After sex, you may notice a sharp pain in your abdomen. The pain is typically on one side of the stomach and can range from mild to severe. But why does my stomach hurt after having sex?

The pain experienced during or after sexual activity is known as Dyspareunia. The cause may be deep penetration, muscle spasms, or digestive issues such as gas and constipation. However, it can also be a sign of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), an underlying condition, or an adverse reaction to certain medicines.

According to this ACOG article; it is estimated that about 75% of women with vaginal openings have experienced painful sex. Another article states that about 5% of men have had painful sex.

This article will be covering some possible causes of why the stomach would hurt after having sex.

Why Does My Stomach Hurt After Sex?

Below is a list of reasons why you may be experiencing pain in your stomach after sex.

1.     Rough Sexual Intercourse

If you have sex with a partner who isn’t as gentle as you’d like him to be, it can cause pain in your stomach. The pain might be sharp at first, then gradually fade away.

The pain is caused by a bruise or hematoma (swelling of blood that has collected under the skin). The bruise might not show up for several days after the injury, so your doctor may ask you to return to the office for an examination. If the pain does not go away in a few days or gets worse, call your doctor.

The pain might also be caused by muscle strain. A strain is an injury to one or more muscles in your abdomen from being pulled too hard during sex or from having an orgasm while lying on your stomach with your legs open wide.

2.   Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue that normally lines the uterus — the endometrium — grows outside of it. This misplaced tissue can cause severe pain, heavy periods, and infertility. If you’ve had sex recently and your stomach hurts afterward, it could be a sign of endometriosis. Sex can aggravate the condition because of how it stretches and presses against the affected tissue.

3.   There Was Too Much Friction

You may have heard that sex is supposed to be fun, but there’s a lot more to it than that. Sex is also about procreation, so it makes sense for our bodies to experience pain if there’s too much friction.

If you have sex with someone new, your body will naturally take time to adjust to the new sensations. But if you’re with someone who isn’t as well-endowed as you’d like them to be, this could also cause some pain. It’s important not to rush things and not be afraid of expressing yourself physically with your partner.

Your partner didn’t use enough lubricant. Lubricants can help reduce friction during sex, which can make it more comfortable for both parties.

4.   You May Have Ovarian Cysts

If your stomach hurts after sex, it could be due to the fact that you have ovarian cysts. Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can appear on or near the surface of the ovaries. These cysts can cause pain and discomfort in women who have them.

The most common type of ovarian cyst is known as a functional cyst, which occurs when follicles that contain eggs mature but don’t release an egg into the fallopian tubes. This causes fluid to build up inside the follicle, bursting and releasing its fluid into the abdominal cavity. The fluid can build up again if more follicles fail to mature properly and release their contents into the abdominal cavity.

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5.   Pelvic Infection

One of the most common causes of post-sex pain is inflammation of the reproductive organs (the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes). This condition is known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). It can occur in any sexually active woman, but it’s particularly common in women who have had more than one sexual partner.

PID can cause a range of symptoms — including fever, abdominal pain, and abnormal vaginal discharge — but often there are no signs at all. If left untreated, PID can lead to serious complications such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain.

6.   There is no Attraction

It can be hard to get aroused if you’re not attracted to your partner. If this is the case for you, try to think about why you aren’t feeling that way.

It could be because of a lack of emotional connection with your partner (if you’re in a long-term relationship) or simply because they don’t know how to excite you.

If the issue is emotional, then it’s worth talking through with your partner. If there’s a problem with how they’re stimulating you, try to talk about how they could change their technique so that it works better for both of you.

You might also want to consider whether there are any other issues at play here — such as anxiety or stress — which could be impacting your sex life as well as other aspects of your life.

7.    An Allergic Reaction to Something

You may be suffering from an allergic reaction to something in the lubrication you use. Or, it could be a sign of something more serious, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

If you’re feeling nauseated, have abdominal cramps, and are vomiting after sex, it’s probably not a good idea to have sex again for a few days. Your doctor can check for any underlying medical causes of your symptoms.

Final Thought

Why Does My Stomach Hurt After Sex? The short answer is that it’s normal, but you should still talk to your doctor or a gynecologist to make sure things are ok. Even though it’s normal, it’s also not fun when your stomach hurts after sex. If every time you have sex your stomach hurts afterward, then you might want to check with a physician or gynecologist and find out what’s going on. Most likely it’s just irritated tissue, or maybe even a small tear in the vagina that doesn’t really need attention, but if it keeps hurting for more than a few days, take care of the problem before it becomes something serious.