Why you might be getting ‘masturbation cramps’ - and how to stop them

Having a little solo self-love session is meant to be a fun and pleasurable time, but what happens if you experience pain?

Masturbation is supposed to give you a hefty hit of mood-improving endorphins, but sometimes your body can be a buzzkill and give you pain instead.

Have you ever experienced an ache (and not a good one) or cramps afterwards?

Many people find masturbation can help ease pain and cramps, especially during your period, but if you're not on one and are experiencing pain after taking matters into your own hands, it's something that shouldn't be ignored.

Heather Jeffcoat is a pelvic health therapist, and told Popsugar: "People can experience pain or cramping after solo sex for a range of reasons, including endometriosis, hypertonic pelvic floor, and underlying infection."

Self-love is supposed to be about pleasure rather than pain (Getty Stock Images)

The most vital thing is to try and figure out what's causing the pain.

Here are some of the things that could be causing problems, and how to fix them, but it's worth noting that if the pain is severe, doesn't go away or happens regularly, you should speak to a medical expert.

Endometriosis or cysts

Many women with endometriosis, ovarian cysts or fibroids often report pain during sexual activity, whether it's solo or with a partner.

If you also experience painful or irregular periods or PMS, you should see a doctor for tests. Once you have an official diagnosis, they can give you tips and guidance on how to get pleasure without pain.

Ensuring toys are kept clean is vital to avoid pain and infection (Getty Stock Images)

Pelvic floor issues

The pelvic floor is made up of a 'sling' of muscles that run from hip to hip, and from front to back. They provide vital support to your organs, as well as controlling your ability to go to the toilet (which is why some women experience some incontinence after childbirth if their pelvic floor muscles have been impacted)

Physical therapist Corey Hazama warned that sometimes you can become tense and develop a hypertonic pelvic floor, which means you can't relax the muscle.

This can make penetration painful.

It can also cause lower back pain, pelvic pain, and more, and can be helped by either strengthening the muscles or by working on relaxing them.

Unclean toys

It's vitally important to keep any sex toys you use clean, as they can introduce bacteria into the body and cause yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis, which you definitely want to avoid.

If, as well as pain, you're experiencing discharge, irritation, or itchiness, these could be one of the offenders.

Go to your local sexual health clinic, your GP, or a pharmacy for advice. Then, make sure you have a cleaning regime in place going forward.

You can either use fragrance-free soap or buy a dedicated sex toy cleaning product.

If any pain persists or worsens, always seen professional advice (Getty Stock Images)

Intense session

Did you go a little too hard and found yourself turning the vibration level right up? Experiencing temporary numbness isn't anything to be too worried about.

"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 said.

If it goes away by itself, you might just need to dial back the intensity and start at a lower level, or take a break now and again.

Dryness and irritation

A lack of lube can cause pain and soreness afterwards due to friction. Hazama explains: "Insufficient lubrication can cause uncomfortable friction, pain, and even microscopic tearing."

Inflammation and swelling can be caused by these tiny tears, and using more lubricant is the only way to lessen them in future. This is particularly important if you do anything anally, as the tissues are so delicate and can lead to painful fissures.

Surgeon Evan Goldstein warns that anal fissures can be incredibly painful, adding: "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."