Pain after sex: causes and solutions

Making passionate love to someone is sexy, relaxing, and fun. But it isn’t so great anymore if you experience stomach pain, bleeding, or a burning sensation in your vagina afterwards. This kind of pain after sex will sound familiar to many women. What is the cause of that pain and what can you do about it?

Pain after sex

Pain after sex is a common experience for both men and women. You probably prefer not to talk about it, because you don’t want ruin the mood after a hot and steamy night. But it’s important to stop and think about it, so you can prevent it in the future. Pain after sex is usually preventable if you can find out what causes it.

The most common problems after sex are:

• Burning sensation in the vulva
• (Severe) stomach pain
• Bleeding
• Pain in the pelvis
• Pain in the left side of the body
• Pain in the right side of the body

Causes of pain after sex

Most people don’t have a difficult time figuring out what caused their pain: perhaps you’ve had rough sex or you have a new partner whose penis is larger than you’re used to. But sometimes there is more going on.

1. Large penis

We’ll start with the most obvious cause; penetration by a penis or sex toy that is too large. If you’re not used to the size of the penis or toy in question, your cervix suddenly has to endure a lot more during penetration. Especially rough sex can lead to pain or other discomforts afterwards. The best remedy against this is to relax as much as possible during sex, build it up slowly, and use plenty of lubricant.

2. Vaginal dryness

Your vagina normally produces fluids to make penetration possible. Unfortunately that process doesn’t always go according to plan, leading to issues from burning sensations to bleeding. It’s possible that your vagina is dry because you’re not aroused enough for penetration yet. In that case, extensive and mindful foreplay is the key to success. But your level of arousal is definitely not always the cause. For example, certain medications can negatively influence the wetness of your vagina in a considerable way. Using quality lubricant often prevents a lot of discomfort during and after sex.

3. Full colon

It sounds a little gross, and it is, but it’s worth mentioning here. If you have bowel movement problems and passing stool is an issue for you, your full colon can start to put pressure your vagina. This can result in severe stomach pain during or after sex, unsually in the lower belly. The best solution is to drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and include plenty of fibers in your diet.

4. Rough sex

Nothing feels better than losing yourself in passionate lovemaking. Of course you don’t think about ‘what-ifs’ during these moments and the build up usually isn’t very subtle either. You complete lose yourself in the passion and you feel nothing but pleasure. The small amount of pain that you may feel can even be a pleasant experience. But afterwards, that pain is anything but pleasant! It’s possible that your cervix and/or vaginal mucous membrane has been slightly damaged, causing a stinging or biting pain. Fortunately this usually goes away on it own. However, make sure to regularly clean your vulva thoroughly with lukewarm water.

”Nothing feels better than losing yourself in passionate lovemaking.”

Rough sex with deep penetration can also cause stomach pain. Sometimes this is because you consciously or subconsciously tighten your pelvic floor muscles during penetration. Try to relax completely and make sure your vagina is sufficiently wet. Do you always experience pain after rough sex? Then it might be smart to go a little slower in the future.

5. Tilted uterus

90 percent of women have a uterus that is tilted forward, which is as it should be, but the other 10 percent, mostly Asian women, have a uterus that leans back a bit. This sounds worse than it actually is, but it can lead to discomforts like a sharp pain during sex, stomach pain, and back pain. A useful tip: experiment with various sex positions and find out which positions are most comfortable for you.

6. STI or infection

An STI like herpes or a yeast infection can cause quite a lot of pain during sex. The symptoms usually consist of intense itching, sharp pain, and a painful vulva. An infection often makes the mucous membrane in your vagina vulnerable. Friction caused by penetration then automatically leads to a painful experience during and after sex. If you you recognise these symptoms, please call your GP for advice.

7. Specific sperm allergy

It’s extremely rare, but a women can be allergic to her partner’s sperm. In the United States, more than 40,000 women are allergic to their partner’s semen. The symptoms are swelling, itching, and a burning sensation. The worst allergic reactions can even lead to a fever, low blood pressure, and cold shivers. If you experience these symptoms, but you don’t have any issues when using a condom, it’s possible that you have a sperm allergy. Contacting your GP is recommended in that case.

8. Endometriosis

1 in 10 women have tissue outside the womb that looks like endometrium, often on the ovaries or Fallopian tubes. In medical terms, this is known as endometriosis. It can cause severe pain in the lower belly during menstruation. Endometriosis can also cause long-lasting stomach pain after sex. This pain is often described as a deep and sharp stomach pain. A reassuring fact: many woman who have endometriosis don’t experience any pain during or after sex.

9. Cystitis

Cystitis is very common among women. What many people don’t know is that there are many different types of bladder infections. Your bladder itself can be infected, but your can also have an infection in your kidney or urethra for example. Cystitis causes a nagging stomach pain and you constantly feel like you have to pee, even though your bladder is empty. This feeling only gets worse after having sex, especially rough sex. It’s important to recognise the symptoms, drink plenty of water, and read the tips in our article about having sex when you have cystitis. If your bladder infection isn’t gone after a week, contact your GP.

10. Ovarian cysts

Ovarian cysts are often harmless and go away on their own within three months. However, in some cases they cause pain in the left side or right side of your body after having sex. If the cysts are large, they can also cause stomach pain and cramps during, but mostly after, sex. If you think you have ovarian cysts, we recommend contacting your GP for professional advice.