Cramps After Sex: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Sex is great. At least… it can be. You see, no one wants their sex life tainted with uncomfortable things, including physical pain. But sometimes cramps in the abdominal and uterine area can cast a shadow when you’d rather be basking in the sexual afterglow. Sex can sometimes cause cramps, and it might be nothing to worry about. However, it can also be something more serious.

Pain during sex? Read this helpful article.

Read some of the common causes of having a cramp after sex and what you can do about it.

1. Your Period

Cramps during sex may happen if you’re around your period. Cramping is already something that will happen as your body tries to pass unneeded uterine lining and blood. Your cervix may be sore from this, and it’s typically hard and low during menstruation. This might make you more sensitive during penetration by a penis or sex toy. So you may want to avoid rough sex during your period. You may be able to have deeper and rougher sex around ovulation because your cervix will rise back up and become softer.

2. Birth Control

Another factor that can increase the likelihood that you’ll experience cramps during or after sex is the type of birth control that you use. IUDs actually sit right in your uterus, with their strings hanging down through your cervix. Sex can jostle the IUD and lead to a cramp after sex and even spotting. Although IUDs are very effective at preventing pregnancy, this is one possible side effect. And you should talk to your doctor about a different option if your IUD is bothersome.

3. Your Cervix

If cramps after sex occur more frequently when you’re having sex with someone who is well endowed, then this is because his penis may be pummeling your cervix. Even if it feels good during the act of sex, it can lead to cramps after sex. In fact, having sex with a partner who is more well endowed may lead to more bacterial infections because he’s irritating your cervix. More on bacterial infections here.

Using a toy during masturbation can also lead to cramping because of the same reason. However, you have some options to help alleviate the discomfort that might come after sex or masturbation. For starters, you don’t have to insert a sex toy all the way. You should also talk to your partner about the physical state sex leaves you in. It might be quite pleasurable to have more forceful sex, but you may need to lay off if it leads to cramps.

Consider positions that don’t result in as much jarring to the cervix. These positions focus penetration toward the front of your vagina, which is great for G-spot stimulation and having vaginal orgasms. You can also use a thicker cock ring or even just wrap your fingers around your partner’s cock to decrease how far he penetrates. When you’re worried about those cramps, you probably want to stay away from deep penetration.

4. A Medical Condition

There are more serious conditions that can lead to cramps after sex, including endometriosis, which is a painful condition of the uterus. Chances are, vaginal sex itself is quite uncomfortable if you suffer from endometriosis. If you think this is what is leading to cramps after sex, contact your doctor.

Even more scary is the fact that a cramp after sex or general pelvic pain could be a sign of cancer. Endometrial, ovarian and cervical cancer can affect a woman’s reproductive organs, and cancer can spread if it’s not caught in time. This is why you should get yearly tests done with your OBGYN, who can rule out cancer or even an STI that might be leading to discomfort before and after sex.

Some women may experience more cervical cramps after sex due to the position of their uterus. A tilted uterus is especially susceptible to this pain. Trying different sex positions (read about positions here) can be helpful. Your doctor may also be able to advise you.

Another potential cause of cramping after sex is pelvic inflammatory disease, which may sometimes be the result of specific STDs, including chlamydia and gonorrhea. PID causes inflammation in reproductive organs such as the ovaries, which don’t like to be jostled during sex. Again, you should consult your doctor if cramps are ongoing or if you suspect PID might be the issue.

Finally, fibroids and cysts can be the cause of cramps after sex. Both of these sound like scary concerns, but they can be relatively benign. Fibroids are small tumors that form on the uterus. You don’t have to worry about cancer with them, but they certainly can lead to discomfort after sexually activity. Another symptom of fibroids is heavy bleeding during your period.

Cysts can form on the ovaries, and while they may not be life-threatening, the pain they cause after sex can be quite disconcerting. Pain will increase if one of those cysts has ruptured, which can happen after sex. Your doctor can remove both cysts and fibroids from your reproductive organs to alleviate pain.

5. Pregnancy

Finally, cramps after sex may be a symptom of early pregnancy. Other symptoms include morning sickness, spotting and tender breasts. Take a pregnancy test if you experience all of these symptoms because you may be pregnant. However, there’s no need to be alarmed. Obviously, many things can cause cramps after you’ve had sex.

An at-home pregnancy test can allay any fears about pregnancy, but you may not be pregnant if this is the only symptom you’re experiencing. Your doctor can rule out pregnancy or another medical condition that might be causing a cramp after sex. Hopefully, the information on the Bad Girls Bible is useful, but it should never replace the sound advice of a medical professional. If you’re worried about any of the serious causes of cramps after sex in this post, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible!