Odd cramping after orgasm and bowel movements

[kyliecat]

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.

[eljay37]

Hi All,

CURED - but not recommended as a cure!  PLEASE PLEASE READ.

I just wanted to repost here as there is so much for everyone to read through.  I had a total hysterectomy over a year ago and have not had this problem since.  Not even a hint of it - after living with it for many years. Exactly the same symptoms as you all describe here.

The reasons for the hysterectomy were:

varicose veins to both ovaries
laser surgeries to cervix (CIN3 - one step away from cancer)
endometriosis
fybroids

after the pathology on my uterus they found a fifth condition.  I can't remember what it was called but it was a further condition caused by the endo that has the endometrium growing into the uterine wall and also causes pain.

None of these things caused the problem.  But what I believe has CURED it is the removal of my cervix and uterus.

If it was a problem with my pelvic floor or cystitis I would still experience these hideous episodes.

I experienced this problem whether on birth control or not.

I still FIRMLY BELIEVE this is a problem with the cervix and uterine muscles overreacting.

The physical reason for a female orgasm is to open the cervix slightly (by way of uterine contractions as in child birth) to allow the sperm to enter the uterus.

We all agree that the pain is exactly like child birth contractions but without a break in between!!!

HAS ANYONE TRIED TAKING A VALIUM HALF AN HOUR BEFORE ORGASM?

Valium has ONE function.  It is a muscle relaxant.

I feel for you ladies - so much.  I went through all of this for years and years - the pain and the blank looks from many doctors, the effect on my relationships - to the point I simply didn't have a relationship for years to avoid this awful incident (especially when not at home).  I can't tell you how many bathroom floors I've laid on, messed up and cleaned up.  It takes so so much to find the courage to tell yet another doctor about this horrible condition.  And still - you get nowhere.

Is anyone in a position to try a valium half an hour before orgasm and report back?

This could possibly not only be a way to cope, but also a way to identify WHAT is causing it.  If the valium works - it may well prove it's a muscular problem.

My very best wishes and a heap of sympathy to you all.  I just want to give you all a huge hug because I know all too well what you're going through.

Even though I am now free of this problem - I still care that it's out there effecting lives so badly and still is so unknown about in today's medical world.

Love to all.
Linda

[lmarr]

I know this was posted a few years ago but did you ever find a solution to this? Your description is the most similar to mine and I have been unable to put a name to this or find anything to stop it. I've been experiencing it off and on for years now. It always wakes me up after an erotic dream and then I have to dash to the bathroom where I will spend the next half hour to an hour in excruciating pain. More often than not I will throw up from the pain and the only thing that brings me the slightest relief is sitting in the shower & letting the hot water run over me. On occasion I do get the urge to go the bathroom but trying to push makes the pain more intense and I feel like I will throw up either way (if I push or if I don't get something out of me) I've had upper & lower endoscopies, ultrasounds and no one seems to be able to tell me what this is. I feel like no one believes how painful this is and isn't concerned with helping or finding an answer. I find a lot of 'pass the buck' where I'm told "I don't think I'll be able to find the answer, try a different type of specialist". I don't know where else to go or what else to do. I'm so terrified of the pain that I've started looking to buy pain medicine. This is destroying my life.

[horsefan111]

Hi Gembug,

I'm a bit surprised that these pains are caused by interstitial cystitis, especially because most women mention no pain symptoms nor problems with urination...

I'm very happy it worked for you and will discuss it with my gyn as well.. but I wonder if that's it ;)

[gembug]

OH MY GOSH, I just found this on another site!! This could be what it is! Here is what was said by Amanda:
"hello
I have never written here before, but for 4 years i was experiencing the same exact pain (I am now 24). i was googleing the problem every week praying someone had finally found an answer to this awful awful problem. I have endometriosis so all of my doctors were blaming the endo. I finally took it into my own hands and started seeing every specialist possible. 3 months ago i started seeing a urologist and let me tell you, he saved my life and sex life. He right away knew what the problem was and now i am happy to be able to share it with you all. It is a disease called interstitial cystitis (IC) and it is basically your bladder contracting causing awful pain and painful sex. When someone has endometriosis it is very hard to diagnose IC because the endo is being blamed for all the problems. The bladder and uterus are touching so it feels as though the pain is coming from your uterus when it is actually coming from your bladder. Certain foods can also cause a "flare-up" of the bladder and that is also a reason to cause these pains during sex. He started me on a medication that relaxes the bladder at night (a very low dose antidepressant) and i was still getting the pains but very very very midly i could tell they were there but they were manageable. After 2 weeks he uped my dose and i am PAIN FREE!!!! I now can masturbate daily and im damn proud of it!! I swore of sex for years because the pleasure wasnt worth the pain. I was absolutely shocked how quickly this doctor diagnosed and treated me. He said many people do not know about IC and its symptoms. By the way the name of the medication is Imipramine HCL 10-25mg dose. I TRULY HOPE THIS HELPS ALL THOSE WOMEN OUT THERE WHO HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS AWFUL EXPERIENCE WITH STILL NO ANSWERS. PLEASE PLEASE GO SEE A UROLOGIST AND PRINT THIS AND BRING IT. LET THEM HELP YOU LIKE THEYV FINALLY HELPED ME AFTER A LONG 4 YEARS!
God Bless, Amanda"

[Saarpaula]

Hey everyone,
I posted for the 1st time a few weeks ago (twice, no less) after having followed this thread for years.
Some women mentioned Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and I only just now read up on it more carefully.
It sounds exactly like what I have. It's not the most common type of PFD, though. The most common type hast to do with too little pelvic floor muscle tone; my problem comes from too much tension.
Oddly enough, the best thing I've read so far is intended for men who have pelvic pain (erroneously) diagnosed as a prostate problem. That's good news for us because it means it's not just a "lady problem" and they'll find a solution sooner (medicine is sexist in so many ways...).
Here's the site: http://www.chronicprostatitis.com/myoneuropathy.html
Do any of you recall suffering from prolonged or repeated bladder infections in the years before you started getting your pains? Seems that could be a trigger and it was certainly my case.
Let me know what you think; I'd love to have some input from anyone that was tested for PFD.
Paula

[ladybird14]

So many people have this problem! Nobody's ever had any idea what I was talking about before. I'm sorry to see that many people have it so chronically. I've only had a few bad episodes in my life, and I've mostly been able to work around it (i.e. not exercising strenuously the week before/first 2 days of my period). However, I just had a really awful episode this morning after masturbating that really freaked me out - 40 minutes of agony, cold sweats, needing to throw up and poop at the same time, and cramps in places where I hadn't felt them before. It made me miss work and prompted me to google searches that turned up things like endometriosis and fibroids.

I guess I'll fill this thing out to make it official.

1 Are you underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?
On the low end of normal (5'6" - 115lb)
2 How old were you when the pains started?
First episode when I was 16
3 How long have you experienced the pain for?
6 and a half 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
d) and a)
5 Is the pain particularly bad after one of the above?
I've always gotten it after exercise, but recently it's started happening after orgasm as well. I had the worst episode of my life this morning after masturbating.
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?
The week before my period starts, and maybe the first 2 days of my period. The rest of the time, no.
8 Do you know if your mother, grandmother or sisters have the same pains?
My mother, definitely no. My grandmother, I'm not sure. No sisters.
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 mom.
11 How long does your pain last?
The lightest episodes are only a few minutes, and not very painful. The worst episodes have been around 40 minutes.
12 When the pain passes, will it return if you resume sexual activity?
The pain only comes several minutes after orgasm. I have never tried starting up again.
13 Describe the pain you feel.
It feels like menstrual cramps, only it comes on very gradually, I only begin feeling it a minute or so after either exercise or orgasm and it takes five minutes or so to reach its peak. It occurs in waves, especially when it's subsiding. In light episodes, I'll just lie down until it's over. In bad episodes, I have to run to the toilet. Usually just removing anything tight over my abdomen (skinny jeans are a *****) can help relieve the pain. The pain is usually accompanied by and partially relieved by bowel movements/gas.

This morning was the worst episode I've ever had. I got cold sweats, felt the need to vomit, and was literally writhing in pain for about 40 minutes, alternating between bed and toilet. Usually the pain is located very deep - in the center of my abdomen, like menstrual cramps, as well as sometimes putting pressure on my colon. However, this time I also felt it in my lower back and, weirdly, in the muscle right above my pubic bone, which took the longest time to subside. I couldn't find a position that offered relief, whereas usually sitting doubled over on the toilet helps.
After a long, gradual subsiding I usually feel a bit shaky for a few minutes, but otherwise totally fine - making the intense pain I just experienced seem unreal, like something that happened in a dream.

This last episode has me a little worried. Aside from my first gut-wrenching experience (triggered by sprinting to make my PE midterm on time and concluded with me being paraded through the gym in a wheelchair) and maybe 3 or 4 other occasions (all after running or other strenuous exercise) I've never had an episode that left me totally incapacitated. I've only ever experienced extremely low-grade versions after orgasm before, so this is making me think that something is seriously up.

Best wishes to everyone with this obscure problem!