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Pain after intercourse
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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More than half of both sexes suffer from pain during or after intercourse periodically, many constantly. The problem is that many are embarrassed to admit it. But if you understand the cause of this kind of pain in time, you can significantly alleviate it, or even get rid of it altogether.
Most often, the cause of pain during and after sexual intercourse is a variety of diseases.
[ Causes of pain after intercourse in men
If the frenulum of the penis is torn, temporary pain may occur after intense coitus.
The testicles and the head of the penis sometimes cause pain after ejaculation. Infections of the prostate, urinary tract, and seminal vesicles cause itching and burning. Burning and sharp pains after ejaculation may be associated with gonorrhea and similar diseases. Lesions of the genitourinary system such as urethritis or prostatitis can also cause severe pain. Sometimes the cause of painful sensations can be involuntary painful spasms or local cramps in some sensitive muscles of the male genital and reproductive system. Delaying ejaculation by a man for longer coitus can also cause pain. Certain disorders of the pelvic floor muscles can also lead to pain syndromes.
Causes of pain during and after intercourse in women
Pain during and after intercourse that occurs during defloration
The main reason for pain during first sex is fear. Because of it, the muscles of the body contract, the vagina is in a special state of tension. There are women whose hymen can be thick and completely penetrated by a huge number of nerve endings, but this does not happen often. Basically, it is characterized by elasticity and stretchability, so often during the first sexual intercourse it does not break, but stretches. So, in order to avoid painful sensations, it is usually recommended to overcome your fear. In order to avoid it, you need to trust your first partner, as well as reliable protection. A condom is best for the first time - there is a risk of foreign microbes, which can be absolutely safe for a man, but when they get into the female body, they can cause vaginal inflammation and problems with the bladder. Relaxation and prevention of muscle spasms during defloration will be helped by the presence of a pleasant atmosphere, trust, a sufficient amount of foreplay, if the partner gives the girl pleasure before the start of coitus.
Pain after intercourse from vaginismus
This problem can occur due to unsuccessful first sex (or after rape). The essence of vaginismus is in the spasmodic contraction of the vaginal muscles - in spasms that occur even before the start of sexual intercourse. The subconscious, guided by fear, sends signals to the muscles. And, in fact, the pain appears not even from penetration, but because the woman's own muscles are compressed. This situation can also arise during an appointment with a gynecologist. To get rid of such a syndrome, you need to fight your fears, work on trusting your partner and your attitude to the situation so that you can relax without hindrance. When a patient is unable to overcome vaginismus on her own, she needs to seek help from a psychotherapist and sexologist.
Pain after intercourse due to intact hymen
Often there is a situation when coitus is not the first time, but the pain remains every time. This happens because many do not have a rupture of the hymen, but its stretching or a small tear. There are cases when it is completely eliminated only during childbirth. If the hymen is preserved, it is recommended to use lubricant in large quantities and tenderness.
Pain after intercourse due to inflammation
If pain, burning, itching, friction, dryness occur during or after sexual intercourse, it is quite possible that there is inflammation in the genitourinary system. It can be caused by sexually transmitted infections: chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, ureaplasmosis, candidiasis. It is also provoked by completely “normal” microorganisms - fungi, E. coli, staphylococcus and many others. Once in another organism, they often react not quite adequately, especially with weakened immunity, menstruation, pregnancy and other vulnerable periods for the body. •
Pain during and after intercourse due to adhesions
Adhesions occur if a woman has had inflammation of the appendages or intestines. They are characterized by periodic aching pain in the lower abdomen from hypothermia, and may also be delayed or loose stools. All this may indicate adhesive processes. But they may be present even if you have never observed these symptoms in yourself. Many women of reproductive age have adhesions, they just do not know they have them, since they are present asymptomatically. Pain can occur from tension, during intercourse, and also during an appointment with a gynecologist in a chair. During intimacy, pain can be avoided by choosing the right position and "temperament" of intercourse - "aggressiveness" in sex in the case of adhesions is most often painful. It is best to consult a gynecologist, especially in cases where pain manifests itself not only during and after intercourse, but also in everyday life, since the inflammatory process may already be chronic and requires serious treatment.
Pain during and after intercourse can be caused by injuries, ruptures, stitches after childbirth and operations. If these reasons are temporary, they can go away on their own after a certain time. If nothing can be done about them, then the situation is resolved by using lubricants, developing the muscles of the pelvic floor, choosing positions and tempo in sex.
Pain during and after intercourse due to endometriosis
The main symptom of endometriosis is specific spotting before or after menstruation, as well as severe pain. The pain intensifies during defecation and sexual intercourse.
Pain before and after intercourse due to venous congestion
Due to irregular sex, insufficient satisfaction, and dissatisfaction with the relationship, there is a rush of blood to the genitals, but the necessary discharge does not occur. Then there is heaviness, a feeling of dissatisfaction, and nagging pain during sex. And the main catch is that sex - the only thing that can correct this situation - does not bring relief, but only worsens the situation if the proper discharge does not occur. The walls of the vagina swell and give off acute pain during coitus. Another important point is that in addition to discomfort and pain, there is a risk of developing severe gynecological diseases: uterine fibroids, endometriosis, mastopathy, ovarian dysfunction and many others. Experts advise not to ignore problems with dissatisfaction and solve them together with your partner, because this can provoke various complications, including anatomical changes. Satisfying each other is the key to pleasant and strong relationships in the family, but also, what is important, a healthy body. Specialists will treat you with physiotherapy and gynecological massage, which is actually an imitation of coitus. Therefore, it is much more pleasant to get rid of such problems at home, with your partner.
Pain during and after sex due to pelvic neuralgia
The pelvic walls give off pain, which intensifies when touched, for example, during sex, examination on a chair, during ultrasound examination using a vaginal sensor. The pains are often sharp, shooting, giving off to the leg. Neuralgia can affect any area - facial, intercostal, pelvic. The nerve most often becomes inflamed from hypothermia, infections, stress. Traditional elimination of neuralgia - warming ointment, pepper plasters, the use of physiotherapy.
Pain during and after intercourse due to insufficient secretion of lubricating fluid
The cause may be a psychological state caused, for example, by the lack of desire for sexual intercourse, subconscious rejection of a man, fear of pregnancy; removal of a special gland that secretes lubricant in women - Bartholin's, for example, due to its previous inflammation (bartholinitis); hormonal imbalances in the postpartum period, the use of hormonal contraceptives, menopause. If this problem is caused by hormonal levels, then products with female sex hormones are used. If the problem is psychological - then while the person is dealing with it, the couple uses artificial moisturizers - lubricants: special intimate gels that can be purchased at a pharmacy or sex shop.
Pain during and after intercourse due to anatomical incompatibility of partners. Usually, the vagina is characterized by stretchability and elasticity, and clinical variants of giant male dignity are rare in everyday life, so pain due to size should not occur. If this is observed, it is worth going to the doctor to understand what causes pain and prevents the stretching from being painless.
Causes of pain during and after intercourse, common to both sexes
Pain during and after sex is a common symptom of interstitial cystitis. In men, one of its characteristic manifestations is pain during ejaculation, especially concentrated at the tip of the penis. Women with interstitial cystitis complain of pain the day after coitus.
Pain during and after sexual intercourse is your body's way of signaling that something is wrong with it - physically and psychologically. At the slightest suspicion of pain, you should consult a doctor for a consultation, diagnosis and appropriate treatment.