Have you ever woken up the day after a particularly steamy romp of a night, only to notice you've got a bruise, hickey, or kink in your neck that you have no recollection of? You're not alone, you sex kitten, you. A new survey by the online dating site Meetville.com found that 40 percent of people who’ve had a sex injury didn't realize it until the morning after.
What exactly is going on here? During sex, your levels of dopamine rise, says Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, M.D., an OB-GYN in Beverly Hills. "Dopamine is an excitatory and arousing hormone that can block some pain—as can endorphins." In other words: The chemicals making you feel crazy-good are also keeping you from noticing pain that would otherwise have you wincing.
"You can enjoy sex and not feel that developing back strain or hip flexor pull or rug burn," says Gilberg-Lenz, who says that increased blood flow and flexibility may contribute to some injuries, the same way doing a tough workout can leave you sore and stiff the next day.
Granted, there can be other factors at play, too. "If you are altered, thanks to alcohol or drugs, you definitely are at risk because your judgment isn't intact and you aren't attending to lots of things," says Gilberg-Lenz.
Obviously, if you're experiencing something more serious than the occasional sore thighs or love-bite mark, you should see a professional. "If you bleed during or after sex, see your doc," says Gilberg-Lenz; it could be the sign of something serious.
When it comes to avoiding less-serious injuries, it's really just a matter of being aware, says Gilberg-Lenz. "It's pretty hard to not be in the moment when you are having sex, but paying some attention to your environment can go along way to enhance safety and decrease injury," she says. And if a certain position or location seems too dangerous to try, don't be afraid to suggest a less-hazardous alternative.
"That lovely delicate shaker chair?" says Gillberg-Lenz. "Maybe try the super sturdy chaise instead."
