Sexual intercourse causes your levels of feel-good, stress-relieving, endorphins to reach one of the highest peaks possible, and ejaculation is a manifestation of this high [1].
Unfortunately, even during times of immense pleasure, patients may be overcome by excruciating pain, which can be quite alarming and can make a patient more hesitant to engage in sexual activity in the future. Here, we will explore 10 causes of pain after ejaculation.
Chronic Prostatitis
One of the potential causes of pain after ejaculation that you need to be aware of if you are over the age of 50 is the possibility of having chronic prostatitis. Bacterial infections can lead to an inflammation of the prostate and it could be a cause of pain after ejaculation that you need to watch out for.
Men should routinely check in with their primary care physicians for prostate examinations in order to make sure they are not at risk for signs of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), an enlarged prostate gand. This condition can also lead to increased urinary urgency, including at night, difficulties urinating, a weak stream, and trouble voiding the bladder completely. [1]
Dysorgasmia
Another possible reason that a man could suffer from pain after ejaculation could be complications or recovery after some type of medical procedure. Radical prostatectomies are one of these types of operations. In a prostatectomy, the prostate will be removed when it is suspected that a patient has prostate cancer.
This type of surgery can lead to erectile dysfunction in some cases, but in addition, 14 percent of patients who underwent radical prostatectomies report pain following ejaculation. When looking at the subset of patients who reported pain symptoms during ejaculation, 33 percent reported to have ejaculation-related pain every time, 35 percent occasionally and only 19 percent reported rare events of pain. As you can see, operations are a potential cause of pain after ejaculation. [2]
Peyronie's Disease
Organic causes of pain after ejaculation could include diseases like Peyronie's Disease. This is a disease without a known mechanism of pathology but patients often report palpable plaques that are often painful on the surface of the penis. These plaques can not only lead to erectile dysfunction, but patients will also routinely report severe pain during and after sexual intercourse. The only way this condition can be managed is by surgically removing the plaques. [3]
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Numerous sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are capable of producing plaques, ulcers or sores in the genital refion that can greatly influence the quality of your sex life. STDs are becoming increasingly common, so patients need to be aware of safe sex practices to reduce their risk. Some of the more common types of STDs include syphilis, gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and trichomoniasis. A sexually transmitted infection is a highly likely cause of pain after ejaculation if you are a young male who is currently sexually active, especially with multiple partners. All people who are sexually active should regularly undergo STD testing. [4]
Interstitial cystitis
Interstitial cystitis, or bladder pain syndrome, is another one of the potential causes of pain after ejaculation. This is a condition similar to chronic prostatitis can involve chronic inflammation of the bladder due to some type of bacteria. The etiology and bacteria causing the sicknesses are both hard to define so treatment options can be quite frustrating for patients with this condition. You are at risk if you are an older male with a history of diabetes. [5]
Anxiety disorders
Numerous anxiety disorders have been linked with sexual dysfunction and even pain after ejaculation. Some of the population suffer from genito-pelvic pain or penetration disorders that can manifest during times of sexual arousal.
In some cases, the patient will have pain during penetration or if muscles tense up during sex, there could be substantial pain during ejaculations. The best way to manage these types of conditions would be through behavioral therapy and to use anti-anxiety medications in order to help a patient relax during sexual intercourse. [6]
Mechanical injuries
Soft tissue damage is another possible vector of having pain after ejaculation. Patients who partake in vigorous sexual activity or who masturbate at a high frequency are at risk of damaging the soft tissue surrounding the shaft of the penis, and the resulting injuries can make further sexual intercourse quite painful. The use of lubricants and decreasing the frequency of sexual activity to offer these fragile tissues a chance to heal are recommendations to alleviate this type of pain. Anyone who has sustained an injury of this type should allow it to heal before resuming sexual activity. [7]
Tumors
Cancers are another of the many potential causes of pain after ejaculation. Testicular, ovarian and uterine cancers can lead to surges of sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen which can manifest as dull pain during and after sex. Patients who are in a high-risk category for certain cancers must routinely check to make sure they are controlled to catch tumors before they become too aggressive. These tumors are found to worsen when sex hormones become elevated so make sure you seek medical attention as soon as possible. [8]
Uterine fibroids
Like sex organ tumors dependent on hormones, uterine fibroids are a potential reason for pain after climax in the female population. Fibroids are benign growths of uterine muscle that grow naturally as a woman ages. These fibroids are dependent on the sex hormone estrogen and are generally asymptomatic. At times, fibroids can manifest as bleeding or severe pain. Fibroids and grow and worsen over time, so patients suffering from this type of pain during intercourse should go their gynecologists to discuss options. Women in their 40s are more likely to have uterine fibroids. [9]
Endometriosis
The last topic worth discussing that could be likely in women who suffer from pain associated with climaxing is the presence of endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition in which estrogen-dependent tissue that normally grows in the uterus is located in other areas around the body, as well. Endometrial tissue is typically found in the intestines, around the kidneys and even the lungs. Patients will notice pain during periods (as the extra-uterine endometrial tissue goes through a cycle as well, but has nowhere to go) or sexual intercourse, and they need to take over the counter medications to reduce the symptoms of this disease. [10]
In conclusion
Pain after ejaculation in men, or pain after climaxing in women, is not normative, and can indicate a number of underlying medical problems. Although many patients are likely to be hesitant to seek medical help for a problem of such an intimate nature, it is important not to let the pain go untreated. Your doctor will have seen many cases with the same symptom already, and can only help you by providing a diagnosis, and where necessary treatment.
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