Painful sex while on your period

Period-related contractions can make the uterus and surrounding pelvis feel tender. Pain at the vaginal entrance may have a local cause, while deep pain can occur with endometriosis, adenomyosis, ovarian endometrioma, fibroids or pelvic inflammatory disease. Painful periods are a common presentation of several conditions, but pain during sex does not identify one diagnosis by itself.

Choose intimacy only when you feel comfortable, use lubricant, and try positions with less depth or pressure. Heat over the lower abdomen may ease cramps for some people. Keep a record of the cycle day, pain location, bleeding pattern and associated symptoms. A clinician can discuss pain relief, hormonal options such as the combined pill or hormonal coil, and tests when symptoms recur.

Arrange an appointment if pain repeats across cycles, is worsening, or affects sex, work or sleep. Seek urgent care for severe or one-sided pelvic pain, fainting, fever, vomiting, heavy bleeding, or a possible pregnancy with pain or bleeding. New pain with unusual discharge or pain during urination also needs prompt review.

Ask whether the pain pattern suggests cramps, endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, an ovarian condition or infection; which examination or scan is appropriate; and which treatment is safe with your contraception and health history.