HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Can sex mess things up UC-wise (for women)?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/19/2019 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. I was just wondering if any other women had noticed any setbacks with their UC potentially caused by intimacy/sex? Last Wednesday, 5 days after tapering down to 20 mg prednisone, I woke up in the middle of the night with gut pain. Then I had pretty mild intermittent crampy gut pain Thursday and Friday. I haven't had any pain since then and I even dropped to 10 mg pred on Saturday. The only thing that changed was I was dating a new guy and we were intimate on Wednesday night before the pain started. We didn't have sex but did other stuff, lol. I haven't seen him since (I ended things), and like i said, the pain went away after two days, which I find kind of odd. Also odd was the fact that I didn't have any other UC symptoms (no bleeding, no increased BMs, no diarrhea, no tenesmus, etc...). I just thought maybe it could have irritated a healing ulcer down there or something. Thoughts? I was SO terrified I was starting to flare again. I am still scared it will happen since I'm not completely off of the prednisone until this Saturday (2 more days).
Posted 6/19/2019 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, I guess one other thing that was kind of new last week was I increased my exercise a bit (running and a body pump weightlifting class), but it wasn't anything excessive. I'm only up to 2-4 mile runs, which is really short for me compared to what I used to do. But I always worry running is bad for my UC as well.
Posted 6/19/2019 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
You're on a pred taper, so things are bound to have ups and downs. I'd think the exercise might be more suspect then the intimacy. Haven't heard of sex or oral stuff causing a flare to worsen. I know we heal a lot slower on pred, exercise would be applicable.
Posted 6/19/2019 5:13 PM (GMT 0)

Sara14 said...
Oh, I guess one other thing that was kind of new last week was I increased my exercise a bit (running and a body pump weightlifting class), but it wasn't anything excessive. I'm only up to 2-4 mile runs, which is really short for me compared to what I used to do. But I always worry running is bad for my UC as well.


I know a guy who goes into flare if he does heavy exercise that includes weight lifting, irrespective of being in flare, tapering or in remission. Now he has dropped heavy exercise completely, just does some stuff to keep him in shape but runs a lot (even in NY winters).
Posted 6/19/2019 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm. Yeah, I don't know. I used to run marathons and ultras and o body pump 3 times a week and not flare. I guess things could have changed but it happened almost right after being with that guy. I'm so out of shape that I hate myself right now, so I am not going to stop exercising. Plus, every doctor I've ever had has always told me running won't make me flare! Sometimes I do wonder though, mostly just when my training was ramping up for long races. Ugh, hate how confusing this disease is!
Posted 6/19/2019 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, it wasn't oral stuff. Lol. I feel like I am way oversharing, haha. I've actually had this experience before and have had the same thoughts. And I don't usually have ups and downs 5 days after dropping down on a pred dose. If I'm going to notice anything, it would be within the first day or two. At least that was the case in the past for me... We'll see what happens this time, I guess.
Posted 6/19/2019 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
Short answer: no. Sex endorphins have always been positive for my UC symptoms. Did you drink much? Alcohol is not my guts's friend although I do have a glass of wine. Lately I found one brand makes me wheeze and cough, so I know it's not helping but no UC probs.
Posted 6/19/2019 9:52 PM (GMT 0)

Sara14 said...
Oh, I guess one other thing that was kind of new last week was I increased my exercise a bit (running and a body pump weightlifting class), but it wasn't anything excessive. I'm only up to 2-4 mile runs, which is really short for me compared to what I used to do. But I always worry running is bad for my UC as well.


deltaforce said...
I know a guy who goes into flare if he does heavy exercise that includes weight lifting, irrespective of being in flare, tapering or in remission. Now he has dropped heavy exercise completely, just does some stuff to keep him in shape but runs a lot (even in NY winters).

I wonder if heavy exercise and physical exertion initiates UC because it runs down your immune system. I know some people think UC is autoimmune while others believe UC is caused by a hidden infection with a MAP-like virus or bacteria.

LDN modulates the immune system and it seems to alleviate UC in some people. Others have said that N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) helps their UC and that is also an immune system modulator. I wonder if taking NAC after heavy exercise will help avoid a flare.
Posted 6/19/2019 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
You’re sure it’s not uterine/female organ pain?
Posted 6/19/2019 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
I have an external perineal hemmie which developed during my second pregnancy and any "extra" blood flow to that part of my body makes it swell up for a couple a days. That thing was the size of a walnut and totally thrombosed post baby delivery! It is annoying, but I don't think sex makes my UC worse. I used to run 20-50 miles a week until a couple of years ago and now anytime I try to run more than 4 miles a day it makes my UC worse. I think your symptoms are most likely from you dropping your pred dose than anything else, though.
Boy do I miss running long distances.
Posted 6/20/2019 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Sexual activity releases a lot of nitric oxidize in the genital-pelvic region, which causes tissues to expand and become engorged. If there's already simmering inflammation, it can make it worse. Even if you do non-genital sexual acts, the arousal response in the body will still release nitric oxide.

The body needs nitric oxide to protect the heart during physical activity as well because it increases cardiovascular capacity. There's a way to cut back on NO in the body safely, but I forget what it is just now. You would use these methods right after sex to help with NO breakdown.

I know all of this because during my flares if I had any sexual arousal my bleeding would increase a lot by the next day, and I went on a search to figure out why.
Posted 6/20/2019 12:07 PM (GMT 0)
Regarding extreme exercise when you push the body's abilities to the very limit studies have shown that the intestine does become more permeable/porous through the stress exerted on the body. Enabling bacterium to attack body tissue, and cause an immune attack. So, if you're the type to test your body's endurance to the extreme (xcountry cycle-touring, Appalachian trail thru-hike, ultra-marathon, etc) then there could be some correlation to that training/event and flaring or at least higher likelihood of it happening.
Posted 6/20/2019 2:45 PM (GMT 0)

imagardener2 said...
Short answer: no. Sex endorphins have always been positive for my UC symptoms. Did you drink much? Alcohol is not my guts's friend although I do have a glass of wine. Lately I found one brand makes me wheeze and cough, so I know it's not helping but no UC probs.

No, I don't drink.
Posted 6/20/2019 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
iPoop -- I haven't done any serious training like that since 2016. Like I said above, I am only up to 2-4 mile runs -- very short and very slow. I'm not pushing anything to the extreme right now, lol.

chiknnoodle -- I don't think it was female/uterine pain. It felt the exact same as the crampy UC pain I got at the beginning of most of my recent flares. I wasn't getting my period or anything. And I don't think I've had period cramps for over a decade anyway (since before I ever took the birth control pill). It was not cyst type pain. That kind of pain is excruciating and not crampy (what I've experienced anyway, what I believe to have been a cyst down there...never had a doctor confirm).
Posted 6/20/2019 2:51 PM (GMT 0)

MarkWithIBD said...
Sexual activity releases a lot of nitric oxidize in the genital-pelvic region, which causes tissues to expand and become engorged. If there's already simmering inflammation, it can make it worse. Even if you do non-genital sexual acts, the arousal response in the body will still release nitric oxide.

The body needs nitric oxide to protect the heart during physical activity as well because it increases cardiovascular capacity. There's a way to cut back on NO in the body safely, but I forget what it is just now. You would use these methods right after sex to help with NO breakdown.

I know all of this because during my flares if I had any sexual arousal my bleeding would increase a lot by the next day, and I went on a search to figure out why.

It wasn't non-genital. He touched me down there. Lol. I agree that it was from the sex stuff. It's happened to me in the past, too (it's been a while, so my memory on the matter was a little foggy, lol). Thanks for the validation. For women, I think it's more than the NO. I mean, just think about the mechanics and our female parts are right next to the rectum so that's a lot of activity going on right next to something with inflammation. I just think it can irritate healing ulcers. But that's just my thoughts on the matter. I could have sworn I have seen someone else post about this topic in the past.
Posted 6/20/2019 2:55 PM (GMT 0)

momto2boys said...
I have an external perineal hemmie which developed during my second pregnancy and any "extra" blood flow to that part of my body makes it swell up for a couple a days. That thing was the size of a walnut and totally thrombosed post baby delivery! It is annoying, but I don't think sex makes my UC worse. I used to run 20-50 miles a week until a couple of years ago and now anytime I try to run more than 4 miles a day it makes my UC worse. I think your symptoms are most likely from you dropping your pred dose than anything else, though.
Boy do I miss running long distances.

That really sucks you can't run long distances anymore. I would probably seriously consider surgery myself if UC ever kept me from doing something I love and something that has brought so much joy and adventure and confidence to my life. I miss marathons and ultras so much and can't wait to get back to them.
Posted 6/20/2019 8:38 PM (GMT 0)

Sara14 said...
It wasn't non-genital. He touched me down there. Lol. I agree that it was from the sex stuff. It's happened to me in the past, too (it's been a while, so my memory on the matter was a little foggy, lol). Thanks for the validation. For women, I think it's more than the NO. I mean, just think about the mechanics and our female parts are right next to the rectum so that's a lot of activity going on right next to something with inflammation. I just think it can irritate healing ulcers. But that's just my thoughts on the matter. I could have sworn I have seen someone else post about this topic in the past.

Men also have anatomy right beside the rectum, like the prostate. In fact for prostate exams they go into the rectum. Sex in general engorges the lower pelvis, and the mechanism for that is NO. I totally validate your experience!

(Sorry if your quote is incomplete. The forum software here is horrible.)
Posted 6/25/2019 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I saw the guy again and did another experiment (for science, of course... lol) and I didn't have any pain, so maybe it was a coincidence or maybe it just happens once in a while. I don't know. I'm glad it didn't happen again though, haha.

I've been off the pred since Saturday. Cross your fingers for me that I don't flare.
Posted 6/25/2019 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
To be really sure though, I think you need to compile more data... ;)
Posted 6/25/2019 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hahahaha. I agree.
Posted 6/26/2019 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
Well, my symptoms came back. sad Just increased BMs and abdominal pain so far. Went to the bathroom 7 times already this morning and have had some tenesmus. Are you supposed to go back to the last dose of pred you were on without symptoms when this happened or restart at the highest dose? I've never had a problem getting off prednisone before now. sad Guess I'm going on Remicade... sad

Side note: It's really hard to date with this disease! This guy is being extremely understanding. I've had to cancel on him several times already and he never gets upset. He even looked up UC when I first mentioned it to him. I thought that was nice because I've dated others who never even bother to look it up.
Posted 6/26/2019 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear things got worse as you tapered.

Go back to your "last, safe dose" of pred and then contact your gasteroenteroligist asap for further instruction. Time to adjust your maintenance med dosages, and/or add new meds to the mix. Possible your taper is just too fast in pace, if your last maintenance med changes have not been given long enough to work.

Guy might be worthy of keeping around for a while, if he's understanding and looked up what UC is. Here's a good link to share with your guy to understand your UC better:

http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/publications/supporting-someone.pdf
Posted 6/26/2019 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks. I left my GI a message this morning. The taper was pretty fast...he had me taper by 10 mg each week. I didn't change any of my maintenance meds. I've been on the max dose of Delzicol and Rowasa for years now. I was finally getting back to sleeping normally. Ugh. At my last visit, we talked about me going on Remicade if my symptoms came back again. I really thought if I quit smoking, I'd be okay, but I guess not.
Posted 6/26/2019 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
And thanks for the link!
Posted 6/26/2019 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
Sara.....it's good to hear that your boyfriend is understanding.

I know this issue is iffy, but I suggest you step back to only mild exercise till things level out for you. I'm remembering your past when marathon running seemed to be a contributing factor (from my perspective).

Hugs,
q
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12