1. Penetration Too Deep
Reported by Women’s Health, Mary Jane Minkin, an obstetrician-gynecologist, said that the doggy style position often causes penetration too deep, causing extra pressure on the cervix. Therefore, to reduce the pain, try other positions where the woman is in control, such as cowgirl or face-off.
2. Ovulation and Menstruation
Abdominal pain is a common symptom experienced by women during ovulation and menstruation cycles. This occurs due to uterine contractions. The abdominal cramps can be exacerbated by the pressure on the cervix during sex.
Sex during ovulation or menstruation can cause more severe abdominal pain.
3. Anxiety
Pain, especially in the abdomen, after intercourse may be caused by emotional pressure, not because of too deep penetration. This can be caused by past sexual trauma. Therefore, mental health conditions should be addressed first.
Past sexual trauma can trigger uncomfortable sex.
4. Vaginal Dryness and Vaginismus
Vaginal dryness can be caused by certain birth control pills or being in the perimenopausal period. Additionally, abdominal pain after sex can also be caused by vaginismus, or when the vaginal muscles contract involuntarily when the penis enters.
5. Entrapped Air
All movements that occur during penetration can cause a lot of air to enter the uterus, resulting in abdominal cramps or pain after intercourse. Usually, the symptoms will subside when the air is expelled or passed as gas.
6. Tilted Uterus
In some women, a tilted uterus can cause abdominal pain after sex. This happens because the penis can exert pressure on the uterus, causing cramps after intercourse.
7. Specific Health Conditions
In addition to the points above, abdominal pain after sex can also be caused by certain health conditions, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed, including:
- Ovarian cysts: the presence of fluid-filled sacs inside or on the surface of the ovaries.
- Uterine fibroids: growths that occur in the uterine wall.
- Endometriosis: the presence of tissue growth outside the uterus.
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): an infection in the female reproductive system caused by sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, even after contraceptive device insertion.
- Uterine prolapse: the inability of the pelvic floor and its ligaments to support the uterus, causing it to move into the vaginal canal.
Abdominal pain after sex is usually temporary and will go away without treatment. If necessary, pain relievers such as ibuprofen can be taken or heating pads can be used. However, if it occurs due to underlying causes, the following actions can be taken:
- Change sex positions if caused by penetration too deep.
- Seek mental health counseling if caused by emotional pressure.
- Take antibiotics if caused by an infection.
- Take hormone pills to prevent ovulation.
- Undergo surgery if caused by fibroids or cysts.
So, in essence, abdominal pain after sex can occur because the uterus or cervix experiences extra pressure. This often occurs in women and the symptoms will disappear with or without treatment. However, if the pain is very uncomfortable, it is advisable to consult a doctor promptly. You can try Newfemme for consultation!