Sexual intercourse isn't always fun. For some, it could be quite painful.In fact, the research shows that about 80% of women experience painful penetration at some stage in their lives, and it is usually more common after childbirth. If you're experiencing stomach pain during sex, it could be due to a number of reasons. You have to know the underlying causes of stomach pain during intercourse to choose the most effective treatment option.

Stomach Pain During Sex, Why?

There are many reasons of why your stomach hurts when having sex. Here are some of the main causes:

1. Short Vagnia

You're more likely to experience pain in stomach during sexwhen you have it for the first time. Your vagina is obvious quite short when you're a virgin, but it lengthens due to age, babies, periods, and the list goes on. The length increases during sex as well, but even then your boyfriend may be too big to fit in properly. This will cause some discomfort for sure – you may even feel pain on the next day as well. You experience pain when the tip of your partner's penis hit the walls of your cervix, which is quite sensitive due to millions of nerve endings. This often leads to stomach-type pain during or even after sex.

2. Cervical Pain

Sometimes, an infection makes the neck of your womb painful – it could happen due to herpes. This leads to inflammation and causes severe pain when the penis hits its walls during sex. Your cervix may also become a bit sensitive and tender if you use an intrauterine contraceptive device.

3. Endometriosis

It is a condition in which little bits of uterine lining embed into other body parts. It usually happens in the Fallopian tubes, the ovaries and the cervix. These bits of tissue may bleed when you have a period and may also lead to the formation of scar tissue, which often causes lower abdominal pain during intercourse. The condition usually affects young women and is more evident when they stop using the contraceptive pill for the first time.

4. Ovarian Cysts

Sometimes, a cyst may develop on the ovaries and cause pain during sex. If your partner is too big, his penis may hit your ovaries during intercourse. The cysts may sometimes leak fluid and cause some stomach pain as well. Large ovarian cysts are sometimes an indication of endometriosis.

5. Womb Position

The position of the womb may also have an impact on how painful your intercourse will be. If your womb tilts backwards instead of forwards, your ovary may be also inclined to fall backwards. In deep penetration, they are probably knocked on positon, leading to pain in low abdomen. This pain may linger after sex and even if its position is been restored.

6. Vaginal Dryness

It is a common issue and can make sex painful for both men and women. It could happen due to early penetration, certain health conditions, medications and psychological issues.

7. Pregnancy

Some women never face any issue when having sex even during pregnancies, but some others are not so lucky. You may experience painful sex if your uterus grows larger during pregnancy. Several hormonal changes may lead to vaginal dryness that causes painful sex.

8. Menopause

The estrogen levels go down due to menopause. This will lead to the thinning of vaginal walls as well as vaginal dryness. It is therefore common to see women complain about painful sex after menopause.

9. Psychological Issues

Emotions play a big role in determining how much you enjoy having sex with your partner. So many emotions such as guilt, fear and anxiety may make women feel less aroused, which in turn will lead to vaginal dryness and cause pain during sex.

10. Health Issues

For both men and women, infection, irritation or inflammation of the genitals will cause pain during sex. The use of certain vaginal sprays, soaps and douches can irritate your vulva and cause severe pain during intercourse. You may also experience painful sex due to conditions such as vaginitis and pelvic inflammatory disease.

Unique Causes of Men Feeling Stomach Pain During Sex

Men may also experience stomach pain during sexfor many different reasons.

• It could be due to an infection like thrush that causes itching and soreness.
• Your partner may experience pain during penetration if his foreskin is tight.
• Sometimes, there are small tears in the foreskin that are usually not that noticeable but may cause a sharp pain as well as soreness around the tear.
• Prostatitis and testicle swelling are other common causes of why men may experience stomach pain during sex.

How to Alleviate Stomach Pain During Sex

You need to communicate better with your partner and tell him about how discomforting it is for you. Sometimes, you two can discuss it and make some changes to your sexual routine to alleviate pain. For instance:

• Change sex positions: If in a particular position the penis is hitting the cervix, a different sex position may resolve the issue. With woman on top of a man, it is easy for them to take control of the situation and avoid pain in the process.
• Take your time: Discuss it with your partner and be sure to take more time before you let your partner penetrate. Make sure you're fully aroused before giving him a green signal to put his penis inside your vagina.
• Use lubricants: You may consider using a lubricant to avoid vaginal dryness and pain caused by it.

Remember, it is important to get in touch with your doctor if you're experiencing recurrent pain when you have sex with your partner. They will help determine the right cause and identify the best treatment option as well.