Sharp pain after being sexually active? What it could be and what to do
If you have ever noticed a sharp pain after being sexually active, you were likely quite alarmed.
Being sexual is supposed to be a pleasurable experience so when it turns into a painful one, it can definitely ruin the mood.
In today’s blog, I want to take a moment to explain potential causes of those sharp pains after being sexually active, and spoiler alert, it involves your pelvic floor!
Sex and the pelvic floor (and why you might be feeling pain after being sexually active).
When we participate in sexual activity, blood flows to the genital region. That’s where erections come from: the penis fills with blood, which stiffens it.
But did you know that erections happen in both male and female bodies? You read that right: even if you don’t have a penis, you can have an erection!
In people with a vagina, erections happen a little more subtly than male erections do, but you may notice that your vulva is larger and plump when aroused. It’s the same physiological process that occurs in males happening in females.
Not only does the genital area experience a significant increase in blood flow during sexual activity, but during an orgasm, there is a rhythmic contraction of the muscles surrounding the vagina or penis (aka the pelvic floor muscles!).
Blood flow and contractions in these reproductive organs both usually contribute to a wonderful time!
However, if your pelvic floor muscles are not functioning well, in that they are overly tense or sensitive to begin with, then all that extra attention to the pelvic floor can sometimes result in pain during sex or after sex.
To help you understand why, let’s imagine another scenario...
Say that you get neck pain from time to time (which many of my patients do before coming to see me!).
If you are prone to neck pain, and then you spend a few hours painting a room where you’re using the muscles near your neck more often than you do on a regular basis, you may experience some sharp pains afterwards!
I certainly hope you don’t and if you do, you already know that I’m going to recommend you seek out a physical therapist. But it’s not that uncommon of an experience so I’m hoping that the example will help illustrate my point.
In an effort to be thorough in this blog post, I will say that there may be other reasons why you experience sharp pain after sexual activity that are outside of "tightness secondary to typical sexual dysfunction because your pelvic floor muscles are a little angry to start".
Medical conditions such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids can contribute to pelvic pain.
However, before you worry too much, please know that regardless of the underlying cause, a pelvic floor physical therapist can help you manage your pain.
We are also trained to rule out medical conditions so if we suspect you may have a condition affecting your pelvic floor, we are on your team to help you navigate getting to the root cause.
I walk my patients through the process of seeking the care they need, coach them through what they should be looking for in other medical providers, and ensuring that they are not only getting help, but also understand what, exactly, is going on.
Why the pelvic floor contributes to pain during or after sexual intercourse
The pelvic floor muscles play a large role in sexual health. When these muscles are tense or "tight", they can cause narrowing of the opening of the vagina and also pain during penetration (especially deep penetration) as the muscles are pushed against.
Think about it in terms of an aggravated hamstring muscle; if the muscle is tight and it is then pushed on, it hurts!
The same goes for your pelvic floor.
Having painful intercourse is incredibly frustrating, especially when it's recurring pain and you are unsure of why it's happening.
Some reasons: stress, lack of foreplay, sexual history, and sometimes, the medical conditions listed above.
What to do about painful sex
Here's the thing: you don't have to deal with this and push through it and hope it goes away.
When you work directly with a pelvic floor physical therapist (Hi! I'd love to help!), we're able to figure out the root cause, you'll get specific care to help your specific problem, and you'll also be given strategies to decrease the pain in the interim.
Here’s the thing: pain is a complex subject and it may take time to fully resolve. But, know that relief IS possible, you just need to find a pelvic PT that is collaborative, listens to you, and is able to guide you through the process and provide relief across sessions. It is not a quick fix, but starting today means that you’re one step closer to not having to deal with pelvic pain.
You can learn more about pelvic physical therapy here and if you're located in the Durham, NC area, I'd love to help you get back to having sex without pain. You can book a free pelvic health pt discovery call here and if you're ready to book your first appointment, just submit the contact form here and I'll be in touch.
