Why men have pain during sex and what to do about it
Most of the time sex feels great, but some men experience pain during intercourse, triggering performance anxiety and diminished pleasure when being intimate with their partner.
“It can be unsettling,” says Dr. David Melendez, a fellowship-trained urologist with Orlando Health Medical Group Urology. “If you experience pain during or after sex only one time, it may just be a muscle sprain or a mild condition. But if you regularly have intercourse-related pain, you should speak to your doctor.”
Here are six reasons a man could have pain with sex:
1. Prostatitis. This is the No. 1 cause of pain during sex. About 15 percent of American men have the condition, which stems from inflamed tissues in and around the prostate. Related
pain can strike the lower back, penis, central lower abdomen and pelvis, and the perineum.
2. Peyronie’s disease (penile curvature).
Peyronie’s is a common, noncancerous condition. Doctors treat it with pain medication, injections
that break down the scar tissue once pain subsides, or even with surgery if erectile dysfunction is a factor.
3. Penile fracture. Sometimes the tunica albuginea, the rubbery sheath of tissue beneath the penis’ skin, can tear or rupture, which requires a trip to the emergency room and likely surgery. Taking care of this condition quickly can avoid permanent and further urinary- and sexual-health problems.
4. Overly tight foreskin. In an uncircumcised man, the head of the penis is covered by foreskin, which normally retracts during intercourse. Overly tight foreskin can’t retract, causing pain.
5. Groin hernias. You can have a groin hernia and not know it. Or you can notice a bulge or lump that pushes through the weak spot. This causes pain in the groin area.
6. Scar tissue from previous treatments. If a previous surgery led to scar tissue near the abdomen, pelvis or perineum, it could trigger pain during or after sex. Previous infections, trauma or other injuries also can leave scar tissue or nerve injuries.