Why Does My Stomach Hurt During Sex?

#Pain during sex is a common phenomenon that affects a great percentage of people. Pain during sex is also known as dyspareunia and can happen for no serious cause. The most common reason why people experience this pain is because of deep penetration and assuming certain sex positions. However, this can also happen because of other factors that can be of physical, mental, and psychological origin. Many people think that dyspareunia is pain during sex only, but that’s not true because it can be the sex you feel after sex as well. According to studies, dyspareunia affects about 10-20 percent of people in the USA, particularly women. Again, the same problem is experienced by about 5% of men and this shows that pain during or after sex affects all genders. Sex involves contraction and relaxation of various muscles and some pain can be felt. However, the condition is highly treatable and medical professionals offer an array of treatment options and tips to curb dyspareunia. The following are the principal causes of pain during and after sex.



Sexually Transmitted Infections. These are infections that are transmitted through sex and are caused by many strains of bacteria and viruses. The most common STIs are gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV/AIDs, and herpes. These diseases affect reproductive organs. In women, they affect the vagina, cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes mostly, while they affect the penis and scrotum. In all genders, the infections affect the urethra, ureter, and bladder. When these bacteria invade the vagina, for example, they trigger an inflammation that causes pain and swelling. During sex, the friction rubs against the inflamed walls of the vagina, hence causing dyspareunia. You may experience other symptoms like a foul odor, unusual discharge from the vagina and the penis, and pain during urination.



Orgasm. Orgasm is an involuntary contraction of the pelvic muscles. This can happen when having sex or masturbation and results from sexual climax. Orgasm varies from individual to individual depending on the situation that someone is in. The level of orgasm depends on the mental status of the mind because sex starts in the mind. When one reaches climax, pelvic muscles contract to produce orgasm, which can then cause abdominal cramping. If this contraction goes on, it may make people experience pain during sex and even after. Pain because of orgasm is known as dysorgasmia. Dysorgasmia is also experienced by people suffering from conditions like pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, etc.



Digestive Issues. Most of the digestive system and reproductive system organs are located close to each other. This means that if the reproductive system is affected, these symptoms are experienced in the digestive system as well and vice versa. Many conditions can affect the digestive system, causing dyspareunia. One of those conditions is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which causes a range of gastrointestinal symptoms including gas, cramping, and stomach pain. Gas can result from indigestion and constipation. Having sex when experiencing all these problems can cause more pain because of the build-up of gas in the intestines.



Deep Penetration. Sex is an activity that involves penetration to achieve satisfaction. This penetration can either be in the vagina or the anus, depending on what people prefer. During deep penetration, especially through the vagina, the penis can reach the cervix (opening of the uterus) and irritate it. The pain gets worse, especially if someone has existing infections like STIs. Also, if a woman has fibroids, uterine or cervical cancer, and endometriosis, deep penetration can trigger pain and irritation, making sex uncomfortable. There is a certain sex position that promotes deep penetration, making pain worse. To reduce this, it’s advisable to change sex position and avoid the ones that add you pain.



Uterine Fibroids. Fibroids are a common problem, particularly experienced by women of the reproductive age. They are usually a mass of cells that are benign, meaning they do not cause cancer. In most cases, they rarely cause problems, but when they grow large, they can cause pain during deep penetration. One fundamental problem with fibroids is that as the size increases, the tumors exert pressure on the abdominal wall, which makes sex uncomfortable. Also, using a lot of force when having sex can push these tumors, giving women pain during and after sex. It is also possible to experience leg and back pain after sex.



Prostatitis. Prostatitis is the inflammation of the prostate gland. This type of inflammation triggers swelling and pain and can hinder men from having sex comfortably. The prostate is a tiny organ located just below the bladder in males and produces semen. Just like other organs, the prostate can get an infection and cause pain around the abdomen. Sometimes this pain can be severe to an extent of causing the pain before, during, and after ejaculation. Men with prostatitis experience chronic pain in the lower back, anus, and scrotum. They also have pain during and after urination.



Emotional Stress. As human beings, we are very prone to stress. Stress can result from many factors, such as health conditions, schoolwork, family, relationships, financial statements, etc. Every activity we do every day has the potential to make us feel stressed out. One thing you should know is that sex is made in the brain. What does this statement mean? It shows that even before the actual act of sex, your brain already would have alerted your body to the sexual act. Therefore, you need to be mentally okay when having sex to enjoy it. Being relaxed and free of worries allows your body to focus on sex by relaxing the muscles. However, when you are stressed, your muscles also go into a tense mood, which then triggers pain during and after sex. This tension affects the gastrointestinal muscles as well and leads to bloating, diarrhea, pain, or constipation. For more information about causes of stomach sex during and after sex, check these links:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324488#causes -of-cramps-in-both-sexes

https://www.emedicinehealth.com/pain_during_intercourse/article_em.htm

The Bottom Line. Stomach pain during sex is a common problem in society. The problem is more common in women than men and seems to affect people of all ages. Pain during sex has many causes, which can range from mild sex position to severe conditions, like cancers of the cervix and the prostate. Other common causes include fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, lack of lubrication, rough sex, prostatitis, vaginismus (painful spasms of muscles at the opening of the vagina), atrophy (thinning) of the vaginal wall muscles, and others. In most cases, pain during sex can be treated successfully, especially when addressed on time. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the pain. For example, if the pain results from UTIs, the doctor can recommend an antibiotic dose to clear out the infection. Again, if the pain is because of reduced lubrication during sex, you can get lubricating gels from your local pharmacy to ease your pain. If the symptoms keep on recurring, it’s important to get proper medical advice and treatment. The worst thing is not to seek medical treatment only to end up realizing that you have serious medical conditions like cancers in the end. To be safe, take caution and do something about it.