Can sex cause flares?

[RAS6]

I was diagnosed with IC last month month. I have been on the diet since August and am following it very closely including reading the labels on EVERYTHING! I am on Elmiron and was on Ultracet around the clock until I had a hydrodistention on the 6th of this month. I had my first day in months without pain killers last Saturday, but they ended on Tuesday. I had a HORRIBLE day yesterday and went for another failed rescue treatment. Today wasn't much better, I have been on the couch, taking the max of tylenol, three ditrupans for bladder spasms and glued to the heating pad. Long story short: my husband and I had full intercourse for the first time in over a month on Tuesday night (just mutual stimulation until then) and I wondered if this could have caused a flare like this. I used all the tips I could think of before hand, including taking a warm bath, taking a pain killer, having lots of fore play, and using lots of lubrication. It was not painful, I had some discomfort in the early morning, but nothing extra strength tylenol and a heating pad couldn't help.
I am going to mention this to the Pelvic floor therapist once I start there since pain during or after sex is a topic on the questionaire, but wanted some feedback in the mean time. Sex has been painful before, but never caused such a bad flare (at least to my knowledge, I am still new at figuring what causes these!)
Thanks!
-Rachel

[Sarojini]

Yes, it definitely can... those of us with both IC and PFD can have a double whammy flare after sex. You can check out the "Jen's Sex Tips" at the top of this forum for a few ideas on how to make it more comfortable, and of course, you must experiment to find what works best for you personally, since we are all different.

As for why it is so bad this time, I've noticed that sometimes, if you don't have intercourse for a while, things tighten up down there and when you start again, it can be worse than before. My husband and I try to have sex at least once a week to prevent this phenomenon in our case. In addition, perhaps your bladder was already flaring up and inflamed, and you just hadn't felt the symptoms yet...and then the sex was the "last straw."

Hope you feel better soon :)

[Sunflower2]

Sex is a major cause of flare for me. I was doing so well UNTIL I had sex with my hubby 2 weeks ago. It's been really rough for me. I am not really sensitive to diet excepet cranberry juice and soda. I talked to my PT about pain after sex. I am still working on it.

[Trishann]

Rachel, it does for me sometimes. I think IC'ers definitely have problems with it.

Hugs, Trishann

[mare mare]

Intercourse!!???? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! This dang IC!:loco: Its's both mentally and physically exhausting!!!Thank God I have my B&O supp. or I could never have intercourse! They help for a few hours but my "sex flares" last for days! I have to find creative ways to keep hubby satisfied! And to think......I used to enjoy it!!

Just saying your not alone!

Hugs, Mare Mare

[sondra]

I completely agree that if it has been awhile, it is definately worse, or seems to be for me. We've been trying to stay on a once a week course at least, or every 10 days or so, just to try to keep the elasticity going on down there. There are no easy answers as we all know, but I tend to follow the warm bath before, back rub right before, and a warm bath after also.
I also try to take a pain pill after, as I've noticed if I take one before it can tend to slow things up for me! :dizzy:
I also have noticed an improvement since I've been using the Estrace cream to thicken the thin tissues down there. The last couple of times have almost been like old times, before IC. :woohoo:

[Kimberly_VA_37]

This part of my IC saddens me the most. My IC has affected my intimate relationship with my husband of 19 years so much! We had always enjoyed sex before the IC and my husband and I were very active. Since developing IC for the last several years every time we have sex I can count on a flare. Some are worse than others, but they last about 3 to 4 days and really drive me crazy. I don’t have pain during sex I have the discomfort afterwards. Usually the next morning I will wake up feeling a bit strange and within hours there it is.

My husband has been very understanding about it so far. Our once very active sex life has been reduced to once or twice a month if that. I know that he wouldn’t leave me because of it, but I really feel badly for him. Most of the time I will just do it to satisfy him and then I suffer for days. I am going to another specialist my urologist recommended, but she couldn’t get in until Feb 07. I am hoping that she might be able to help me with this issue.

I am also newly diagnosed in October 2006, but I have known that I had IC for about a year or the three years that I have been suffering with it. I am hopeful that there will be something out there that will help.

[missdee1299]

I kno what everyone is talkin about sometimes when me and my bf have sex i;m fine and then sometimes i make him stop cause it hurts so much and there are time all i can do is cry :-( i'm hoping one day we will be able to have sex like we used to....thank god he is so understanding and just wants me to get better :-)

[DoulaSue]

Does it hurt in your bladder, urethra, or vagina? The only time I find that I'm uncomfortable the day after intercourse, is if there was alot of gspot stimulation. It's directly connected to the urethra, inside (I think), and that can make me very uncomfortable.