by Marissa Gainsburg

1. The Injury: Down-There Cuts

Vaginal or vulvar tearing tends to happen when you’re underaroused and dry, which creates more friction.

Prevent It: Give your body 10 minutes for tissue to soften, lubrication to take place, and muscles to relax. Use lube for extra help.
Treat It: Go to a doc if the pain is unbearable or bleeding is as heavy as a period.

2. The Injury: UFOs (Unretrievable Foreign Objects)

When there’s a hole, things can get stuck.

Prevent It: Don’t insert anything past two inches — orgasm science shows there’s no benefit to your pleasure past that point. And use only anal-specific toys in that region. Most have a wider base that you or your partner can (and should) hold on to.
Treat It: Anal toys tend to move upstream with time, so don’t, uh, sit around on this one — take it to urgent care. Vaginal? Grab a mirror and your hand or a good friend. Relax so you don’t tense up, which makes retrieval harder. Visit your MD if it’s still stuck after an hour.

3. The Injury: Cross-Your-Legs Pain

Having sex when you have an infection (UTI, yeast, bacterial vaginosis) can hurt, and it may make your issue worse.

Prevent It: Avoid sex if you have signs of an infection. If you’ve been diagnosed, wait a week so the inflamed tissuecan heal.
Treat It: A cold compress soothes pain. Then visit your gyno to see if you need a prescription and to be sure it’s not something more serious, like an STI.

4. The Injury: Pulled Muscles

Hot sex is often rough sex … and the hotter it is, the less likely you’ll notice cramps and strains, thanks to endorphins released mid-romp. Only later do you realize you went too far.

Prevent It: Like in yoga, you have to work your way up to the advanced poses. Start with positions that keep your legs shoulder-width apart — once your blood is flowing (about five minutes in), feel free to break into Plow.
Treat It: 600 mg of ibuprofen should do the trick. Also, RICE: rest, ice, compress, and elevate. See a doctor if pain and movement don’t improve after a few days.

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