Is Irritation After Sex Normal?

Is Irritation After Sex Normal?

Many people, both men and women, will experience pain during and/or after sex at some point. However, feeling discomfort after sex isn’t something you should ignore. Rather, itching, burning, and soreness during or after intercourse typically indicates some sort of problem. So while irritation after sex isn’t uncommon, it’s not normal either. Here, we’ll explain all of the possible causes of genital irritation, and what you can do to protect your well-being:

Rough Sex

Having sex that lasts more than thirty minutes, having sex without proper lubrication, and having sex with a partner who has a particularly large penis could lead to soreness or irritation. Rough sex can cause soreness, swelling, and in some instances, bleeding.

Allergic Reaction

Though rare, some people are allergic to latex –– the material used to make most modern condoms. As such, those who are allergic to latex may experience intense pain, redness, burning, and swelling as a result of latex condom usage. Furthermore, some individuals may be allergic to their partner’s sperm (or even their own). Lastly, lubricants and lotions could spark an allergic reaction too –– so always read the label first!

Non-STD Conditions

Yeast infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bacterial vaginosis can all cause women to feel pain or discomfort during or after sex. Note, that while less common, men may also develop a yeast infection or a UTI. In fact, it’s possible to transmit a yeast infection to your partner during intercourse.

STDs

First, it’s important to address a misconception regarding STDs: most STDs don’t begin to exhibit any symptoms until days, weeks, or even months after initial contraction. Therefore, it’s highly unlikely to get an STD and immediately feel its effects. Having said that, STDs do frequently cause genital pain –– especially during or after urination or intercourse. What’s more, STDs like gonorrhea and chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women. Not only is PID painful, but it could also leave you infertile. Other symptoms of STDs (bumps, discharge) may or may not appear in conjunction with pain after intercourse.

Other Medical Conditions

Women may feel discomfort during or after intercourse as a result of conditions like endometriosis or ovarian cysts. Similarly, men may feel pain after sex because of prostatitis or phimosis. These medical conditions may or may not indicate a serious issue, so it’s wise to consult a medical professional should you experience persistent pain after intercourse.