If A Man's Stomach Hurts After Sex, They Might Have This Medical Condition

A pulled muscle, high stress levels, a bout of mild constipation, or a little ill-timed indigestion are all possible causes of stomach pain that occurs after sexual intercourse. If popping an antacid tablet isn't the answer to your tummy trouble, however, it may alternatively indicate an underlying medical condition.

For people with prostates, experts at Orlando Health explain that post-sex pain felt in the lower abdomen and pelvis can often be traced to inflammation of the prostate, otherwise known as prostatitis. Those with the condition may also experience physical discomfort in the lower back, penis, and perineum. With bacterial prostatitis, E. coli is often the culprit in 50% to 90% of cases, according to updated 2023 research published via StatPearls. A person may experience acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic prostatitis (which can be categorized as either bacterial or nonbacterial), or a fourth type of the condition referred to as asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis.

People with prostatitis don't necessarily need to abstain from sex, according to Mayo Clinic experts. Sexual intercourse doesn't normally exacerbate prostate inflammation, nor does it typically pose a risk for bacterial transfer to a partner. However, there are cases in which prostatitis can stem from a sexually transmitted infection (STI), including chlamydia or gonorrhea (via StatPearls). In the event of accompanying symptoms, such as genital rashes or abnormal penile discharge, reach out to your doctor and hold off on getting hot and heavy with a partner until you've been formally diagnosed and treated.

Treatment may be different depending on what kind of prostatitis a person has. Acute bacterial prostatitis may require antibiotic treatment for anywhere from approximately two weeks to a month, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Without treatment, roughly 5% to 10% of acute bacterial prostatitis cases become chronic bacterial prostatitis (per StatPearls), which often requires a longer course of antibiotic treatment. While symptoms of nonbacterial prostatitis may resolve on their own, this is not the case for bacterial-related prostate inflammation.

Experts at Orlando Health further note that men may alternatively experience stomach pain following sex if they have a hernia. While this health problem is not exclusive to men, people with penises tend to be more prone to inguinal (groin) hernias, when the abdominal membrane, tissue, or portions of the bowel jut out through the abdominal muscle wall, often forming a visible protrusion (via InformedHealth.org). While the groin is usually the site of the discomfort, abdominal hernias can affect the stomach region. Often producing pain or aching sensations, physical activity can exacerbate symptoms of a belly hernia — sex included. To learn more, here are some other ways you can identify if you may have a hernia.

Finally, tissue scarring from abdominal surgery may be responsible for stomach pain that strikes during or after sexual intercourse. Talk to your doctor about potential treatment options if you believe this may be the cause of abdominal discomfort. While stomach pangs are not always cause for concern, if sexual activity is regularly prompting pain, consult with a healthcare provider to determine the cause.