Has anyone found themselves feeling sore after sex since being pregnant?

[lovemuch]

I originally presumed I had thrush but it's not that and I know it's not an STI as that's one of the first things myself and my partner checked when we found out I was pregnant (although we were positive of the results being clear.) It's getting really uncomfortable during sex and worse after, I get swollen, sore and feel bruised. If I got to the toilet afterwards it burns a little and I've found myself tearing slightly. It's really uncomfortable, is this normal or should I go to the doctors?

I think you should go to the doctor. Though it might be a bit uncomfortable due to your different size/shape, it shouldn't be swollen and sore. It could still be an STI I think... Poor you

How long since your baby was born? I had this but a bit worse, couldn't even have intercourse, it was impossible. I thought it would settle down and heal but I finally went to the GP when baby was about 8 months old. She had a look and then referred me to the gynae clinic at hospital. I had bad scar tissue that needed to be treated (they injected cortisone into it, extremely painful but it worked!) It's a more common problem than you think, I know a few women who have gone through it. You don't need to suffer though, there's lots they can do for you so please go and see your GP. Good luck

Do you itch ?

I had thrush at the beginning of this pregnancy that took ages and ages to go and that left me feeling as you describe and it burned when i wee'd

I dont like pregnancy sex anyway though, it feels generally unplesent and plays havoc with my bladder and my pelvis so we try to avoid it. ( well i try to avoid it anyway)

I do think you should pop to the Drs though, its probably nothing to worry about but worth getting it checked out, being in pain sucks at the best of times it defiantly not what you need when your pregnant too.

It could be a mixture of the fact that you are more sensitive (due to increased blood flow to the pelvic area) and perhaps you are not lubricated enough.

I had terrible burning and pain after sex earlier in my pregnancy and was swabbed to rule out BV (bacterial vaginosis), thrush and other infections - nothing showed up on mine but it would be worth getting checked over again as these things are not strictly STI's and can have developed since your tests.

Try using a lubricant and plenty of foreplay, perhaps foregoing penetration for alternatives if it continues to be painful.

HI everyone, thanks for your comments I am going to the doctors tomorrow about it all. My baby isn't due until early 2009, I am positive it's not STI as we've both been checked and nothing showed for either of us also it calms down and even goes if we don't have sex. It's also a little better if we use condoms so sperm obv irritates it more. I find washing really horrible now too although I refuse not to so I just bare the agony as i'd rather be clean. I had BV when I was younger and it did cross my mind that could be it but there isn't much similarity to before other than the itching but that's mild really it's more just sore. Maybe it is just a worse case of thrush than I have encountered. My mum said that some of the things I describe are prob not related to each other as feeling bruised around the pelvis at 30 wks is not uncommon because of the pressure and discharge is also to b expected. I'll let you know what the doc says tho.

Hello, I had this really badly in the first trimester, SO sore, I actually had a kind of burn mark down there where semen had touched me.

It stung loads. My doctor tested me for everything and there was nothing wrong and she told me to make sure I was really lubey to minimise friction and that it was probably just the change in PH down there.

She said to tentatively try again although how you tentatively try I dont know!

Anyway, it's stopped now, it got better every time and now there isnt any soreness at all.

I hope its the same for you - please dont worry. Your baby is protected and that is the main thing. xx

Thanks Millie, tht does reassure me. I actually ended up in hospital earlier from slight bleeding and because i'm o neg i've had to have extra shot of anti d and been through a hell of a day having bloods n all sorts done. Baby is fine tho that's the main thing. While I was there the doctor had a look for me and he said everything looks fine but he's sent off a swab so not much help but hopefully it'll rule out somethings and can go from there.

Despite being positive it wasn't thrush-it actually was a very bad case of it and so easily treatable I wish I'd got it sorted a lot quicker. Lesson learned-don't ever just expect things to sort themselves out. Hope this helps somebody else as I had such a panic.