Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Odd cramping after orgasm and bowel movements
by kyliecat, Oct 11, 2007 10:00PM
This is quite odd but I experience an uncomfortable cramping in my lower abdomen after I have an orgasm or after a particularly intense bowel movement. It's somewhat painful but definitely more on the uncomfortable side. Occasionally I will also feel the cramping when I get sexually excited. It doesn't last for too long, a few minutes at most but I was curious if anyone else had experienced something like this.
Thank you for your feedback.
Thank you for your feedback.
Related discussions
-
Never had an orgasm? (27 replies):Ok I guess that I will start with this. I am 22 years ol...[more]
-
Orgasm thru intercourse (35 replies):all i haer is how great sex is and how much they are loo...[more]
-
Orgasm painful uterus(MC)? (4 replies):Me & dh had sex(I am 8 1/2w)& when I orgasmed I had a pa...[more]
-
Shooting pain through vagina and anus (251 replies):I have sharp shooting pains through my vagina and anal a...[more]
-
Pain during orgasm (2 replies):About 6 months ago, during orgasm, not during intercou...[more]
-
Help, pain (1 replies):Hello, Not sure if I am on the right board but basically...[more]
-
Not a single orgasm in 8 years of being sexually active... (14 replies):Different websites that I have checked out offer multipl...[more]
-
orgasm and stomach pain (6 replies):every time i orgasm i have excruciating pain in my tummy...[more]
-
Right Sided and Lower Abdomen Pain (19 replies):I had a TAH On Oct. 19, 2004 because of reoccuring ovari...[more]
Post Comment
Related Communities
Recent Videos
Related Expert Forums
Recent Activity
Most Popular Trackers
RSS
Expert Activity
Community Members
Most Viewed Health Pages
Community Calculators
Popular Groups
I also sometimes get the same pain, not connected to sex, when I have a bowel movement - agin 5 mins after for about 10-15 mins I've been to my doctor, who had never heard of this, did the normal tests and gave up. I've never heard of anyone who has the same thing before. I have no history of fibroids, cysts, etc, have never had children, used to have an IUD, but had it taken out about a year ago, thinking this might have been the cause. I'm 37.
I've had the pain for over 2 years, and it has definitely put me off sex. If any of you have had any sort of diagnosis or advice, PLEASE let me know... Thank you.
While trying to reach climax, the muscles and the neurons associated with those muscles receives multiple Action Potentials. Which in can simply be described as an "Activation Switch." The AP are caused by the constant stimuli they are receiving (i.e. the sexual stimulation).
During an Action Potential, there is an influx of Calcium ions pushed into the muscle fibers which allows them to contract. In order for them to relax back to normal, the free Calcium must be sequestered or taken back up. However, due to the repetitive stimuli, the Ca does not have enough time to be taken back up. In this case, temporal summation occurs. This basically means, the contraction builds and builds on top of each other sort of like a piggy-back effect causing an increase in contraction each time.
Once, orgasm is reached, the muscles or neurons are no longer receiving this stimuli. However, there is so much free residual calcium still left in the muscle cells, they are still in a contractile state. Until, this free Calcium is taken back up, your muscle will not relax which can cause cramps. Also during an orgasm, the pain receptors are blocked inside of your brain. This could mean, you could have the cramps during the orgasm, but you can not receive them in your brain, so you have no knowledge of them.
One more reason could be there is not enough ATP readily available after an orgasm. ATP is the body's energy source. It is also required for the muscles to relax after contraction. During the build of an orgasm, you use a lot of energy (ATP). So, after climax it may take a little longer to receive the energy required to have the muscles return to normal. During this time, the muscles stay contracted in the same state of "rigor mortis." Once, ATP is available the muscle will return back.
Hope this helped
It is common to have mild cramping after an orgasm.... Never heard about a bowel movement maybe because you are relaxed...
Could I ask - do you do exercise regularly? - if it is the muscle thing - could regular exercise help? Although I'm not particularly overweight I am pretty un fit and never do any exercise so have been also blaming that!!!
I too get the pain at times after walking or slight exercise or bowel movements but the one I hate most is when you get one in the middle of the night when you were fast asleep and suddenly wake in excrutiating pain because you had an erotic dream.
Interestingly enough, I had never mentioned the pain to my mother until recently and she told me that she had the same thing and is pretty sure my grandmother did as well. She said that both she and my grandmother had also had hysterectomys and that for her the pain went away after that.
It is my fervent prayer that we may all find a cure to this thing, sooner rather than later.
I cannot, unfortunately, give you a specific medical cause ~ I can only share that they removed my uterus & cervix which had fibroids & endometriosis. So it would seem that something relating to the uterus/fibroids/endo would be my best guess. My doctor hasn't been able to offer up much help. I'm just so grateful the pain is gone (along with my periods!!). I wish you all the best in your individual situations & hope that you can find a remedy that is best for you and your specific situation in the near future ~ best wishes to you all in 2009 !!
http://books.google.com/books?id=xu8tb2o66iIC&pg=RA2-PA8&lpg=RA2-PA8&dq=fibroids+orgasm+cramps&source=web&ots=qBM4CCvYuy&sig=f_F3v0ujNb6cFtTEpucF1vax1tk&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result
Once again ~ good luck to all who are experiencing this debilitating condition. I wish that 2009 brings an end to your pain & suffering. Happy Holidays!
I've never had any pain or discomfort with sex until this past 6 months. The symptoms I have are identical to many posts here, severe debilitating cramps on the immediate heels of an orgasm, or when I become aroused much less severe. I've entered menapause and so menstral cycles are not an issue for me. Needless to say, the timing of this could not have been worse. My poor husband feels like a heel when I curl up in a knot and cry as my orgasm is ending ! I don't know which one of us is more worried at this point.
My doctor says there is nothing wrong with me, "healthy as a horse" are his words (gee thanks doc.......neigghhhhhh) and acts like I'm complaining about a paper cut. He suggested I take advil or something before sex - like we plan the sessions on the kitchen floor & I'm supposed to say "No wait, stop. I have to take a advil and wait 30 mins for it to take affect. Hate older male doctors..........
So I started my own research and located a couple of reputable sites where a great deal of information can be found. Seems we are not as alone as some of us believed. Don't have a solution yet, or a cure, but there has to be something I can do to make this either go away or lessen in intensity. Try these links for more info:
http://www.endometriosis.org/symptoms.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ovarian-cysts/DS00129/DSECTION=symptoms
There are others posts on reputable sites which indicate that some forms of birth control might cause pain, some bacterial infections may also cause pain. But, at least I am now armed with information to take to my gynie and demand he either look to see if either of these are the cause, or I'll find one who will.
Good luck to all and here's to pain free sex again.
Gennymad
Same thing with me for almost 10 years now. It has gotten worse and then better over the years and I do have a history of endo. Sever cramps after orgasm, not during and bowel movement about 10 minutes after. It is possible that the endo is also on my bladder and intestines and I will get this check this week.
Does anyone also have bladder pain, or the bladder feels a little swollen?
I think it could also be related to food allergies. When I eat veggies and not bread, low carb diet, no refined sugar, it is dramatically better.
My doc gave me buscopan, cramp pain pills - if it is possible to take them 30 minutes before that really does help as well.
So great to know I am not alone, although I would not wish this on anyone. I am avoiding sex at the moment and so I have finally decided to get serious and get to the bottom of it. I will report my progress.
Mack
I feel relieved to find so many women with the same experience as me. I have the exact symptoms as described and was amazed to find that other women experience waking up in pain after an erotic dream. It's just so horrible. My boyfriend and I have been having less and less sex without really making a decision about it. The pain is awful but it's almost as bad waiting on it to happen. Of course, doctors have been useless. I have experienced the whole, try getting drunk before having sex approach(pretty bad considering it was a gynaecologist who suggested that one!) In any case, I have never been diagnosed with endo but I do have a fibroid. I'm now wondering whether I should go back to the doctor regarding endometriosis? Anyway, the saddest thing for me is that I'm only 27. Really want to have children but find it so sad to think that I will have to live with this pain until a hysterectomy is an option.nx
1 Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?
2 How old were you when the pains started?
3 How long have you experienced the pain for?
4 Do you get pain a) after sexual arousal, b) after a bowel movement, c) after urinating, d) after exercise, e) all of the above
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
9 Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
11 How long does your pain last?
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
13 Describe the pain you feel.
Thanks Ladies
2. 35
3. 4 years
4. a. yes, b. sometimes, c. no, d. no
5. Yes, after orgasm
6. Both, but worse after orgasm
7. Not so bad just after my period, and gets gradually worse throughout the month, and really painful just before the next period.
8. Don't know
9. No
10. No children
11. 10-15 mins
12. Never tried
13. Lower abdominal cramping, just like bad period pains
2 for 26 years
3 14 years
4 After orgasm and exercising
5 Worse after orgasm
6 orgasm
7 It used to be less pain right before, during, and right after period. In last several years it is month long.
8 They didn’t
9 Yes to fibroids.
10 --
11 15-20 min.
12 Not in the mood by then
13 Lower right side like someone is squeezing my intestines. The bowel movement produces very thin BMs. The location of intense pain has moved over the years. It used to be on the right side in my 20s.
I get them from dreams and masturbation as well.
I have a retroverted uterus.
The pains are the same pains I get for menstrual pains.
I also have urge incontinence. I have seen a craniosacreal therapy. I thought it had to do with nerve damage from a tail bone injury in my 20s. I have been told that I hold all of my stress in abdomen. I am now seeing an herbologist who says that I have a lot of toxicity in my intestines and I have just started treatment.
I plan on having my hormone panel done and see if I am deficient in that area.
I had a large fibroid removed in 11 years ago. Pain subsided for several months and then returned. I have one small fibroid now.
I was 26 when they started. I'm now 40. So 14 years of pain
I had them before, during, and after pregnacies.
I'm healthy -- I have had an ultrasound in the last two years as well as a colonoscopy, with normal results. I'm post-menopausal now and have found my symptoms have gotten worse through the years. At about the same time as my cervical surgery, I had untreated pelvic inflammatory disorder. Now I'm wondering if I ended up with adhesions or endometriosis. I used to have fibroids but my last ultrasound showed none.
My cramping doesn't usually occur if I have an orgasm without penetration. With penetration, it will happen if I orgasm before or during sex, virtually 100% of the time. My solution with my partner has been to postpone my orgasm/s until after he's done which is not great for being sexually spontaneous. When I wait until after sex to orgasm, I probably experience the cramping about 60% of the time. It tends to be worse if I allow myself to have multiple orgasms (which is my norm). If I orgasm before or during sex, the cramping is so bad that we have to stop immediately during penetration. I occasionally get the cramps during/after a bowel movement and I've awakened with cramps a few times after an erotic dream.
In my thirties, the problem was intermittent. I noticed that it happened most often right before my periods. In fact, I could tell when my period was due in a day because of experiencing cramping after orgasm. Into my forties, I became peri-menopausal and started noticing the symptoms much more often. By my mid-forties, the cramping became a permanent fixture of my sexuality.
When the cramps come on, I experience a strong need to have a bowel movement. I have to sit on the toilet and bear down. I usually defecate within a few minutes. The cramps seem to get better after this but can last as long as 45 minutes. I sweat and feel nauseous. The other thing I've noticed (TMI, I know) is that my rectum opens loosely during the worst of the cramps.
I used to experience a similar thing during the worst of my menstrual cramps in my mid to late forties. Sitting on the toilet, bearing down, and defecating were the only things that would relieve these cramps. Those cramps could be so miserable they'd drop me to the floor when they came on. I'm happy at least to be done with periods now. It's funny because I had no problems with cramps whatsoever until my cervical surgery when I was 33.
I was pregnant one time when I was 24 and didn't have this problem.
I have no idea about my mom and grandmother -- they never really talked about their sexual experiences with me.
As far as the question about having sex when the pain subsides, like the other women who answered this, I have no idea because I want to avoid all sexual contact so as not to re-start the cramps. I'm proud to say that my relationship of almost twenty years has been strong enough to support sexual compromises that have allowed me to remain sexual. I've made myself a commitment to have as-good-as-possible sex at least once a week with my guy. I do HATE it though that my capacity to experience spontaneous pleasure has been completely ripped away from me.
I've contemplated hysterectomy as a solution to my problem. However, I'm not convinced that the problem would be treated by surgery. I'd love to know more from women who had this problem and were helped by hysterectomy. I'm wondering if my insurance company would even pay for the procedure because I'm considered gynecologically "healthy".
Please let's keep talking about this issue. Thank you all so much for sharing. It feels wonderful knowing I'm not a freak.
Wow!!! It was a meant to be that I found this forum today! I am almost 36 and have all of the symptoms listed above and they have just become worse in the last year or so. It started out with occasional cramping after orgasm (penetration doesn't make it worse, it's just a couple minutes after the orgasm lasting for up to 30 minutes at times) and now has become random cramping upon orgasm, arousal, bowel movements, exercise, and erotic dreams.
I mentioned it to my doctor over a year ago and he said it’s probably a muscle in my stomach. (He pretty much blew me off and it made me mad!) I just took that and let it go. For the last few months, I’ve been doing google searches on the symptoms and haven’t been able to find anything. Yesterday, during arousal, I started cramping so bad that I had to go sit on the toilet to try to relieve the pressure. That was it and I called my ob/gyn and they invited me to come in today. In a last ditch effort before I left work, I did another google search and low and behold, here you all are!!! I marched into my doctor’s office armed with you ladies as reinforcements that I’m not crazy.
I discovered fibroids a few years ago during infertility issues but they’ve not presented a problem as I am no longer trying to get pregnant. Today I brought all of this up to my doctor (by the way he’s the Chief of Staff at one of our great new hospitals here in the metro Phoenix area……so, that has to say something right?) and at first, he seemed to just be appeasing me. I told him about this website and he said “Well, what did they all say?” I told him that it seems a good chunk of us have fibroids. He did an exam and after he discovered how tender my uterus is, he started perking up a bit and ordered a vaginal ultra sound for Friday.
One other thing that I do experience, in addition to cramps, is that I pee a lot. This can also be caused by fibroids pressing on the bladder.
I’m sure you all know this but in case someone doesn’t, there is no way to discover endometriosis unless they take a peak inside you.
My doctor said that the cramping could be many things including digestive stuff like IBS. (I have been diagnosed with that but haven’t been having issues), fibroids, endometriosis, scar tissue from past pelvic inflammation issues/disease, etc.
So I will have the lovely ‘transvaginal’ ultra sound on Friday and we’ll go from there. He did say that if the pain continues to be a problem, it would be a good idea to go in and do a laparoscopy which is an out-patient procedure where he puts two small incisions in the belly and goes and takes a look around to see if there is endometriosis.
By the way, I have found that an ice pack on my belly after sex with the cramps has helped. I think the cold is kind of a distraction......whatever it is, it does help a bit.
We have to figure this out ladies. I am a Passion Party Consultant and I am all about educating ourselves on our bodies and what these wonderful bodies are capable of. Let’s figure this stuff out so we can get back to our healthy sex lives, exercising, etc.
Thanks!
1 About 25 lbs over weight
2 About 31 or 32
3 3+ years
4 I get pain on all but the peeing part.
5 It's particularly bad after an orgasm.
6 I have pain upon arousal and after an orgasm.....not every single time though, just most of the time.
7 It used to be around my period but now it's stretching out more.
8 Don't know about female relatives.
9 Yes, I have fibroids
10 no problems before, durring or after baby. He's now 8 and it started 3+years ago
11 Up to 30 min
12 I don't know........who wants to resume sexual activity? :)
13 menstural-type cramping
I did more research today and came up with a disorder called Proctalgia Fugax. Here is a very interesting medical journal article that describes exactly what I experience:
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/pagerender.fcgi?artid=1491073&pageindex=1
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/pagerender.fcgi?artid=1491073&pageindex=2
Apparently it is a LOT more common that we think, especially in women. According to this article there is no cure, but it gets better by the time we're 70! Great news, huh? Laughing...
Some of the other stuff I read today suggests that at least in some people the condition may have to do with damage to the tailbone. I know this fits for me. I have fractured mine three times and the last time was just a year or so before I started having symptoms. When I fell roller skating that last time at age 32 (which was the worst of the three injuries), I experienced my rectal opening relaxing (just like it does when I get my "butt cramp") along with excruciating tailbone pain.
Anyway, just thought I'd share what I found today.
I appreciate the links on those articles. I am at work right now but will read them later today. Interesting little fact about what you mentioned: I SHATTERED my tailbone when I was 14. Broke it into lots of little pieces.......hmmmm.........
Thanks again and have a great day.
The other things I've read that realistically seem to be be associated with Proctalgia Fugax are Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Endometriosis.
It's amazing to me that 14 - 18% of the population may be experiencing these symptoms and that 75% of these are women! We all know this is a MISERABLE disorder that truly messes with every aspect of sexual functioning. Yet apparently, many, if not most doctors have never heard about it!
It outrages me that several of the articles I've read seem to suggest that it may be caused by being a "perfectionistic, high-strung woman"! BS!!! This sounds like typical male doctors throughout history blaming women's health problems on them being "hysterical"!!!)
Why the heck isn't this a HUGE issue? I'm pretty sure if MEN had something that made their orgasms excruciating, it would be ALL OVER the news!
Every article I've read says that they really don't know what causes this painful disorder and that there is no known cure. Typical treatment recommendation is (get this) "REASSURANCE"! You better believe they'd be offering more than "reassurance" if lots of men experienced this.
= ) Can you tell that I've gotten really PO'd after realizing that what I have is a real disorder and how just how many women are going through the same thing as me? Now that I'm talking about it I'm appreciating just how much it has screwed up my life and I'm mad as hell about it. "Reassurance", indeed!
1. Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?
~normal; 5'9" 150 lbs.
2. How old were you when the pains started?
~ early 30's (I'm 39 now)
3. How long have you experienced the pain for?
~ 5+ years (went away after partial hysto in Nov. 08)
4. Do you get pain a) after sexual arousal, b) after a bowel movement, c) after urinating, d) after exercise, e) all of the above
~ a) after sexual arousal / orgasm
5. Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
~ after sexual arousal / orgasm
6. Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
~ pain after both, usually more intense after orgasm
7. Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
~ all month; no time is better or worse than another
8. Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
~ no for Mom, unsure of grandma, no sisters
9. Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
~ yes and endometriosis
10. If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
~ never been pregnant; after several years of infertility treatment adopted two beautiful kids :)
11. How long does your pain last?
~ anywhere from 10 minutes to the more intense long lasting 45 minute episodes
12. When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
~ yes
13. Describe the pain you feel.
~ intense cramps/shooting pains that made me double over in tears. extreme pressure on my lower back area just above tailbone. urge to have a bowel movement after orgasm even when there was nothing there to come out.
I am still happy to report that I am pain free after my partial hysterectomy in late November. It was a good option for me as I was unable to get pregnant, happy with my family size ~ two kids who we adopted & also recently divorced with no desire to attempt to get pregnant ever again.
I will add that I have had IBS digestive issues since my twenties, but for me, it was always a different kind of pain. My IBS was cramping that I could describe as running through my intestinal area ~ front towards my stomach and most often resulted in diarreah. The onset of the IBS/diarreah has always been almost immediately after eating. The pain after orgasm was debilitating cramping & extreme pressure on my back & rectum area. Right up behind & above my tailbone.
In response to some other posts above, I have never experienced a tailbone injury that would be a factor in my case to consider.
It's obvious this issue is extremely debilitating for women & doctors seem to write it off too easily. I know that the hysterectomy is not an option in many cases and I cannot say for sure that it would be the 'cure' so-to-speak for all. I can only say it worked for me and unfortunately I cannot tell you exactly what specifically worked. I just know I'm in a much happier sexual place & I wish the best for you all in finding the right treatment so you don't have to suffer anymore. There definitely needs to be more collaborative research with general gynos & specialists to find the actual cause & offer other alternatives aside from a hysterectomy ~ if indeed they find a hysterectomy would work in all cases.
Hugs to you all.
Karry
I did have the ultra sound and my fibroids are small so the doctor isn't concerned about those causing the pain. The next step is the laproscopy (spelling?). He said that if there is endo. there, he can do a little to get rid of some of it and maybe that will help??? No guarantees of course.
This pms thing is stretching out longer and longer which seems to give maybe a week or 10 days in the cycle with less or no cramping upon arousal, orgasm, or occasionally after a bowel movement.........unacceptable!
Good luck to all of us!!!! :)
1 Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?
I would say normal...however did put on some weight over the winter but symptoms haven't gotten any worse
2 How old were you when the pains started?
23 years old
3 How long have you experienced the pain for?
I am now almost 26-3years
4 Do you get pain a) after sexual arousal, b) after a bowel movement, c) after urinating, d) after exercise, e) all of the above
all of the above but at different times after each for example a. right after b. before and after c. before but more like cramping from waiting too long to go but I go all the time d. after I am laying down for the night
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
yes it almost is as bad as labor pains
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
always have an orgasm sometime after arousal
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
all month-I don't even get a period I have an IUD-the symptoms didn't get worse after this incretion either....
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains? No clue
9 Have you been diagnosed with fibroids? No
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy? I am a mother of a 8 year old son but I was soooo young that I don't actually recall if I had these symptoms
11 How long does your pain last?
Sometimes as long as 20mins
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
Normally, I'm ready to go to bed after sex and once I get past the pain I experience I'm even more tired...the pain alone wears me out.
13 Describe the pain you feel.
Lower belly and rectum pain and pain after sex.....I can relate to what one said as butt cramps....and all of these cramps suck. I try to breath thru them but sometimes that doesn't even help!
I am off to do more research thanks you all of your helpful links...I will check back on this blog as its now in my favorites ;) I will also report back with my Dr says or dose for me...if anything at all ;(
2 How old were you when the pains started? 30
3 How long have you experienced the pain for? 5
4 Do you get pain a) after sexual arousal, b) after a bowel movement, c) after urinating, d) after exercise, e) all of the above A and B and if i have an erotic dream.
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above? A B and my write in.
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well? both
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times? no mapped out time so whenever.
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?no one has ever told me.
9 Have you been diagnoised with fibroids? I had 2 fibroids and several polyps removed.
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?N/a
11 How long does your pain last? 30-45 minutes
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity? yes
13 Describe the pain you feel. a Horrible cramping and pain in the uterine area and the only way i can describe is labor pains, but alas I have never experienced those.
I, too, was very relieved to find this forum. The emergence of this condition has been very disconcerting. Thank you to everyone who has shared their information, it's been very helpful. I hope we find a solution! If I can stand it, I'm going to try my best at the diet suggestions posted by one person--to give up wheat and refined sugar. I don't normally go in for food remedies, but after visiting a friend recently who was permanently cured of her chronic migraines by giving up wheat, I'm willing to give it a try.
Here are my answers to the survey posted by doolies91:
1. Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?
~normal; 5'7", 145 lbs.
2. How old were you when the pains started?
~42
3. How long have you experienced the pain for?
~ about 1 yr.
4. When do you get pain?
~ after orgasm; I was also woken from a dead sleep with this pain the first time it happened, and I have no idea if I was dreaming about anything, but I didn't feel aroused. It just hurt.
5. Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
~ after orgasm
6. Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
~ except for being woken from sleep, pain after orgasm only (so far)
7. Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
~ not sure
8. Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
~ No, I don't know
9. Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
~ no, but I have had problems with cysts on my ovaries, so I may have fibroids. I had to have an ovary removed due to cysts at age 29.
10. If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
~ I have only been pregnant once, 3 yrs. ago. The pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, and it is since this time that the pains have started. My body changed alot from the pregnancy.
11. How long does your pain last?
~ 10-20 minutes
12. When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
~ yes
13. Describe the pain.
~it feels like menstrual cramps. I've always had extremely painful menstrual cramps (which my mother and at least one of my grandmothers also had), and they seem to be getting even worse now.
Best of luck to everyone!
I have experienced such symptoms for the past 10 years (I am now 32). I used jog regularly and I first experienced the discussed symptoms when I jogged in the days just before my period (I have always had painful periods). The pain would occur after jogging about 1km, it would last for about 10 minutes or so and would go as quickly as it came. I used to be able to continue jogging once the pain went away. Over the years the pain would come every time I jogged in the two weeks leading up to my period (ie from ovulation). Now it is at a stage where I can be guaranteed that if I jog I am likely to get the pain regardless of the time of month. As such I have given up jogging completely.
For the past 3 or 4 years this same pain has started to come after orgasm (regardless of penetration or not). Again, it was intermittent when it first occurred (immediately prior to period used to be worse) but now I can be guaranteed to feel this pain if I orgasm. The result is that I don’t let myself achieve an orgasm which in turn upsets my husband as he feels he cannot satisfy me.
My main reason for writing on this post is because I note that many of the women on this post have stated they have not had children, and a couple say they had infertility problems. And those that have said they have had children appear to have only experienced the pain years after childbirth. I have been trying get pregnant for the past 5 years and have had two miscarriages in this time. It was suspected that I might have endometriosis but an op in 2008 was negative. They did a few other tests at the time and couldn’t find anything wrong (I had adhesions on the outside of my uterus that they said could have caused period pain but wouldn’t cause infertility. They fixed these adhesions and I still get the pains). I am concerned that the pains I experience are linked to my infertility.
If anyone can give me hope that these pains are not linked to infertility would be much appreciated.
In response to the questions :
1 Normal weight
2 22
3 10 yrs
4 after sexual arousal and after jogging (not other exercise?
5.
6 orgasm
7 all month
8 My sister has endometriosis so has bad periods but does not experience the same pains (she has had 2 children). Mother doesn’t either.
9 No to fibroids
10 While pregnant (before miscarriages) orgasm even more painful than normal.
11 10 or so minutes
12 Not sure as kinda puts a dampener on things
13 dull (but extreme if that makes sense) lower abdominal pain.
As with many other women I have been told by the Doctor that they have never heard of such symptoms and bless him, he suggested I try yoga breathing...not really the best solution when you're in excruciating pain at 4am having been woken up my an unexpected orgasm!
So he called it IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and suggested Buscopan, which does indeed speed up the relaxation post cramp, but it doesn’t prevent the cramps altogether.
My answers:
1 Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?
Normal (5'7'', circa 10 stone) but relatively unfit
2 How old were you when the pains started?
23
3 How long have you experienced the pain for?
6 years
4 Do you get pain a) after sexual arousal, b) after a bowel movement, c) after urinating, d) after exercise, e) all of the above
a) not unless I orgasm b) no c) yes if my bladder was very full d) yes
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
Worst post orgasm
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
After orgasm - intercourse does not have to be penetrative for cramps to occur
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
The cramps happen between ovulation and period (My cycle is unusual - 5-6 weeks, so this lasts up to 3 weeks)
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
None of my family have had this, though I know my mother has a retroverted uterus and mine may also be
9 Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
No
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
N/a
11 How long does your pain last?
5-45 minutes
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity? yes
13 Describe the pain you feel.
Intense cramping and pain that starts in the uterine area (I guess similar to labour pains, though I haven't had a child) these then spread out through the intestines (I can feel the spasm travelling) sometimes also causing my stomach to react so I feel I will vomit (I don't because I hate vomiting). Relief comes when I pass wind and empty my bowels (even if I have previously so this may be like diarrhoea). I will also feel faint and experience hot and cold flushes if it is particularly bad.
During these phases I am able to have intercourse, I just avoid orgasm. This works for me, though of course it isn’t ideal. In a particularly bad month I will not initiate anything because I am afraid of the pain but then I may have an erotic dream (which I never had before) resulting in the same pain – it’s like a cruel joke.
My personal discoveries...
1) The intestines are very poorly understood by scientists and doctors alike – hence why IBS covers such a wide range of symptoms (apparently including mine)
None-the-less Buscopan and pain killers taken 20 mins before intercourse do help reduce the symptoms.
2) The Intestines have an extensive nervous system (referred to by some as the 'second brain') this means it is very susceptible to changes in blood pressure, hormones and stress levels.
This explains why my reaction can occur from exercise. I find trying to remain calm really helps, though it isn't always easy.
3) As Aushong mentions above, the uterine cramps as a result of orgasm may well produce an excess of muscle stimulant and this then causes the gut to respond to the stimuli.
What this doesn’t explain is why this only happens during certain phases of the menstrual cycle and reading other posts above, why that changes with age to throughout the cycle except during period.
4) Pressure - I believe my uterus is retroverted (as with other women above) and for me, cramps may also happen after emptying a full bladder.
Intestines are susceptible to disturbances, this suggests to me the answer may simply be that, as the uterus is heavier when it fills with liquid, it is putting pressure on the bowel that is exacerbated when the uterus cramps during orgasm.
5) Hormones – I am not an endocrinologist, but I do know that hormones fluctuate as a result of the menstrual cycle.
I am not certain whether I would have had these symptoms anyway, but I don’t recall cramps with whilst I was on the pill, nor whilst I took the injection contraception. The cramps started after I decided to allow my body to return to its natural rhythm and use non-hormone forms of contraception. I am loathe to return to the pill as a solution, but I am curious whether it may help.
I have also noticed I wake up feeling very hungry during this phase and my stomach produces so much acid I need to take Rennie. This also helps reduce build up on wind which also affects me during this phase.
6) Food Intolerance – I spoke to the pharmacist about my so-called “IBS” mentioning that it was related to my cycle (though not about orgasms as it was not a private meeting!) and he informed me that hormone changes can affect intolerance to certain foods.
I have not been tested for food intolerance but I am aware that I become bloated when eating lots of pasta, bread etc. Therefore I do try to avoid them which I find helps during this phase. The pharmacist also recommended sticking to small portion sizes (little and often is easier to digest), low alcohol intake, and to avoid late night meals / drinking…I can’t say I am very good at sticking to these rules, but I have noticed that cramps are less intense when I am neither hungry or just eaten.
Sorry for the super long post, but I hope that my observations might help you to find ways to reduce your own pain and together we may be able to determine the cause if not the solution.
Normal Weight – exercise regularly
2 How old were you when the pains started?
19 years old :(
3 How long have you experienced the pain for?
2 years and counting
4 Do you get pain a) after sexual arousal, b) after a bowel movement, c) after urinating, d) after exercise, e) all of the above
i have found i only get these pains after masturbation, haven’t had them after intercourse yet
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
Extremely bad, I get a fever and feel as though im about to vomit due to the intensity of the pain
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
after orgasm
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
I’m on the pill so I’m not sure how it is relevant as i do not ovulate but they do seem to flare up roughly two weeks after my period and continue until after they have gone, i have extremely bad period pain, get extremely bloated (two periods ago i got so bloated i developed two stretch marks above both my ovaries) the pains and bloating seem to be more intense if I have not had a bowel movement before my period starts however to pass one whilst i have my period is so painful it brings me to tears.
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
My mother is adopted but she has a condition that increases the chance of bowel cancer.. I didn’t inherit the gene.
9 Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
no
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
Never been pregnant
11 How long does your pain last?
Between 15 – 30 mins usually does not go until after i have had a bowel movement.
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
There is no sexual activity once these pains stop, not risking it again!
13 Describe the pain you feel.
A constant ache accompanied by Sharp stabbing pains I thought it was my ovaries but have had these checked out and they are normal. I get bloated, fever, and feel on the verge of vomiting due to the intensity of the pain.
like all of you - though im not glad you are all in pain! i too am relieved in not the only one. Pfft. how can the doctors say its nothing when clearly there are many of us.
i wish you all the best of luck!
I am here to just confirm the fact that this condition, whatever it is, *****!!!! It seems as thought I have 2 good weeks and that's it. I bloated up like a balloon in the last 2 days. I must have had an erotic dream lastnight because I woke up in excrutiating pain and had to do my labor pain breathing!!! I had severe pressure and went to sit on the toilet and nothing really happened. After 10 minutes I crawled back to bed and cried my eyes out..........I was just sleeping!!!!! Ugh! I am going to my female gp tomorrow and tell her that gyno said next step is a laproscopy...........I'll get her opinion.
Anyways, this is what has helped me somewhat, although they have not gone away completely. 1. I went off gluten/wheat and sugar like someone else mentioned and found out about food allergies. 2. Gynecological physical therapy that helped relax the muscles, I more or less massage my uterus before sex 3. Acupuncture. Find an acupuncturist who specializes in Pelvic Pain.
This may not be entirely correct but I am pretty sure it is caused by:
While trying to reach climax, the muscles and the neurons associated with those muscles receives multiple Action Potentials. Which in can simply be described as an "Activation Switch." The AP are caused by the constant stimuli they are receiving (i.e. the sexual stimulation).
During an Action Potential, there is an influx of Calcium ions pushed into the muscle fibers which allows them to contract. In order for them to relax back to normal, the free Calcium must be sequestered or taken back up. However, due to the repetitive stimuli, the Ca does not have enough time to be taken back up. In this case, temporal summation occurs. This basically means, the contraction builds and builds on top of each other sort of like a piggy-back effect causing an increase in contraction each time.
Once, orgasm is reached, the muscles or neurons are no longer receiving this stimuli. However, there is so much free residual calcium still left in the muscle cells, they are still in a contractile state. Until, this free Calcium is taken back up, your muscle will not relax which can cause cramps. Also during an orgasm, the pain receptors are blocked inside of your brain. This could mean, you could have the cramps during the orgasm, but you can not receive them in your brain, so you have no knowledge of them.
One more reason could be there is not enough ATP readily available after an orgasm. ATP is the body's energy source. It is also required for the muscles to relax after contraction. During the build of an orgasm, you use a lot of energy (ATP). So, after climax it may take a little longer to receive the energy required to have the muscles return to normal. During this time, the muscles stay contracted in the same state of "rigor mortis." Once, ATP is available the muscle will return back.
If this is due to cramping, some ways to help prevent cramping are:
One of the major causes could be dehydration which could come into play after sexual intercourse. Just make sure your body is fully hydrated and it may cut down on the cramping.
Make sure your body has enough sodium in it. Sodium is a key component with muscle/synapse functioning. It is a key electrolyte and can be find in many sports drinks such as Gatorade. Sounds kind of silly drinking sports drinks for sexual activity, but I mean it is a workout. It would be best to consume the beverages before sexual intercourse to have a good reserve of sodium. Another good source is sea salt. It has other trace minerals that are good for the body also. However, you much watch your salt intake. Don't go out and start ingesting tons of sodium as this will increase your blood pressure. The salt deposits in your blood and your body will release more water into your bloodstream to try and dissolve the water causing an increase in blood pressure due to the increase liquid in your circulatory system. This will also dehydrate you too. As you can see, this is sort of a fine line, but the sports drink would be a good solution I think.
Potassium is also another key component to muscle/muscle cramps. It can also be found in sport's drinks and vegetables. Such as potatoes, especially the skin.
# Sweet Potatoes (much of the mineral content is in the skin)
# Potatoes (much of the mineral content is in the skin)
# Bananas
# Carrots
# Many kinds of fish
# Beets & Beet Greens
# Squashes
# Many sports drinks have potassium
Magnesium,
# Nuts
# Halibut, Pollock, Yellowfin Tuna
# Quinoa
# Oat Bran
# Buckwheat
# Beans
# Many sports drinks have magnesium
Calcium,
# Fortified dairy products
# Sardines
# Tofu
# Spinach
# Soybeans
# Turnip & Beet Greens
# Kale
and Vitamin D could also help prevent cramps. There are various foods that can be taken with these in them. You could also just take a full vitamin supplement. Just ask your doctor ways to prevent cramps and they may have a better answer for you.
He recommended a uterine ablation. He said that if there was no lining on the uterus, and then the prostaglandin would not be released. This would explain why the cramps are more severe the closer we get to a period.
He was not able to explain how this happened after a lot of exercise.
So, I throw this out to all of you. Ask your doctors if this sounds like a good reason.
There was a lady who wrote in saying a hysterectomy cured her pain. This would be similar, but your hormone production would stay working, only you would not build up a uterine lining to shed-alas, no periods.
I will be scheduling this over the summer I look forward to anyone else’s thoughts on this while I study ablations in further depth.
Adhesions were ruled out because my pains started years before any surgery.
Tilted uterus would cause pressure during sex not after orgasm.
Fibroids were ruled out because too small.
A little history: when I gave birth to my second child by c-section, my OB/GYN which I love did a tubal ligation on me (tied my tubes). That was 7 years ago, and since then, I've had difficult, unpredictable, painful, 14 day long periods - (no joke). I was at my whits end, so a year and a half ago, my doctor did a endometrial biopsy and it came back negative. She scheduled me for an Uteran Ablation that went fine pre and post-op (except for the terrible discharge you have for two weeks following). They say you don't have periods, but for me, I do, although they are lighter, still unpredictable and slight cramping, but do-able.
All was okay until this past January 2009. One evening, after dinner, I had this sharp stabbing pain (only in my lower left pelvic area) that doubled me over and was accompanied by some bleeding. It was so painful that my husband took me to ER, but the time someone actually was able to see me, the pain had subsided and I was just worn out, so I checked myself out - I was an hour from home, pain was gone, I just wanted to leave.. The next business day, I went in to my ob/gyn's office and saw her physician's assistant. She did an exam and a vaginal sonogram, only to find nothing wrong. She said it could be something with my colon or bowels, if it happened again, go to my regular physician.
That was in January and all was well until end of May 2009, just last month. The stabbing pain (again, only in my lower left pelvic area) returned and lasted about 45 minutes that evening. I took two Aleve and used the heating pad. Next morning, woke up and went to my physician. I described previous episodes with her and she scheduled me for a CT scan after my urine tested negative for no infections. I went that afternoon for the CT and next day, they called me with the results: no abnormalities, but there was fluid in my pelvis they said was likely from a ruptured cyst. The pain lasted another night and then was gone.
Low and behold - it all returned again just last week, but I couldn't imagine that another cyst would have grown and ruptured only in a three week period. This time, pain lasted four nights before I got in to see doctor. The ironic thing is, my severe pain is only in the evening before I go to bed and it puts and leaves me in bed for the remaining part of the evening. The severe pain is at night and in the morning and daytime hours, it seems to still be there at times, just very subtle. On the fourth day, I went in to see my actual OB/GYN- she did a urine test, came back negative then she did an exam and another endometrial biopsy (ouch) which I'm still awaiting those results. She's requested copies of my blood work, CT from other doctors and will review all of them, and then call me with everything. (hopefully this week) - I will post her findings for all of you in hopes it can help one of you. She said if it all comes back negative, then we may be in a case where "we just don't know". She added that she can put me on the birth control pill to regulate ovulation in case that is where pain is starting, but I'm 35 with my tubes tied and ablation done, and I don't want to be on the b/c pill forever until menopause. She said the other thing she could do is a partial hysterectomy.
The pain lasted for two more nights after this appt. and have been gone the past two nights, except for last night after sex (which this was my FIRST experience with the pain during and after sex). I really didn't even have an orgasm, because I had already started cramping a few minutes into it. Right after sex, I had the urge while cramping terribly (only in lower left again) to have a bowel movement. As I sat down on toilet, my cramping increased and I was sweating uncontrollably, it scared me to death, I finally had a thin/small bowel movement and the sweating eventually ceased. Last night, I had minimal cramping at bedtime and during night, so I stayed on the two Aleve and the heating pad, and am better this morning. The cramping is there, but very subtle. I'll stick with the two Aleve during the day today and hope it doesn't all happen again tonight!
I hated to read all your posts that during sex or orgasms, this pain is very common for you all on a regular basis, I'm hoping this doesn't become my problem too and that last night was a coincidence, but we'll see.. I can tell you, I know how you feel, because I'm very put off to sex right now because of fear that the pain will kick in. This pain is life-changing as it interrupts your lifestyle. There was a couple of posts where it mentioned that we didn't know if insurance companies would pay for something like this, what I recommend is keeping a detailed log, keeping in touch with the nurse at your doctor's office to prove the regularity of it and to prove that it's a life changing pain we are all enduring. The way my doctor described it to me with the ablation, she documented everything very well and proved to the insurance people that my 14 day periods was altering the way of my life and they approved the ablation. Now, if we go forth with the partial, we will do the same thing, document everything and prove that it is continuing to change the life I lead as I am now constantly thinking of when the next episode will happen and since it usually happens at night, I'm very hesitant in being away in the evening, I'd rather be home, just in case it happens, I've even canceled overnight stays in hotels due to the fact, I need to be home when it happens~ it's crazy, I know!
I've done lots of research on that the last couple of days and found a cool site: hyster-sisters that has a forum on there of all women either thinking of or having had a hysterectomy performed, it's very interesting and enlighting! I'm hesitant in having a partial done, 1. for fear it won't work and I'll still be left in pain and 2. it will mess up my hormones (found that in the Susanne Somers book: Ageless and also on various websites). So, when she calls me, I have a whole list of questions for her regarding the partial and I will post that on here too when I know more~
Good Luck Sisters and I hope we all find resolution soon!
3 times a month, I wake in the middle of the night with an orgasm,
instantly have cramps after, its starts hurting so bad, so I lay down
in the shower with hot water hitting my abdomen, then about 3 minutes
later I have to have to have a bowel movement, get back in the shower
and lay there in pain, sometimes have to have another BM...in about 20
minutes I am fine. It hurts so bad that I have hyperventilated before.
This all happens about a week or a bit more before my period begins.
After my period ends, I have about 1 or 2 good weeks with no pain or
orgasms in my sleep. And the weird thing is, the dreams I have that
make me orgasm are very strangely sexual, things I would never do in
real life. But I always dread these orgasms because they always end up
very painful afterwards. Sometimes even before my period begins I get
menstral cramps from excercise. My older sis has endo and I am pretty
sure I do too. I never had all the tests she did. I just want these
oragasms in my sleep to stop! Today I took a nap in the middle of the
day, and sure enough, I had a sexual dream, orgasm, then instant cramps,
then having to have a BM.It was awful! It almost feels like the cramps
wont go away until I BM. But they cramps dont go away instanly after I
do BM, it takes at least 10-20 minutes or so. I am not due to start for
a week. Same thing every month. Because of this, I have no intrest in
sex whatsoever. What to do. :( Thanks for reading. :)
3 times a month, I wake in the middle of the night with an orgasm,
instantly have cramps after, its starts hurting so bad, so I lay down
in the shower with hot water hitting my abdomen, then about 3 minutes
later I have to have to have a bowel movement, get back in the shower
and lay there in pain, sometimes have to have another BM...in about 20
minutes I am fine. It hurts so bad that I have hyperventilated before.
This all happens about a week or a bit more before my period begins.
After my period ends, I have about 1 or 2 good weeks with no pain or
orgasms in my sleep. And the weird thing is, the dreams I have that
make me orgasm are very strangely sexual, things I would never do in
real life. But I always dread these orgasms because they always end up
very painful afterwards. Sometimes even before my period begins I get
menstral cramps from excercise. My older sis has endo and I am pretty
sure I do too. I never had all the tests she did. I just want these
oragasms in my sleep to stop! Today I took a nap in the middle of the
day, and sure enough, I had a sexual dream, orgasm, then instant cramps,
then having to have a BM.It was awful! It almost feels like the cramps
wont go away until I BM. But they cramps dont go away instanly after I
do BM, it takes at least 10-20 minutes or so. I am not due to start for
a week. Same thing every month. Because of this, I have no intrest in
sex whatsoever. What to do. :( Thanks for reading. :)
I had another catscan done when I was 53, and the results were identical to the one seven years earlier, no change. At age 54, I had a laparoscopy done and it was perfectly normal. However, my first orgasm after surgery produced very little pain. And with each one after it got better and better, then it started getting worse with each one, and now I'm right back where I started. I also have pain with jogging, exercise, and heavy lifting. I don't know what I want to do next, but I'm not crazy about cutting parts off my body, not knowing what the results will be. I will continue to watch this forum for any new information.
I am 55
pain started 17 years ago
25 pounds overweight
pain caused by orgasm, arousal, bowel movement, urinating, excercising
before orgasm I have throbbing pain lower right pelvic area
after orgasm the pain spreads across my abdomen and feels like somebody is grabbing me and squeezing , squeezing, so hard.
pain lasts 15-60 min.
I seldom have the urge to have a BM after orgasm
I have 2 small fibroids
no back or tailbone injuries
I couldn't possibly think about having sex again right away, I feel like I've had a hard workout after writhing in pain for so long
I asked the nurse when she called me today if my doctor had also read the blood work results and CT scan (which showed fluid in my pelvis "likely" from a ruptured cyst is how they worded it) from my other doctors, and she said they had just gotten them and were in my folder for my doctor to review. I updated her on the pain that I've had since my appt. last week and she made notations of it. To remind you, the doctor told me last week that it could come down to "we just don't know" then we could consider the partial hysterectomy. My concern there is what if we do that surgery and it doesn't fix the problem, then I've gone through the surgery for nothing - taking the chance of throwing my hormones out of whack which then leaves to other problems, I just don't know......
I read on another forum where there was a lady in her 50's that had a tubal ligation and then years later had the uteran ablation done (both surgeries just like me) and she was experiencing this same sort of pain after both of these procedures, so they've gone in and done the partial, but there wasn't an updated post from her yet... I'm not giving up - there's just too many of us out there that have this pelvic pain (whether it be before/after an orgasm, or just happen periodically out of the blue-which is my case) - someone has an answer out there, it's just a matter of doing enough research to find them!
Bless you Ladies!
I was seeing my gyn about 2 years ago to get it resolved, but to no avail - after a laparoscopy that showed no endo and going on medication for interstitial cystitis (elmiron) that did not help, my gyn told me to take vitamin E (which i actually did do, but of course it did nothing), which i took to mean she was out of ideas...and, at this poinst, i was out of patience. The last two years i've just been dealing with the pain on a month to month basis...not the best option, but better than dealing with doctors who think it's probably just cramps and i'm blowing it out of proportion! i have to add, that it's amazing how doctors not knowing what's wrong with you, slowly starts to convince you that you actually ARE blowing it out of proportion. finding you guys has re-assured me that these pains really are the most excrutiating and it's not all in my head! thank you! :)
I feel like i've had these for so long that i've got it down to a science (with no cure of course), Here is my routine:
my cramps usually begin about a week or two after finishing my period (like what happened today, which is what motivated me to search the internet - again). usually they are brought on by a bowel movement. the first day that i get them, usually they last about the whole day, and i am couch-bound. like mentioned above, the less i move the better. I will get cramps over the next couple of weeks, initiated by : urinating (almost every time, especially if i hold it, and they last about 10 min. before disappating), exercise (which is so aggravating...proud of myself that i finally get to the gym, and i have to stop exercising because of cramps?! ridiculous), bm (sometimes bm will actually alleviate the cramps, it can work both ways for me), erotic dreams, any sort of sexual stimulation and of course, ORGASMS! my libido is so low at this point, i'm assuming it's because my body knows i can't even enjoy sex, so what's the point of getting turned on. my boyfriend even knows my routine by now. and he's deduced that i'm only good for sex about ONE week a month (and of that week it's not really enjoyable - i just do it for him!).
when i get these cramps, usually i do the same as mentioned above - i run to the bathroom and bear down on the toilet...not that i necessarily have to go, but the pressure some how helps a little. another thing that hasn't been mentioned is that when i get the cramps, usually gas/air, will come out when i'm on the toilet - it's almost like air builds up inside somehow and releasing it helps the cramping a little.
One of the biggest annoyances of these pains is not knowing when they're going to come - today i had to leave work, because i was writhing in pain. even when i get them for just 5 or 10 minutes, i can't have a conversation with people because i'm in excrutiating pain! and i know no one understands - i'm sure they think to themselves 'this girl can't possibly sick this often!'.
whew! sorry for the long post, but i just had to vent to people that actually know what i'm talking about! that alone makes me feel a little better :)
i finally stopped the procrastination and made myself another GYN appoint, for next month, with a new doctor. I live in philadelphia, i made an appt at Jefferson university, a great hospital. i'm hoping if the GYN i see doesn't have a clue what's wrong with me, hopefully she will have many doctors at her disposal that may!
wish me luck, i'll report back! And good luck to all of you!!!
Endo Biopsy came back normal and ob/gyn could see the fluid in pelvis from where the cyst ruptured. - before insurance pays for a hysterectomy of any sort, they said the first line of defense should be to get on the birth control pill (yes, I know - i've had my tubes tied and an ablation) and they still want me on the pill - it's insane! They want me to get the pills - YAZ, which I've researched today and read ALOT more negative than I have positive on this YAZ birth control pill. I Still NO desire in sex or anything else... This *****! Started bleeding really bad last night and it's continued on into today - called nurse again and she reminded me to get started on the pills very soon and it would help control that symptom too. She said they prescribe it to perimenopausal women, so now, I guess I'm classified as that too, or just plain crazy in their books, I don't know - but I know I'm not crazy!!!!!!! Any one have experience with YAZ or any advice. I'm at a loss!
Blessings from Texas~
Thanks to all of you for sharing so that I could find others who know what I am going through.
1. Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?
Normal
2. How old were you when the pains started?
50
3. How long have you experienced the pain for?
about 1 month
4. When do you get pain?
after orgasm
5. Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
after orgasm
6. Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
only after orgasm
7. Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
after every orgasm
8. Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
No, I don't know
9. Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
no, but I only have 1 ovary. I had 1 ovary removed due to dermoid tumor at age 21.
10. If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
no.
11. How long does your pain last?
10-20 minutes
12. When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
yes
13. Describe the pain.
it feels like menstrual cramps
I'm wondering if it has anything to do with scar tissue. I had stomach surgery a little over a year ago, but I'm just speculating.
I will keep you posted!
Thanks for all of your comments!
Sometimes certain foods, caffeine, nicotine can trigger it. A lack of sleep and situations where you sweat a lot can trigger it so keep up with potassium. (add banana's to your diet) I got this at about the age of 13... now 45 no cure. Just have to cope. Relaxation techniques. breathing techniques help when in the throws of the pain. When the pain ends, you resume like nothing ever happened. Were you to take medicine, the "cramp" would be gone before the medicine takes effect. Sometimes it is confused with Irritable Bowel Syndrome especially if the doctor has never encountered Proctalgia Fugax but the difference is that in I.B.S.sufferers most suffer severe diarrhea. It may even be related to IBS I'm not certain but I never had those episodes of diarrhea that I.B.S. patients had. This may be an event that takes place in the brain or in the nervous system so no physical defect would be found in the actual tissue where the pain manifests itself. In other words, it may be an "electrical" in the same manner that a seizure takes place in the brain but the muscles are affected or it may be an event somewhere else in the central nervous system resulting in the spasm. Research Proctalgia Fugax it is different than I.B.S. You may find the answers to your questions and other sufferers of this painful condition. Hope this helps.... I feel your pain!!
I have the same symptoms as everyone in this blog except mine lasts a lot longer and it happened to me at a much younger age, I was 14 when I first experienced it (not sexually active, just curious) bad cramps that felt like menstraul cramps, followed by mild diarrhea, I am now 19 and this problem is still accuring. Its gotten to the point where immediately after ANY kind of arousal (intercourse, self-pleasure, sexual dreams, even getting worked up mentally) all of these leave me feeling like garbage. And mine doesn't only last up to 45 minutes after mine lasts up to 2 days after the act.
I really wish there was a cure or atleast explanation to our problem, because as I am getting older and more sexually active it's getting annoying.
I have been to family doctors, and Gynos and neither have heard anything about it. My GYN suggested that while becoming aroused my uterus could be swelling due to the excitement, and becoming inflammed (kinda makes sense). He said try taking an anti-inflammitory before and after (every 4 hours) everytime this happens..
hope it helps.
reading this is amazing - I am not a mad hyperchondriac, its not all in my head - other people get it too - though i am so sorry to hear that you all do. Its hideous. It looks like most people on here are from the US, I am in the UK and the medical profession here are just as ignorant of this issue.
Just to add to the info:
33 years old
normal weight
no children
suffered from this since I was 16
pain last 15-20 mins after orgasm - not penetration, and after running
my aunt, cousin and mother have/had the same thing
I have (apparently) got IBS, endometriosis, PCOS and fibroids but have had this problem before all of those got started
If I continue with sex pain recurrs although up to 6 months or so ago it didn't
The problem is definately getting worse the older I get. Something I have noticed is that being on the Pill helps a great deal. In fact my husband and I have had to give up TTC because I couldn't handle the pain of not being on the pill - sounds pathetic but I think you'll understand. I have had laparoscopy etc and they can't find anything else majorly wrong.
The specialist said he has never heard of my symptoms which are identical to the ones on here - even to the point of it hitting 1k in if I go running. That is so wierd. I used to be fit enough to go out and run 16 miles every weekend, now I struggle to catch a bus as I can't even bike without pain.
Diet helps, and also taking magnesium daily which is interesting bearing in mind the info on here about calcium saturation of the muscles - magnesium apparently counteracts that. I saw a dietician and she told me that and to take it.
I am back to a new GP on Fri and will print some info from here to take and hope to really get somewhere this time.
Best of luck to you all with resolving this!
Interesting that your female relatives have had it also, as have mine. Whilst I know its not an easy thing to talk to your Mum about, we were both relieved when we discovered that it wasn't just in our heads. My Mum told me that hers and my grandmothers did not stop until they had a hysterectomy. I really hope none of us have to resort to that!
--obese
2 How old were you when the pains started?
49
3 How long have you experienced the pain for?
2 years
4 Do you get pain a) after sexual arousal, b) after a bowel movement, c) after urinating, d) after exercise, e) all of the above
after orgasm, occasionally after a BM
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
after orgasm
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
only after orgasm
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
it's only happened a few times, and it's been when I went off Loestrin24
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
don't know
9 Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
a smallish calcified fibroid was found on ultrasound
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
11 How long does your pain last?
about 30-40 minutes
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
I haven't wanted to :-(
13 Describe the pain you feel.
I've had a few problems. The first is occasional intense pain replacing orgasm. It's not muscular at all, just an orgasm that's intense pain instead of intense pleasure. This seemed to happen more when I used toys, so I stopped using toys. The second problem was mild cramping with a teensy bit of spotting. This was after I'd been diagnosed with adenomyosis, a type of endometriosis. Then recently I had the experience described here: intense cramping like the worst of the worst menstrual cramps, sweats, kind of shaky & nauseous, and intense need for BMs (3 in about 10 minutes). I had gone off of Loestrin 24 for a month (treatment for adenomysis) and at the time was back on it for about a week. I felt so sick I wondered if it was anaphylaxis. (It's possible to get anaphylaxis after exercise) I took a few Ibuprofen and put one of those heat pads that stick to your underwear on, and it subsided gradually.
And coincidentally, I broke my tailbone in 1990!
normal
2 How old were you when the pains started?
16
3 How long have you experienced the pain for?
17 years
4 Do you get pain a) after sexual arousal, b) after a bowel movement, c) after urinating, d) after exercise, e) all of the above
e
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
after orgasm and exercise
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
both :-(
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
all month but gets worse and worse until period, then is better afterwards for a few days
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
mother aunts cousin
9 Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
a smallish fibroid on top of uterus
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
n/a
11 How long does your pain last?
about 15-20 minutes
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
yes
13 Describe the pain you feel.
bad enough to pass out, cold sweats, sickness, faintness
I had a low back injury after falling off a horse when I was about 8...not sure if its relevant.
I find i get the pain mostly after having an orgasm in my sleep or from not quite reaching orgasm with my partner or by masturbation and sometimes after a bowel movement. I also got the pain once while sitting in a chair in the same position for an hour and a half getting my nails done.
It has been going on for about 10 years now. It feels like the pain is in the rectum and like cramping and i also feel nausious. I normally take a couple of panadol and sit on the toilet for 10 mins or so after the pain comes. After that i try to go back to sleep but am usually woken up at least twice more and have to sit on the toilet again [though i never have a bowel movement]. I thought maybe it is the female equivalent of "blue balls" that males get if they are sexually aroused and don't reach orgasm. I am 50 and am not overweight. I had a abdominal hysterectomy 6 weeks ago for fibroids and heavy bleeding and am sorry to say that the problem is just as bad as before. I am now also experiencing a pressure on my bladder and bowel everytime i urinate [since the op]. Not sure what this is.
Hope some doctors come up with a cure soon though as it really is painful.
at times the pain from a bowel movement is soo severe I am in tears! I did have
my tail bone broken with each birth, 5! It now sits at a right angle!
I have Interstitial Cystitis so assumed a lot of my pain was from that however
was diagnosed over a year ago also with something called Pelvic Congestion
Syndrome. It is thought that up to 30% of women have some level of PCS.
PCS is hard to diagnosis, since it is basically varicose veins in the
pelvic region. The pain is worse when your standing, so often when CAT scans or MRI's are done you are usually laying down. They have a special test to look for it that is done when you are standing. I was lucky only because it was soo bad at one point it did show on the one side on the CT scan! I went to a pelvic pain PT that helped a lot. I was surprised no one mentioned this in the above discussion, but in all my years of being involved with studying womens issue I had never heard of this condition before.
We have just started the first that I know of support group for Pelvic Congestion
Syndrome on facebook! I really came in here looking for links of information to
add to the PCS site but have not found much... maybe in the near future?
Anyway you all might want to consider at least finding out if this is a possiblity for you!
Shelly
Obviously IBS, Fibroids, Endometriosis, Cycts and Mittelschmerz (pain with ovulation) would be contributing factors.
If anyone has read any of Dr. Hulda Clark's books, we may also want to consider that parasite infestation may be changing how our internal chemistry is behaving.
Just some thoughts by a fellow sufferer...
1 Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese? Normal weight.
2 How old were you when the pains started? 4 years ago, at 28
3 How long have you experienced the pain for? 4 years
4 Do you get pain a) after sexual arousal, b) after a bowel movement, c) after urinating, d) after exercise, e) all of the above . A after sexual arousal
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above? yes, sexual arousal
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well? after orgasm, but discomfort after arousal
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times? once a month before my period, but not every month.
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains? My twin sister has the same thing
9 Have you been diagnoised with fibroids? Cysts
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy? I have no children
11 How long does your pain last? 15-20 minutes
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity? I don't know, and I wouldn't try to see.
13 Describe the pain you feel. Extreme pain in the lower abdomen, sweating, feel like throwing up, feel like I need to have a bowel movement, lots of moaning, weak, can't find a comfortable position.
Anyone have any thoughts?
--intense, severe cramping after orgasm (and sometimes from very strenous exercise)
--I break out in cold sweats
--nauseous
--I feel the urge to have a bowel movement
--pain lasts for 15-20 minutes
I have to get up out of bed and sit on the toilet and rock, until the pain subsides. I usually end up having a bowel movement because it seems to help manage the pain for some reason.
Some possible factors that may have something to do with this pain:
--I think I have endometriosis (never had a laproscopy but several gynos have concluded this due to the symptoms I've described since I was 12 years old)
--I have a tilted uterus
--I am not on birth control
I have been off of birth control for the last year. I hadn't have the pain in some time, it was only occasional due to not allowing myself to have full-on orgasms. Now the pain is back. I think it has to do with not being on birth control this long. And I am getting tired of not orgasming to my fullest potential so I've chosen orgasm lately over the terrible pain I feel afterward. Once I feel that intense, nausating pain, the orgasm feels not worth it.
This is very frustrating. I have an appointment today at 3:45 to go back on birth control. I have asked my gynocologist about this pain. She thinks it has to do with endometriosis, butt is unable to give me a true reason/solution. Why isn't this being studied? It's debilitating...
1 Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?
-Normal weight, but thin
2 How old were you when the pains started?
-When I was a teenager, I suppose
3 How long have you experienced the pain for?
-I'm 24 now, so, maybe 10 years
4 Do you get pain a) after sexual arousal, b) after a bowel movement, c) after urinating, d) after exercise, e) all of the above
- a) and b) I get the pain after sexual arousal, sometimes in the middle of the night (when it wakes me up I'm thinking about the pain and not about my dreams, so I can't say they were arousing). Sometimes after a bowel movement and it will either last only a minute, or go for the whole 20 minute deal.
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
-about the same in each of those situations
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
-I think after orgasm, but not positive.
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
-I haven't taken note of the time in my cycle, but I will from now on
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
-I don't know
9 Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
-No
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
- No children
11 How long does your pain last?
- About 20 minutes usually, sometimes less and sometimes more
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
- Never tried
13 Describe the pain you feel.
- Specifically in the anus/rectum, throbbing pain
Other things:
I did have a terrible snowboarding fall in my early teens that I'm pretty sure fractured my tailbone. The pain may have started then. I have had ovarian cysts (and actually had an ovary removed after there was torsion and the blood supply was cut off). I have been on oral birth control for 2 years, which hasn't made a difference. I get the pain maybe 50% of the times I masturbate. I haven't been in a relationship that is consistently sexually satisfying, maybe because I avoid orgasm when I know someone will be around to see me in pain afterward.
When I get the pain I usually want to have a bowel movement. I usually can't pass anything (however on the few occasions I can, it either helps the pain or makes it much worse). Sometimes lying on my side and stretching backwards helps, sometimes pushing on the muscles around the anus helps. Usually I just try to relax and fall asleep. When I was younger I thought it was tied to constipation. Sometimes drinking a lot of water helps.
I've always hoped I would grow out of it, and am really concerned hearing all of these stories about women having it for 20+ years. Good luck to all of us and our partners!
I was itching to look all this up tonight because this afternoon after taking a nap I woke up in so much pain. I tried to have a BM and was not able to til 6 tonight, so needless to say I couldn't get anything done, i was just sick!! Why should we have to put up with this ladies?! I really hope Dr OZ will tackle this... If anyone hears about it please tell us so we can tune in or tivo it!
Fast forward to age 35 and the cramping with orgasm begins. It's gradual at first, maybe only happens during the worst time of the month (middle of my cycle) . Now I'm 41 and for the past three years, I've pretty much gotten a cramp after every orgasm - via intercourse, masturbation, or dreams (the dreams are the worst!). My husband is extremely tolerant, but I think it is unfair that he has to be deprived of sex just because of this problem. I don't even want to watch a romantic movie for fear that I might get aroused and then I will have a cramp. The cramps themselves are similar what everyone is describing - it's on my left side and it feels like something is grabbing onto my insides and squeezing as hard as possible and won't let go for at least 15-120 minutes. I get the cold sweats, and feel like a bm would help, although it never does. I also get a shooting pain down the front of my left leg and strangely my right knee aches for a portion of it. All I can do is lie on my stomach and rock back and forth with my fist on my left stomach - and if my husband wakes up he'll put his fist on my lower back and press down. I also find myself doing this weird mantra of "please stop please stop please stop, etc." and it kind of helps me to ride it out. Then when it's finished, I feel exhausted. Usually I only get one cramp a night if it's from orgasm, but when I know my period is about to start (for a few days before) I'll be crampy at least 6-8 times a day. It's not fun to have to leave your desk and find an empty office where I can lie on the floor and do my crampy ritual, believe me!
I've been told by countless gyns that hysterectomy is the only solution - but I've been hesitant to have such a major procedure with no guarantee that it will help. I just had the mirena IUD inserted because my gyn thinks that it might help. I have to wait 6-9 months to find out if it works though, so I'll let you know. Maybe someone will try to solve this problem in this time. It's good to know there are others out there, let's all be as vocal about this as possible and maybe someday somebody will take us seriously!
Here's to a cramp free day,
often after climax, or often when i've been cold at night and been shivering. always end up on the toilet with loose bowels. it is so painful and lasts about half an hour, the pain progressivley gets worse then peaks before it subsides. i get dizzy, cold sweats bla bla bla.
my doc has said a few things
@ spasming uterus
@ these are similar to labour craps
@ hmm this is a tough one but we'll get to the bottom of it..
@been for two ultrasound scans and was told spasming uterus
@been examined!! he said theres nothing wrong that i can feel
going back today.
another lady mentioned the depo, i have been on this for 14 years..
the only thing i have done that has helped(this is either embarrassing or a great idea), but i found that these craps happened more when i'd not climaxed for a while(and they never happen when i've had a drink!), so i made an effort to climax a couple of times a week (hard life!), this seemed to help, it seems that it could be a muscle out of shape?? if you don't go to the gym, you ache the next day, but if you go often, it doen't. this is the only thing i can recommend, at least it's fun trying.
however i do still occasionally wake up after erotic dreams cramping,
and it's a bugger to tell your doctor and do feel like i've been fobbed off
good luck! Xx
I am currently on my third gyno in two and a half years (severe pain started when I was 25). I was diagnosed with fibroids at that time via an internal ultrasound and the first 2 doctors tried different pills that basically put me into a hormonal menopause (as they never let me take the placebo sugar pill) to try to shrink the fibroids. Needless to say it did not help. My third and current doctor did a diagnostic laparoscopy and found no endo but did find the 2 fibroids which we knew about. Six months later (7/08/09) I went back under and had the fibroids removed to find a third one had developed in that time.
With all removed I was hoping it would relieve the pain but low and behold the cramps are back as well as the orgasm pain and of course last night the erotic dream orgasm thing. So I feel like I am back to square one. I have never been a birth control pill taker as I try to steer clear of any maintenance drugs (other than the ones the other 2 docs had me try). I don't have any children and am undecided in that department. Thank goodness for an extremely understanding fiancé who has been with me through all of this. I have another follow-up with gyn next month and I will keep you posted. I am definitely printing this forum so we can keep researching as to what the cause may be.
I find it interesting that alot of us find the pain at its worst after dreams. I wonder why that is? Is it linked to the position we are laying in at the time?
For me I often find that if my bladder or bowel is full, it kind of helps reduce some of the pain, almost like it acts as a barrier. I know that if I go to the toilet during the cramps the pain worsens afterwards.
As for the pain itself, mine feels so intense I almost feel like cutting in to my stomach to try to release it (not that I actually would). I often get nauseious from it and end up vomitting afterwards. Once the pain has gone I am exhausted and need to sleep.
When I get the pain during the day, usually from movement like suddenly getting up after sitting for a while, I can get it 6-8 times a day. This usually only occurs in the week leading up to my periods and as I only get them every few months now, its alot more bareable then when it was every month. I also find my sexualy dreams occur more around this time too.
I think it would be good if we all wrote to Dr Oz and Oprah. Maybe on mass they will listen. Does anyone know the address to write to them?
--->Link to the messsage boards for Dr Oz: www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/slideshow1_ss_oz_20070426
~~~>Email address for the Doctors: www.thedoctorstv.com/main/ask_our_doctors
~~~>Here is the mailing address for The Doctors:
Doctors questions?
The Doctors
5555 Melrose Ave.
Mae West Building, Second floor
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Like many of you, I have explained the details to my GYN, and she has no idea what it could be. It's also very discouraging to know that the only relief I have read about from this message board and several similar boards have been from the women who have had a hysterectomy. I am 31, and while my husband and I hadn't planned on having any children, I didn't want to cancel out the option just yet.
I had an episode just this morning that was one of the worst so far. It was the first time it had happened from a dream, and the pain woke me up. I did pass a bowel movement, and then vomited shortly after. It lasted about 30 minutes, and I truly felt like my insides were shredding.
Along with the questions that doolies91 had posted (thank you for doing that doolies91), I would also love to know which women are on birth control, and if so what type? The reason I think this is important is because I only started having this pain when I decided to get back on the pill last November. Now, this could be coincidental, but I think it's important to share this.
Here is my information:
1 Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?
About 20lbs overweight.
2 How old were you when the pains started?
30 (started last November after 3 months of starting back on BCP's)
3 How long have you experienced the pain for?
Almost a year.
4 Do you get pain :
Only after an orgasm
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
Excruciating
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
Only after an orgasm
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
It seems as though it happens a week or two before my period. I have had orgasms without pain usually after my period has ended, but it's always a guessing game as to whether I will have the pain.
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
No, they do not.
9 Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
Yes. I have 3 fibroids.
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
Not a mother- never been pregnant.
11 How long does your pain last?
20-30 minutes
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
Not sure.
13 Describe the pain you feel.
I have never been pregnant, but it sounds like the description of contractions. It feels like period cramps times a million. Along with this, my body temperature changes, and I have vomited on two occasions.
14 Are you on birth control?
Yes, I have been on the pill, but I've decided to stop taking it to see if it makes a difference.
I am going to print out this entire forum and bring it to my GYN. I find that the doctors I have spoken to make me feel like it is "in my head", and I want to show that there are women who share the same EXACT symptoms. I encourage all of you to do the same. There is power in numbers, so maybe if we all can share this forum we can bring some attention to it.
Thank you all so much for sharing. I really do hope we can get some answers, and soon.
1 Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?
-Normal weight,
2 How old were you when the pains started?
In my 20's if I remember correctly(but I have always had cramps since staring my period at age 14) Just not the erotic dreams/cramps thing.
3 How long have you experienced the pain for?
-I'm 36 now, so, maybe 10 or 15 years
4 Do you get pain a) after sexual arousal, b) after a bowel movement, c) after urinating, d) after exercise, e) all of the above
-All of the above,very slighty sometimes after I pee, sometimes when I get up after sitting for a while I get mild cramps, sometimes after I nap, I get up and it seems like as soon as I stand I have cramps. A week or so before I start I get cramps after jogging, etc, but the worst/most painful cramps come after an erotic dream in the middle of the night.
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
-after the erotic dreams
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
-It happens after orgasm, but only a few days before my period begins.
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
-The erotic dreams happen apx 2-4 times 2 weeks up until I start my period.
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
-I do know my sister has endo, and has painful periods, but never asked her about erotic dreams or orgasms.
9 Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
-No (But my sister has)
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
- No children
11 How long does your pain last?
- About 20 minutes usually, sometimes less and sometimes more
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
- Never tried
13 Describe the pain you feel.
- In my lower abdomen, just an awful pain, and sometimes bloated pressure that alot of times I feel the strong need to have a BM. Sometimes several of them. And the pain usuallu worses right after the BM, then gradually gets better.I also feel feverish and shakey. Once I hyperventilated the pain was so bad.
ALSO-I do not have the anus, tailbone pain that some women are talking about. Also, I have never been on any type of birth contol. Never pregnant.
I am going to stay glued to this site until someone finds an answer for us, this has been going on for years, and I am just so glad I have found people that I can talk to about this, and who won't just think I am blowing things out of proportion!
1 Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?
-Normal
2 How old were you when the pains started?
Early 20's
3 How long have you experienced the pain for?
about 7 years
4 Do you get pain a) after sexual arousal, b) after a bowel movement, c) after urinating, d) after exercise, e) all of the above
-aftter orgasm,(even in dreams) during exercise, and after eating pretty much anything during that two week period before my cycle.
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
-orgasm, or erotic dream orgasm
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
-It happens after orgasm
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
-About 2 weeks before my period, I am fine the rest of the month
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
-I know my mother has painful periods. But I haven't gotten had the coversation about the dreams and orgasm.
9 Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
-No
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
- No children
11 How long does your pain last?
- About 20 minutes usually, sometimes less and sometimes more
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
- Never tried
13 Describe the pain you feel.
- Burning in lower middle abdomen (sometimes right, sometimes left, but mainly right in the middle below my belly button )terrible pressure from bloating, when it's bad, I sweat profusely, feel nauseated, and feel like passing out. The pain from my stomach almost always radiates to my back. After passing a bowel movement, or passing ALOT of gas and burping the pain gradually subsides.
I wonder, since nothing has come of any of our appointments with our GYNs or tests we may have had, that this may be related to something different.
I finally had a good appt with a new PCP, who actually made me feel like she cared and wanted to figure out what has put me in so much pain for so long (i've been having these cramps for about 10 years now). She referred me to a gastro intestinal doctor (I still have to make an appointment) for evaluation. Everything is so closely tied together in that part of our bodies, it would make sense for one to be affecting the other...the only thing that confuses me is the cycle of it all, its obviously related to hormones.
I'm not thinking IBS ...but has anyone had a colonoscopy or other tests performed by a GI for this issue? just curious.
My information below:
1 Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?
-Normal
2 How old were you when the pains started?
Early 20's
3 How long have you experienced the pain for?
about10 years
4 Do you get pain a) after sexual arousal, b) after a bowel movement, c) after urinating, d) after exercise, e) all of the above
-All of the above. But sometimes if i hold my bladder, the cramps will come on. or if i'm in a bout of severe cramps and sit on the toilet, a bm will alleviate the pain (this typically happens when i wake up at night with cramps)
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
-the worst is the first day i get the pain...it's severe and lasts most of the day, usually triggered by a bm. then the next worst is orgasm, or erotic dream orgasm.
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
-both orgasm AND arousal
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
-About 2 weeks before my period up until the first or second day of my periord
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
-No, they do not
9 Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
-I just had an ultrasound, and the doctor said they found one small area that looks a little different, and may be a fibroid...but nothing significant enough to cause the pain i've been having.
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
- No children
11 How long does your pain last?
The worst is the first day that i get the pain, it usually ends up lasting the entire day. then it's in bouts of 5-10 minutes about 8 times a day for the next two weeks.
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
- usually not in the mood at that point
13 Describe the pain you feel
-severe cramping or spasms in my lower pelvic area. sometimes it feels even lower, like in my vaginal canal. with really severe bouts of pain, i will get nauseaous, and burp, but typically not vomit. i also find that when i sit on the toilet during the pains, i release gas, which also helps to relieve the pain
Since I am one of the many without health insurance at the moment (I work out of the house and just haven't been able to afford it), I haven't been to the doctor for quite a while, so I really can't tell you if I have any fibroids or what has changed, but last time we looked, I'm pretty healthy. And it looks like from this post, they still don't have any answers!!
I do have to wonder about one experience that did occur shortly before all this started. Right after giving birth to my second child, the nurse pushed on my lower abdomen to help get the placenta out and it hurt really bad (I remember grabbing her wrist). I know there are those of you who haven't had children, but I'm wondering if at some point in your lives, there might have been some trauma there, making the bowel weak therefore making it susceptible when there is a rush of hormones.
Nothing I've done to relieve the pain seems to help once it starts. I've tried total muscle relaxation (like lamaze), the Advil thing my OB suggested (which really doesn't work since the only time I consistently get them is after orgasm, other than that, I can't predict when they're going to come on and it doesn't work anyway), most often I try the heating pad since it starts working quickly, but even that doesn't take the pain away. And the actual pain usually comes on fast, lasts for about 10 minutes, goes away enough for me to get up and then comes back a few times during the day.
I am also a little relieved to find I'm not the only one and that your doctors are just as baffled. But it still makes me mad that we're all suffering and no one knows why. At least, if I ever do get back to regular doctor visits, I can go armed with what I've learned on this post.
Oh yes, one more thing... my diet is not real good and I'm slightly overweight, but not obese. I should have a higher fiber diet. I was starting to worry that it might be diverticulitis.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed.
heroin junkie because I was begging for pain relief, with the "please stop, please stop, please
stop"...only to be ignored. I have rectal cramping, I have been on Depo Provera, which started my strange erotic dreaming, orgasms and cramping in my sleep. I do not have PMS, only cramping after orgasm. I have been told by a female doctor is Seattle that the cramping has to do with edometriosus growing into the uterine
muscle. I got off the Depo which temporarily stopped the erotic dreams and night orgasms and
cramping. But when I have an orgasm I still have pretty strong cramping. As as acupuncturist, I can tell you that needling certain points helps. One point is at the PERINEUM. Another point is on the tip of the tailbone
I had a ct scan about a month ago, and they think they found that I have diverticulitis. We'll see if it's confirmed and if anything else is found.
but i do have something to add: after much research (to no avail) a laparoscopy to rule out endo, and multiple un-helpful (sometimes rude) gyns, i went back on the only drug that had relieved the pain: lupron. lupron worked impeccably, like turning off a light and having the pain simply gone. the problem with lupron injections is that docs tend to give them only for 4 or 5 months, since long-term research is scanty and the drug has the effect of putting the patient into menopause early. but my gyn at the time lost track of my history. when i got to the year mark, she said i'd have to go off it -- only, it wasn't a year. i had stayed on the med for 2 yrs, careful not to mention the timing. when the doc realized her error, she looked at me with a little bit of terror, until she saw that i wasn't at all troubled at the revelation. for me it had been a 2-year triumph after some 10 years of suffering.
she took me off the lupron immediately. but i was prepared. another gyn, who i'd seen out of pocket and who was very aggressive about abd pain problems had told me that if i had to go off the lupron, transition immediately to a progest/estrog birth control pill. i did.
i have been spared the pain (and the emotionally painful interference with my sex life) for 7 years altogether. only recently have i had the dreadful sense that it may be returning, which is what led me to find this forum.
i hope that might provide a little bit of hope. note that i had to overcome all my resistance to "unnatural" solutions, like heavy, ongoing medications. i also had to get one over on my doc. now i'm just crossing my fingers that the drugs aren't slowing ceasing to work....
my data:
1 Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?
normal weight
2 How old were you when the pains started?
early 30s
3 How long have you experienced the pain for?
until the lupron about ten years
4 Do you get pain a) after sexual arousal, b) after a bowel movement, c) after urinating, d) after exercise, e) all of the above
ALL OF THE ABOVE
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
orgasm
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
only orgasm
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
early on, it was just in the week or 2 before my period; eventually it was all month long
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
don't know
9 Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
no, but with endo
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
no kids
11 How long does your pain last?
about 20 min
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
don't know -- never had the will to find out
13 Describe the pain you feel.
a kind of clutching, jarring, almost metallic feeling, very concentrated in my lower abdomen, causing me to curl up and hold onto my belly until i could unfold myself and get to the hot shower....
thanks again, everyone, for your comments.
I have had occasional severe cramping episodes after bowel movements and orgasm for over 20 years. It has been diagnosed as IBS with constipation, endometriosis, etc. After all those issues were addressed, I felt better but was still experiencing the problem. I brought a printout of this discussion to my Dr. since it perfectly explains my issues and could show lots of things that were tried by all of you with no luck. She did a little research and came back with PELVIC FLOOR DYSFUNCTION that fits all of my symptoms including some that I never even connected to this problem.
PLEASE LOOK UP PELVIC FLOOR DYSFUNCTION and see if this sounds like you. Still not a lot of treatments for it, but at least it has a name!
It also sounds like women that have had an injury in the pelvic area (those of you who have injured your tailbone in the past) are prone to have this as well.
This has been so comforting to me since now I feel like it is not a hormonal issue and it does not require medication. In my searches I came across a few websites that talk about biofeedback, which is a certain type of physical therapy that you can get in order to relax the pelvic floor. There are also sites that help you do exercises at home which are also supposed to help.
Update: I am happy to report that I have tried a few of the exercises, as well as incorporating meditation and I had NO PAIN! It was exactly a week before my period, exactly the time I always have it- and after an orgasm (which I was petrified to try) I was completely FINE.
xhaletsh, I can't thank you enough for posting this. I think this is a major breakthrough for those of us who have been suffering.
Here are the websites with more information:
http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/pelvic_floor_dysfunction/
http://www.ichelp.org/AboutIC/OverlappingConditions/PelvicFloorDysfunction/tabid/458/Default.aspx
http://books.google.com/books?id=6q2xbQiHYWcC&pg=PA297&lpg=PA297&dq=How+To+Relax+Your+Pelvic+Floor&source=bl&ots=faoQToFBb6&sig=E2fH7rlpKvLTFsqgT_7nvNiiggs&hl=en&ei=993uSsrnJsvUlAen-qn_BA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CCYQ6AEwCDgU#v=onepage&q=How%20To%20Relax%20Your%20Pelvic%20Floor&f=false
Hope this helps!
Michele
1 Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?
About 60lbs overweight.
2 How old were you when the pains started?
25
3 How long have you experienced the pain for?
8yrs
4 Do you get pain :
Only after an orgasm
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
Excruciating
6 Do you only have the pain after orgasm or after arousal as well?
Only after an orgasm
7 Do you experience pain all month or just at particular times?
its a guessing game as to whether I will have the pain, i have to try to remember my last period and this pain quickly reminds me to take a break from the pill.
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
Not sure
9 Have you been diagnoised with fibroids?
no
10 If you are a mother, did you have the pains before, during and after pregnancy?
Not a mother- never been pregnant.
11 How long does your pain last?
30 minutes sometimes comes back with a vengence!!
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
Not sure.....I Dont even think about sex after that nonsence!!
13 Describe the pain you feel.
I have never been pregnant, but it sounds like the description of contractions. It feels like period cramps times a million. Along with this, my body temperature changes,due 2 pain, and I have vomited on a few occasions.
14 Are you on birth control?
Yes, I have been on the pill 16Yrs