What Causes Cramps After Masturbating? Experts Explain

1. Tight pelvic floor: Your pelvic floor is the sling of muscles that runs hip-to-hip and belly-to-back. These muscles support your organs, contribute to sexual function, and helps control urination and defecation, Jeffcoat explains. Like any other muscles in the body, the pelvic floor can become too tense and unable to relax (a condition called hypertonic pelvic floor). This can lead to pain during and after sex. Other symptoms may include lower back pain, pelvic pain, difficulty urinating or defecating, and spasms during or after vaginal insertion, says physical therapist Corey Hazama, DPT.
2. Underlying conditions: Conditions like ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and pelvic floor scarring from vaginal delivery can all contribute to pelvic pain, “including pain experienced during or after solo sex,” Hazama says. The exact sensation may vary based on which of these conditions you have, but most are accompanied with additional symptoms, such as irregular or painful menstrual cycles and intense PMS symptoms. Your ob-gyn can test for these conditions with bloodwork and imaging, Hazama says. Once you have a proper diagnosis, your provider may suggest a treatment plan that can help you manage symptoms (including pain after solo and partnered play).
3. Unclean sex toys: If you forgot to wash your sex toy in between uses, it may be to blame for your post-masturbation discomfort. An unwashed sex toy can introduce bacteria into the body, throwing off your internal microbiome and causing problems like yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis, says primary care pediatrician Michelle Forcier, MD, MPH. While symptoms vary between infections, it's common for them to cause discharge, irritation, itchiness, or painful sex. Symptoms typically take a few hours or days to appear, but a healthcare provider will be able to give you a proper diagnosis so you can take the appropriate antibiotic. Moving forward, be sure that any sex toys you use are made from a non-porous material, Dr. Forcier says. Then, be sure to properly clean the toys with warm water and fragrance-free soap or a sex toy cleaner after each and every use.
4. Intense Stimulation: Powered your vibe all the way up? Fear not. “Numbness after using a vibrator is not a cause for concern, as it's a temporary reaction to intense stimulation that does not indicate permanent damage to genital nerves,” Hazama says. This numbness is temporary and should resolve on its own after a short period, she says. Your best bet is to just wait it out. In the future, however, you can minimize the likelihood of numbness by starting with a lower-intensity vibe, taking breaks between orgasms to allow your body to recover, and adjusting the setting of your vibrator should any numbness start.
5. Lack of Lube: Forgot the lube in your bedside table? That could be another reason for post-masturbation cramps. “Insufficient lubrication can cause uncomfortable friction, pain, and even microscopic tearing,” Hazama says. Depending on the degree of chafing, you may experience inflammation of the vaginal tissue as well as discomfort, pain, and cramping, she says. The discomfort will likely remain until the wound heals, but you can use an ice-pack or CBD vaginal suppository to soothe the area. You can avoid these kinds of issues in the future by using more lubricant in your solo play.
6. Anal fissures: If you're adding a little peach play into your solo routine, know that the tissues lining the anal canal are delicate and therefore prone to tears (also known as anal fissures), says surgeon Evan Goldstein, DO. Anal fissures can lead to pain while sitting, going to the bathroom, or during penetrative anal sex. Usually, they heal on their own within a few weeks, Dr. Goldstein says. But your healthcare provider can also prescribe a prescription pain treatment, as well as a laxative, to keep your stools from continuously opening the wound. “Not using enough lube and playing with an anal toy that's too big for your experience level can cause excessive friction and therefore increase the risk of tearing,” Dr. Goldstein adds. As such, when you're masturbating anally, it's essential to use lubricant and an anal-safe, appropriately-sized toy.
7. Hemorrhoids: Irritated hemorrhoids can also cause pain or cramping after masturbating. Hemorrhoids are dilated veins that work to “protect the anal region from excess pressure,” Dr. Goldstein says. Usually, they stay hidden within the tissues of your anal canal, so you're not aware of them. However, they can become painful and irritated when excessive amounts of pressure are introduced. This may happen during anal masturbation or anal sex. Inflamed hemorrhoids can also be itchy, lead to bright red blood in your stool, and cause visible lumps. If you do have a hemorrhoid, your provider will likely recommend limiting anal penetration until symptoms clear up. Other at-home remedies include over-the-counter creams, sitz baths that allow the anal area to reduce swelling, and increased fiber and fluid intake.
8. Trauma: “People with a history of trauma — which includes injury, sexual assault or abuse — gender dysphoria, or with other complicated life experiences, can experience pain in the pelvic area that can be worse after sex,” Dr. Forcier says. In some cases, this trauma may cause the body to involuntarily bear down during sexual encounters — solo play included. This sometimes results in the pelvic floor muscles contracting and the vaginal and/or anal canal closing up, leading to muscular cramping or pain with penetration, Dr. Forcier explains. If this sounds like it applies to you, she suggests working with a trauma-informed mental health provider, like a sex therapist or somatic bodyworker, for additional support.

— Additional reporting by Chandler Plante