Oh, oh, owwww
August 20, 2011 1:13 AM Subscribe
What could potentially be the cause of a sharp lower abdominal pain during intercourse...AND walking down the street?
I'm a 26 y/o female with regular normal pap smears and no previous reproductive or sexual problems. I experienced a shooting pain in my pelvic/lower-abdomen area earlier this evening and ignored it. Then I had intercourse tonight and all but very shallow thrusts hurt like hell. Not in the not-enough-lube kind of way but a deep cervical/inner organ way. The pain shot right up my middle, about 2-3 inches above the pubic mound, but was a little stronger on my right side.
I read that this is common during ovulation because the ovaries are swollen, but I am currently nearing the beginning of my cycle (should be on the 23rd), not middle. Could this be pre-menstrual? I've never, ever experienced it before. And it's not related to penis size or positioning because this is a steady partner with whom I've never felt any pain.
Is this worth seeing a doctor for? I'm particularly worried because I felt the pain spurt randomly, hours before sex. I've had a couple of UTIs this year and wonder if they could have done some lasting damage.
Also I'm not up on popular, well-vetted websites that are more appropriate for specific lady-parts questions, any suggestions?
I'm a 26 y/o female with regular normal pap smears and no previous reproductive or sexual problems. I experienced a shooting pain in my pelvic/lower-abdomen area earlier this evening and ignored it. Then I had intercourse tonight and all but very shallow thrusts hurt like hell. Not in the not-enough-lube kind of way but a deep cervical/inner organ way. The pain shot right up my middle, about 2-3 inches above the pubic mound, but was a little stronger on my right side.
I read that this is common during ovulation because the ovaries are swollen, but I am currently nearing the beginning of my cycle (should be on the 23rd), not middle. Could this be pre-menstrual? I've never, ever experienced it before. And it's not related to penis size or positioning because this is a steady partner with whom I've never felt any pain.
Is this worth seeing a doctor for? I'm particularly worried because I felt the pain spurt randomly, hours before sex. I've had a couple of UTIs this year and wonder if they could have done some lasting damage.
Also I'm not up on popular, well-vetted websites that are more appropriate for specific lady-parts questions, any suggestions?
Sounds just like an ovarian cyst to me, but I get them all the time.
It's a good idea to go see your doctor about it. Your right ovary and your appendix are right next to each other. On the off chance it could be your appendix it's a good thing to get checked. That and the fact that ovarian cysts can get really painful really quickly. At worst your doctor can give you some good painkillers for it.
posted by TooFewShoes at 3:18 AM on August 20, 2011
It's a good idea to go see your doctor about it. Your right ovary and your appendix are right next to each other. On the off chance it could be your appendix it's a good thing to get checked. That and the fact that ovarian cysts can get really painful really quickly. At worst your doctor can give you some good painkillers for it.
posted by TooFewShoes at 3:18 AM on August 20, 2011
Check out this online gynecological textbook, which has a series of questions you can ask about abdominal pain and then ways to decode the answers.
Two things I saw that apply to you:
1. "Painful intercourse on deep penetration is associated with appendicitis, PID, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cyst, endometriosis and degenerating uterine fibroids."
2. "Right lower quadrant pain increases the likelihood of appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cyst, mittelschmerz and pyelonephritis, but diminishes the likelihood of diverticulitis."
Considering that appendictis and ecotopic pregnancy appear on both lists, I'd take this seriously -- can you get to the doctor tomorrow?
posted by hungrytiger at 3:42 AM on August 20, 2011
Two things I saw that apply to you:
1. "Painful intercourse on deep penetration is associated with appendicitis, PID, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cyst, endometriosis and degenerating uterine fibroids."
2. "Right lower quadrant pain increases the likelihood of appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cyst, mittelschmerz and pyelonephritis, but diminishes the likelihood of diverticulitis."
Considering that appendictis and ecotopic pregnancy appear on both lists, I'd take this seriously -- can you get to the doctor tomorrow?
posted by hungrytiger at 3:42 AM on August 20, 2011
I've had a similar experience, and for me it turned out to be fibroids. Go see a gynecologist ASAP.
posted by Anima Mundi at 6:15 AM on August 20, 2011
posted by Anima Mundi at 6:15 AM on August 20, 2011
Sounds like a family member's girlfriend's experience with an ovarian cyst, no previous symptoms. She's totally fine now, but it got more painful (as in unbearable) quickly, and she ended up having some surgery on it.
posted by crabintheocean at 9:36 AM on August 20, 2011
posted by crabintheocean at 9:36 AM on August 20, 2011
Not to alarm anyone but my mother nearly died when her ovarian cyst ruptured. Turns out her OB/GYN (who told her it was just a stomachache) was on drugs and completely incompetent. In other words, it can be very serious. Make an appointment.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:45 AM on August 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:45 AM on August 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Could be endometriosis or fibroids, definitely see a gynecologist. If the pain intensifies and is accompanied by fever, go to emerg.
posted by Koko at 4:41 PM on August 20, 2011
posted by Koko at 4:41 PM on August 20, 2011
Secret Life of Gravy: "Not to alarm anyone but my mother nearly died when her ovarian cyst ruptured. Turns out her OB/GYN (who told her it was just a stomachache) was on drugs and completely incompetent. In other words, it can be very serious. Make an appointment."
OP, just so you don't panic at this, bear in mind that ovarian cysts are common, and that the majority of ovarian cysts are benign and go away on their own. Even when they do rupture usually they are re-absorbed by the body, so what happened to SLoG's Mom was awful but not common.
It's when you have an endometrial or cancerous cyst that it becomes serious. So if you have pain in your shoulder, nausea or fever as well as the abdominal pain, then go to the ER.
As everyone else has said, right now your best course is to go to your GYN just to be sure.
posted by misha at 7:39 PM on August 20, 2011
OP, just so you don't panic at this, bear in mind that ovarian cysts are common, and that the majority of ovarian cysts are benign and go away on their own. Even when they do rupture usually they are re-absorbed by the body, so what happened to SLoG's Mom was awful but not common.
It's when you have an endometrial or cancerous cyst that it becomes serious. So if you have pain in your shoulder, nausea or fever as well as the abdominal pain, then go to the ER.
As everyone else has said, right now your best course is to go to your GYN just to be sure.
posted by misha at 7:39 PM on August 20, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks everyone. I'm going to try to make an appt with my GYN tomorrow. Although tonight the pain during intercourse has completely disappeared, as we tried again "just to check". Maybe the other night was just an anomaly? Though I do have a family history of ovarian cysts, so hopefully I can get an ultrasound just to see what's what in there.
posted by Juicy Avenger at 11:51 PM on August 21, 2011
posted by Juicy Avenger at 11:51 PM on August 21, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by hungrytiger at 1:34 AM on August 20, 2011