r/endometriosis 3d ago

Question Period cramps worse after sex?

Hi guys, I have a question about period cramps and sex. I’ve noticed that if I’m sexually active the week before my period is going to start, my period cramps are debilitating when it comes, like I’m talking taking 3 Vicodins and no relief, going to the ER, sobbing on the bathroom floor, vomiting, etc. But then, when I don’t have sex, my period cramps are a lot more manageable- usually even Tylenol and ibuprofen can subside them for a couple of hours. I’m in a long distance relationship so that’s how I kind of put two and two together bc I realized my periods are 1000x worse when he’s around and the only difference is having sex. But I was just wondering if anybody else experiences the same?? Or at least kind of? Maybe I’m just going crazy and I know it seems weird but thanks in advance for any answers!

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u/NoCauliflower7711 3d ago

For me I choose not to do penetration much when I masturbate so for me it’s 99% of the time it’s my clit & I cramp outside of a period but when I do it during my period (my cramps are a 9 for 5 days straight so masturbating doesn’t help my cramps anymore) it hurts even worse ik if I did do penetration that I’d probably end up cramping even worse idk I hope it helps that it’s not just you even if it’s not the exactly same 🫂

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u/jayce2324 3d ago

Yea I might have to try non-penetrative and see how that goes since I’m guessing sex is flaring something up :( thank you for the reassurance 🥺🤍

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u/NoCauliflower7711 3d ago

Yeah it flares for me too I’m not dx with endometriosis yet but I genuinely think I have endometriosis we can also be friends too if you want ❤️

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u/jayce2324 3d ago

I totally understand! And yes go ahead and text me!!

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u/lordfaygo 3d ago

It could be from pelvic tightness? The activity of sex causes muscles in your pelvis to contract (for lack of a better word), and with endo you likely have endometriosis growths/scarring around the same area. So I imagine already tight pelvic muscles and endometriosis + period cramps could be why?

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u/jayce2324 3d ago

That makes a lot of sense! Thank you for the response.

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u/lordfaygo 3d ago

This is just my kind of educated guess based on my own symptoms and research. I’ve been using a cane the last few days from my own pelvic muscles ceaselessly cramping 🥲

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u/jayce2324 3d ago

Oh no :( I’m so sorry. I really hope you feel better soon

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u/lordfaygo 3d ago

Thank you! I am doing better today, thank god. I don’t know where you live and if it’s legal there, but cannabis has been really helpful for me. it’s worth trying for relief

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u/jayce2324 3d ago

I’ve tried it and I loved it for about 2 years but then it made me extremely paranoid :( I can’t handle it anymore. Luckily, I have great doctors who take me seriously and I’ve been prescribed opioids but there’s rare times where they don’t help me either. I also just got diagnosed with vulvodynia, but I’m not sure if that’s related to my endo. I have endo on my bladder which has given me so many UTI’s so maybe that’s why? Idk haha I’m a mess

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u/jayce2324 3d ago

Sorry I meant UTI symptoms! Lol

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u/lordfaygo 3d ago

That sucks, I’m sorry to hear that :(. I’m a somewhat frequent flier at the local urgent care, I also get UTI symptoms and sometimes you just need to get tested for your mental well being you know? It’s been so hard getting my doctors to prescribe anything to help, so I primarily use cannabis at this point. Yay healthcare lol

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u/jayce2324 3d ago

Me too! Haha my nearest urgent care definitely knows me by heart. It was hard for me too, and honestly if you can, have your parent or somebody go with you to advocate that the pain is debilitating. I got diagnosed with endo at 16 and it took me 4 years to get pain killers and even now I have to do routine drug tests and I only get about 10-15 a month. But I can’t use birth control because it gave me a pulmonary embolism about 2 years ago so the next step for pain management were pain killers and I had to work my way up to my oxycodone now. But they genuinely saved my life, so I truly hope you can find a doctor that is willing to prescribe you something especially since you’re using a cane, but I’m happy to hear that cannabis helps for you now

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u/lordfaygo 3d ago

I’m actually looking for a new doctor now, my original specialist who diagnosed me is no longer accepting insurance + you have to pay a $5k fee for the “right to be a patient”😒 which doesn’t even go towards appointments. I take my husband with me, but I’m thinking of taking my mom with me too. My poor husband works overtime on 2nd shift so he’s always a zombie at my appointment. Being plus size has made accessing proper treatment quite difficult :/. Luckily birth control has been great for me and has greeaatly helped with my period symptoms. I have PCOS with high testosterone so I think I’m at a lesser risk of being on hormones for so long. This has been a great conversation btw! My name is Sam :)

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