Pain and discomfort after sex is common for women. It can be caused by an infection or pelvic inflammatory disease, scar tissue from past infections, or endometriosis.
But it’s not always easy to pinpoint the cause. And if nausea occurs regularly, there may be a deeper underlying issue to address.
Causes
There are a few reasons why your stomach might feel weird after sex. For one thing, you could have a medical issue that needs to be checked out by a doctor, like uterine fibroids (tumors in the uterus) or an ovarian cyst.
Another possibility is that you have trapped gas in your intestines. During sexual activity, blood is redirected to the genitals, which can lead to reduced blood flow to the digestive tract and cause bacteria to produce more gas than usual. This can lead to bloating and stomach pain, especially when it happens after deep penetration, such as during doggy style or missionary sex.
You could also have a bacterial imbalance in your vagina, which can result in yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis. This can be caused by using lubricants with artificial ingredients or by doing a lot of douching, which can wipe out the good bacteria in your vagina.
And then, of course, there’s the chance that you could be pregnant. This is unlikely, though, because it takes time for semen’s sperm to fertilize an egg and implant in the uterus. Plus, you’d probably have other early pregnancy symptoms like nausea. But if you’re really worried, a doctor can check it out with a urine test and an ultrasound. In some cases, your doctor may want to do a pap smear, too.
Symptoms
There are a few reasons why your stomach may hurt after sex. One possibility is that you’ve reached an orgasm, which can cause uterine contractions and pain. This can happen during sex or after sex, and it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Another reason is that you’re ovulating or having your period. This can also cause uterine contractions and stomach pain, but it isn’t a bad thing either.
Another possibility is that you have a pelvic pain problem like an infection or disease. For example, if you have a sexually transmitted infection (STIs) or if you have endometriosis, these can both cause stomach pain after sex. Another possible cause is a vaginal infection or a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease, which can affect your uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
Stomach pain can also be caused by something else like a food allergy or an irritable bowel syndrome. This can be triggered by sexual activity, and it can cause gas, diarrhea, bloating, and cramps.
If your stomach hurts after sex, you should talk to your doctor about it. They will likely want to do a urine test and a pelvic sonogram to check for infections or other problems. If you have an underlying medical issue, you may need to take antibiotics or make other lifestyle changes. Otherwise, it is likely that the pain will pass on its own.
Treatment
Pain during and after sex is called dyspareunia and it affects many women at one time or another. It’s normal and usually nothing to worry about, although it can be a sign of serious conditions that affect the pelvis, such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids.
Often stomach cramps are due to orgasm contractions, which in turn, can cause uterine pain post-sex. Other causes of this type of pain are sexual positions that facilitate deeper penetration, aggressive sex or a woman being in the period of ovulation.
If you’re experiencing severe or persistent stomach pain after sex, you should talk to your doctor. A gynecologist can examine you and perform certain tests to determine what is causing the pain. A gynecologist may also recommend treatment, such as a sex therapist and pelvic floor exercises.
If your gynecologist is unable to identify the source of the problem, they might suggest that you see a vascular specialist, such as a urologist. Some of the symptoms that can trigger sex pain include varicose veins, endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease, all of which require medical attention. If you are pregnant, you should visit a gynecologist immediately because abdominal pain is a possible sign of ectopic pregnancy (when the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus). This condition can be life-threatening.
Prevention
Many of the reasons your stomach hurts after sex are pretty benign. Most of the time it’s related to deep penetration or a specific sexual position that isn’t comfortable for you. It can also be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection or an underlying condition affecting the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, or prostate.
For example, a tilted uterus (about 30 percent of women have this problem) can cause pain when the penis enters your vagina. This is because the uterus is lying backward and puts pressure on your stomach. You may want to experiment with different positions or angles of penetration to find one that doesn’t feel uncomfortable.
Alternatively, your pain could be a reaction to the sperm itself. According to health experts, the sperm can trigger a response in the uterus, which causes uterine contractions and can lead to nausea. The sperm can also cause a vaginal discharge or an erection, which can make you feel weird in the stomach.
And if you’re using a condom and have a latex allergy, that can also make your tummy hurt after sex. So it’s best to use a different condom brand or have your partner take out the condom before you have sex. A bloated stomach is another common reason for sex pain, so it’s a good idea to avoid eating high-fat or greasy foods right before you have sex.
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