Fibroids: A Medical Perspective on Stomach Pain After Sex
Women with fibroids often experience pain during and after sexual intercourse. This blog addresses this issue from a medical perspective, exploring the causes, diagnosis, and treatment options for fibroid-related stomach pain after sex.
Fibroids and Stomach Pain
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths within or outside the uterus. Their location and size can influence the type and intensity of pain experienced during sex. Causes can include:
- Pressure and discomfort: Large fibroids can press on the bladder, intestines, or other organs, causing pain in the pelvic and abdominal region.
- Position: Deep penetration during sex can put pressure on fibroids, leading to discomfort and cramping.
- Friction: Friction during intercourse can irritate the cervix, especially if it’s enlarged due to fibroids.
Fibroid Symptoms
The presence of uterine fibroids can lead to a wide range of symptoms, and these can vary in severity. Some women with fibroids may experience no noticeable symptoms, while others may encounter significant discomfort. Common symptoms include:
- Heavy and extended menstruation
- Anemia, which causes exhaustion.
- Intercourse discomfort
- Urinating frequently
- Bloating and/or constipation
- Pelvic or lower back discomfort
- Cramping during menstruation
- Stomach bloating
Diagnosis of Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are often detected during a routine pelvic exam. Although up to 80 percent of women are affected by fibroids by age 50, many remain unaware of their existence. Some of these women may not realize that their periods are considered abnormal, or they may only experience mild symptoms (or none at all). Depending on your situation, diagnosis may include:
Medical history: A detailed medical history helps identify potential causes of pain, including fibroids.
Pelvic exam: A physical examination of the pelvic organs can help detect fibroids.
Ultrasound: Ultrasound imaging can visualize fibroids and determine their size and location.
Fibroid Treatment Options
Pain management: Medications can help manage pain during and after sex.
Hormonal therapy: Depending on the severity of symptoms, hormonal therapy may be prescribed to shrink fibroids and improve pain. However, researchers believe hormonal imbalances contribute to fibroid growth, and hormonal therapy (birth control) doesn’t address the root cause and may even worsen symptoms for some women.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE): UFE is a minimally invasive procedure that blocks blood flow to fibroids, causing them to shrink and alleviate symptoms. Fibroids can cause a variety of symptoms, including stomach pain after sex. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can significantly improve quality of life for women with fibroids.
Sound familiar? Check out our symptom quiz and help narrow down your symptoms.
What is UFE?
Uterine fibroid embolization, also known as UFE, is a minimally invasive fibroid treatment. This FDA-approved, office-based treatment is performed in an outpatient setting with local anesthesia and mild sedation. The UFE procedure takes less than an hour, allowing patients to return home the same day after a brief observation period. UFE recovery generally takes one to two weeks.
UFE is a minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment that can effectively shrink fibroids, alleviate painful and burdensome symptoms, and improve the quality of life. It’s a safe and effective treatment option for women of all ages, including those who want to preserve their fertility.
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Stomach Pain After Sex
Could It Be Fibroids, Endometriosis, or Something Else?
While fibroids may be the source of your stomach pain after intercourse, other reasons to consider include:
- The sex position used. Deep penetration may be causing stomach pain.
- Vaginal dryness issues. Dryness can be caused by some birth control pills.
- Cyst in the ovary or pelvis. Ovarian cysts — fluid-filled sacs or pockets in or on an ovary — affect many women at some point in their lives, though they most typically arise after menopause. Most are painless and go away on their own after a few months, but some might enlarge and cause discomfort. Pelvic cysts aren’t like other cysts. Scar tissue from prior surgeries or an infection that causes fluid to gather in the pelvic area might cause a pelvic cyst.
- Menstruation. Although menstrual cramps and pain may be relieved during intercourse, these feelings may return due to uterine muscle contractions and pressure on the cervix.
- Current or previous infection or inflammatory condition. A vaginal infection can travel from the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries and cause stomach pain.
- Endometriosis. Endometriosis affects one out of every ten women at some point. When the uterine lining bursts through the muscle wall, endometriosis develops. Tissue on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and even the intestines is common when your stomach hurts. This growth has no place outside the uterus and might cause discomfort.
- Muscle strain. Cramping can occur when the pelvic and abdominal muscles are strained during intercourse and cause why your stomach hurts after sex, just as it can during exercise.
- Bowel issues. Abdominal cramps can be caused by digestive system problems, often causing the stomach to hurt. Stomach aches after sex are often caused by constipation or gas.
- Urinary Issues. Pain after sex can also be caused by bladder or urinary system disorders. Intercourse might irritate the bladder because it sits directly in front of the uterus
- Sexually Transmitted Disease. Some sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), especially chlamydia and gonorrhea, can induce your stomach pains, even after sexual activity. 2
- Fibroids. If you have been diagnosed, or not sure if you have fibroids, take our symptom quiz to learn more.
Next Steps: Who Should Consider UFE?
Most women with uterine fibroids can benefit from UFE treatment, but there are various factors to consider. We’ll discuss conditions that can help determine whether uterine fibroid embolization is the most appropriate treatment option.
If pain, specifically after sexual intercourse is impacting your life, exploring treatment options is an important step to finding the cause and treatment options.
*Reviewed: 12/6/2023
