If you have been experiencing painful sex, alongside other potential fibroid symptoms, you might be wondering, “Do fibroids cause pain during sex?”
Fibroids can cause painful intercourse, although it depends on their size, number, and location. Pain during sex, referred to as dyspareunia, is more common than many people realize, and it’s also treatable. While there are many potential causes, uterine fibroids are one possibility.
Uterine fibroids can impact sexual health by causing discomfort, pressure, or pain during or after intercourse. However, it’s not always easy to tell whether the symptoms you’re experiencing are related to fibroids. If you’re unsure, our fibroid symptoms quiz can help determine whether it’s time to speak with a specialist.
Can You Feel Fibroids During Intercourse?
One of the most common areas to experience pain during intercourse is either around the vaginal opening or deeper in the pelvic area. For women with fibroids, intercourse may feel uncomfortable or painful since fibroids that grow in the uterus, can alter its shape, size, or sensitivity and often press against other organs
If you have fibroids, you may experience the following during sex:
- Pressure or discomfort during penetration
- Burning sensations
- Pelvic cramping
- Muscle tightness or spasms
These sensations may be mild for some women and severe for others, depending on the sexual position and depth of penetration.
Why Do Fibroids Cause Pain During Sex?
Fibroids can cause pain during sex. Fibroid pain during sex often relates to the fibroid’s size, number, and location.
These growths can cause painful intercourse due to:
- Pelvic crowding: Large or multiple fibroids growing within the uterine wall, the uterus itself expands and begins to occupy more space within the pelvic cavity. This ‘crowding’ can lead to deep pressure and discomfort during penetration.
- Pressure against the uterus or cervix: Fibroids near the cervix may be irritated during sex, triggering pain
- Inflammation or degeneration: Some fibroids become inflamed or begin to break down, making the uterus more sensitive
Pain during sex when fibroids are involved may appear as sharp pain during penetration or at entry, or deep pain during thrusting. Painful intercourse may also worsen during certain positions, or it can continue as a throbbing pain afterwards.
Pain During Sex: Types of Fibroids Most Linked to Pain
Uterine fibroids, which are located near the cervix, are often one of the underlying causes of painful sex. Any pressure placed on these fibroids during intercourse can cause pain ranging from mild discomfort to severe, especially if they are subserosal fibroids.
Along with feeling pain during sex, any fibroids located near the cervix or lower uterus can make you feel pressure during intercourse, especially deep penetration.
The positions you try out during sex can also affect the level of pain you feel during sex with fibroids. It can help to experiment with different positions to find the most comfortable one. Communicating with your partner is key, so we encourage you to speak openly with them.
If fibroid pain during sex is affecting your sex life, relationships, or self-esteem, speaking with a fibroid specialist can help determine the fibroid type and identify the best treatment options.
Should I Be Worried About Pain During Sex?
Occasional discomfort during sex can happen, but persistent, worsening, or disruptive pain deserves medical evaluation. If you feel enough pain that it interferes with intimacy or daily life, you should not ignore it.
You should specifically seek immediate medical care when experiencing:
- Sudden or severe pelvic or abdominal pain
- Heavy bleeding after sex
- Fever, dizziness, or faintness
- New symptoms after menopause, such as bleeding or persistent pelvic pain
While pain during sex is common, it is not something you have to live with when there are available treatments to manage fibroid symptoms.
Treatment Options for Uterine Fibroids and Painful Intercourse
Treatment to manage pain during sex caused by fibroids ultimately depends on a few factors, including symptom severity, fibroid size and location, and your fertility goals. For many women, minimally invasive treatment options such as uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) can significantly reduce symptoms without surgery.
UFE shrinks fibroids by blocking their blood supply, causing them to gradually reduce in size.
Key benefits of UFE include:
- No large incisions
- No general anesthesia
- Outpatient treatment
- Able to go home the same day as treatment
Since UFE is an outpatient treatment, the recovery time is shorter than after surgery, with most women resuming normal activities within one to two weeks. Our fibroid specialists at USA Fibroid Centers are experts in UFE and have helped many women reduce pelvic pain and other fibroid-related discomfort they may experience during sex.
Get Expert Care With USA Fibroid Centers
If you’re experiencing pain during sex from fibroids, a comprehensive evaluation with a healthcare professional, like a fibroid specialist, can help you determine the best course of action.
The fibroid specialists at USA Fibroid Centers focus on education, accurate diagnosis, and minimally invasive treatment options tailored to your needs. With our convenient nationwide locations and online scheduling, we make getting care simple and accessible.
FAQs About Fibroids and Intercourse
Can fibroids cause bleeding after sex?
Fibroids can sometimes cause bleeding after sex, along with other symptoms like heavy periods, low libido, and fatigue.
How can I stop pain during sex from fibroids?
The best way to stop pain during sex from fibroids is to treat the fibroids themselves. A fibroid specialist can help determine whether treatments such as uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) are appropriate for symptom management.
Will painful intercourse go away after fibroid treatment?
If fibroids are causing painful intercourse, then treatment will help the pain go away. If pain persists after treatment, consult a healthcare provider, such as a fibroid specialist, to rule out new fibroid growth and explore other potential causes.