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Published on: 8/20/2026

Why do I experience lower abdominal pain after sex?

Yoshinori Abe

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Lower abdominal pain after sex is a common concern, and the causes often differ between men and women.

In women, frequent causes include:

  • Ovarian cysts
  • Endometriosis
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  • Vaginal dryness or deep penetration

In men, common causes include:

  • Prostatitis (prostate inflammation)
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Pelvic floor muscle tension

Causes affecting both sexes include sexually transmitted infections (STIs), urinary tract infections, and interstitial cystitis.

While occasional discomfort may not be serious, persistent or severe pain after sex warrants attention. Pinpointing the exact cause on your own can be difficult, and delaying evaluation may allow treatable conditions to worsen. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand your symptoms and confidently plan your next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

For women, lower abdominal pain after sex may be due to several factors including the position during intercourse, deep penetration that causes contact with the cervix, or underlying conditions like endometriosis or uterine fibroids. Men can also experience lower abdominal pain after sex, usually due to muscle strain or prostate-related issues. Sexually transmitted infections can cause pain in both men and women. Other infections like urinary tract infections (UTIs) and yeast infections may also cause pain during or after intercourse. If you consistently notice pain after sex or if you experience pain after sex that does not go away, you can use Ubie's free AI-powered symptom checker to help identify possible causes and determine when to seek medical care.

(References)

  • Long WN. Pelvic Pain. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 171.

  • Wang J, Packer CD. Acute abdominal pain after intercourse: adrenal hemorrhage as the first sign of metastatic lung cancer. Case Rep Med. 2014;2014:612036. doi: 10.1155/2014/612036. Epub 2014 Jul 13. PMID: 25126096; PMCID: PMC4122014.

  • Siddiqui A, Belland L, Rivera-Reyes L, Handel D, Yadav K, Heard K, Eisenberg A, Hwang U. A Multicenter Evaluation of the Impact of Sex on Abdominal and Fracture Pain Care. Med Care. 2015 Nov;53(11):948-53. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000000430. PMID: 26465122; PMCID: PMC4610254.

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