From Muscle Fatigue to Dehydration: Causes of Cramps During Sex

There are many reasons due to which women can experience pain and cramping during or after sex. Some causes are more serious than others.

Endometriosis
Endometriosis often causes pain and cramping during or after sex. This condition occurs when uterine tissues begin to form outside the uterus or in a place where they should not. Sometimes the tissues start growing in the ovaries. Women suffering from endometriosis experience extreme pain even during menstruation. And because the tissues are growing abnormally outside the uterus, women also feel extreme pain during intercourse.

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Inflammatory Diseases
Women who are suffering from pelvic inflammatory disease may experience cramping after sex. PID can be caused by chlamydia, sexually transmitted disease or in some cases, gonorrhea. When PID occurs, the fallopian tubes and uterus become inflamed which can cause pain during or after sex.

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Fibroids or Cysts
Uterine fibroids are very common in women. These are non-cancerous tumors that arise in the uterus. Cysts can also form on the ovaries. Both these conditions cause cramping during or after sex. Fibroids can also cause bleeding during menstruation. Women experience very severe cramping when the cyst worsens. In some cases, the cramping persists for several days along with the swelling. Fibroids and cysts are the most common causes of cramps after sex. Although they are usually harmless, it is important to see your doctor if you are experiencing a lot of pain. Cysts and fibroids will be reduced by doctors so that you will not feel much pain in the future.

Orgasm
For some women, orgasms can cause severe cramping in the lower abdominal area. The cramps can last anywhere from a few hours to minutes. Painful orgasms become most common in women between the ages of 35 and 55. Women who are in or near menopause are more likely to experience painful orgasms.

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Tilted Uterus
Most women may experience cramping if the uterus is injured during sex. If your partner's penis hits the uterus during intercourse, your muscles will contract, causing cramping. For some women, this is because their uterus is tilted. In this case, it becomes very easy for the partner's penis to reach there and hence the pain is felt.

Early Pregnancy
It is not uncommon for women to experience pain or cramping during or after sex in pregnancy (especially in the early stages of pregnancy) and especially after orgasm. These contractions feel like period stomach pain or cramps. Sometimes the pain is mild and in other cases the pain can be severe. Mild uterine contractions are normal and there is nothing to worry about. However, if you are pregnant and experience severe cramping after sex, see your doctor immediately.

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Ovulation
Some women also experience cramping during ovulation when the egg is released from the ovary. Most women experience this pain on one side of the body. The cramps can last anywhere between a few hours to a few days.

Menopause
Women who are going through menopause may experience menstrual-like cramps.

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Cervical Stenosis
This medical condition occurs when the cervix becomes narrow, restricting blood flow. Women who have this condition may experience irregular menstrual periods and cramping even when they are not menstruating.

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Ovarian Cancer
Cramping without a menstrual period is a symptom of ovarian cancer. Irregular menstrual periods, abdominal bloating, abdominal pressure or pain, and frequent urination are symptoms of ovarian cancer.

For most women, cramping after sex is not a cause for concern, especially if it is a one-time occurrence or lasts only a few hours. However, if you experience cramping after sex, make sure to see your doctor.

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You can stop your cramping. If you feel pain or cramps in your legs during sex, then slowly change your sexual position. If you cannot do this, then stand up and change the posture of the legs during the cramps. When you are sure that the cramps have subsided, then you can start again, but before that check the cramps to see if there is any kind of pain now. If you do not do this, then the cramps can start again. If the cramp is towards the stomach, then it becomes very difficult to identify it. 

However, massaging the stomach can reduce your cramps and you can also refuse your partner for sex. Hot water bottles can also help cure the pain.

If you are facing the problem of too much cramps, then it is important that you make changes in your lifestyle and diet. For example, try to take enough potassium in your diet. Lack of potassium can cause you cramps. You can massage your stomach and muscles before having sex. This will help in proper blood flow and prevent lactic acid build-up.

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Cramps during or after sex can occur for various reasons. A common cause is muscle exhaustion, which is caused by prolonged or excessive activity. In addition, a lack of electrolyte balance in the body, such as potassium and magnesium, can also cause cramps. Stress and anxiety can also cause muscle tension, leading to cramps. In some cases, cramps can also occur due to lack of hydration or poor stretching and warm-up. If this problem persists, it is important to seek medical advice so that any underlying health problem can be diagnosed.