Sex Question: Why Do I Have Cramps After Sex?

Dear Dr. H,

I'm 28 years old and don't have children. It's been almost a year now since I started to feel a cramp after having sex with my husband, particularly after having sex doggy style. The symptom lasts about an hour. Recently, I experienced a really severe stomach cramp and it lasted almost two days. I'm still not fully recovered and have trouble walking and going to the bathroom. Are these symptoms of an STD or UTI, or something else?

Read on for Dr. Hilda Hutcherson's response.

A. These are not symptoms of a UTI. The most common explanations for this kind of pain during or immediately after intercourse are fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis or an ovarian cyst. But there could be other causes, too, like having sex, especially vigorous sex, when you are about to ovulate; this can occur because the ovaries are quite sensitive at that time. The point is, generally when you get a cramping pain, there is something physical going on and you definitely need to go see a gynecologist.

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