most harmless) that you could be experiencing this pain. In this article, I’ll cover the most common reasons for experiencing a stomach ache after sex and offer advice for easing that pain.
Is It Normal for Your Stomach to Hurt After Sex? 7 Reasons You May Be Experiencing a Stomach Ache After Sex
Are you wondering: “Why does my stomach hurt after sex?”
You’re not alone. Many people report feeling physically uncomfortable after sexual intercourse. In this section, I’ll cover the top seven reasons that you could be having a stomach ache after sex. As always, if you’re very worried about the pain you’re feeling, you should visit a doctor, who can help diagnose and treat the pain.
#1: Emotional Reaction to Sex
Many people experience abdominal pain after sex because of a negative emotional reaction. If you’re feeling anxiety, stress, sadness, or irritation before sex, you may feel physical symptoms of nausea, pain, or gas after sex. Similarly, if you feel emotionally uncomfortable during intercourse, your feelings may translate into physical symptoms after intercourse.
#2: Gas
Stomach pain after intercourse may just be simple gas. Whenever we’re using our bodies in a vulnerable way, we tend to be more aware of the aches and pains they feel. During sexual intercourse, you’ll be more aware of how your body is feeling and responding. That may cause you to naturally notice perfectly normal bodily functions, like gas, more than you would when you’re just relaxing and watching television. If you’re experiencing gas after sex, the pain will likely go away within a few hours as your stomach settles.
#3: Deep Penetration
You may experience abdominal pain and cramping after sex if your partner’s penis hits your cervix during sex. Hitting the cervix during sex can cause muscles in your cervix to contract, which may lead to cramping.
You may also experience abdominal pain from deep penetration simply because of the intensity put on your lower abdominal area during rougher sex. Women have reported feeling constipated for up to two days after rougher sex.
#4: Orgasm
In some cases, abdominal pain after sex can be caused by orgasms. When you have an orgasm, your muscles will start to spasm and contract. This muscle contraction can be painful for women, particularly if you’re nearing menopause, and can lead to the feeling of having a stomach ache after sex.
#5: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease (or PID) can be caused by chlamydia, which is a very common sexually transmitted infection. If you have PID, your fallopian tubes and uterus become inflamed, which can cause pain and possibly long-term damage to your body if you don’t treat the disease.
If you’re experiencing chronic pain after intercourse, and suspect that you may have come into contact with an STI, you should visit your doctor, who will be able to diagnose and treat PID if you have it.
#6: Fibroids or Cysts
Fibroids and cysts are a very common condition in women. Fibroids are noncancerous tumors that form on the uterus, while cysts are benign tumors that may form on your ovaries. Both fibroids and cysts can cause pain and cramping after sex.
If your cyst ruptures (either during sex or at another time), you may experience bloating and cramping that lasts up to seven days. While both fibroids and cysts are typically harmless, you should visit your doctor if you’re experiencing chronic pain after sex, as your doctor may be able to surgically remove the growths to improve your quality of life.
#7: Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a painful condition where your uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus where it doesn’t belong. Sometimes, this uterine tissue can grow on your ovaries, or other parts of your reproductive system.
During your menstrual period, your uterine tissue thickens and begins to bleed. If you have endometriosis, the uterine tissue that you have on other parts of your reproductive system will also thicken and bleed. This blood can become trapped, because it doesn’t have a way to exit the body like blood from normal uterine tissue, which exits the vagina during your period. This trapped blood can cause severe cramping.
The inflamed uterine tissue may also cause pain after sex.
How to Prevent or Ease Pain After Sex
If you often find yourself in pain and asking, “Why does my stomach hurt after sex?”, try these at-home remedies to ease your discomfort. You should seek treatment from a doctor if the pain continues for longer than 24 hours, or if you’re constantly experiencing pain after sex.
#1: Lubricate
Many women experience pain after rough sex, particularly if they aren’t fully lubricated before penetration. Make sure you’re fully lubricated (either by engaging in longer foreplay to increase arousal or by using a topical lubricant) to decrease friction during sex that may lead to tears or pain in your vagina.
#2: Make Sure You’re Emotionally Ready for Sex
As I mentioned earlier, you could be experiencing stomach pain after sex if you were feeling anxious or upset before or during intercourse. Clearly communicate your feelings with your partner, so that you’re feeling comfortable and emotionally prepared for sex. The more prepared and desirous of sex you are, the more likely you are to enjoy it.
#3: Use a Warm Compress
If you’re experiencing cramping and pain after intercourse, you can try using a warm compress to ease the pain. You can use a heating pad, or simply soak a washcloth in hot water and apply it to your abdominal area while lying down. The heat will help to ease the pain.
#4: Visit a Doctor
If you’re consistently experiencing pain after sex, or if the pain is extremely uncomfortable and won’t go away, you should see a doctor. You may have a more serious condition, like endometriosis or PID, which require treatment.
Why Does My Stomach Hurt After Sex? The Bottom Line
Many people ask the questions “is it normal for your stomach to hurt after sex?”
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 what’s going on and discuss treatment options.