Does Anyone Else Get Swollen *Down There* After Sex Or Just Me?

Sex can really take a toll on your body sometimes. I’m talking hickeys, scratches, and even the occasional swollen vagina. Now, feeling swollen down there after a night of passionate sex is actually more common than you think — so before you freak out and start typing in “swollen vagina” into WebMD and self-diagnosing a horrible, fatal disease, let’s take a breath. Before you go into worst-case scenario mode, remember that there a bunch of very normal reasons why your labia is leaving a sexual encounter looking puffed up three sizes too big — and some of those reasons even have solutions.

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What Causes A Swollen Labia After Sex?

You might have a post-sex swollen labia for a number of reasons that aren’t alarming at all. First of all, it could just be that you and your partner aren’t using enough lube. Listen, I get that there’s still some stigma around using lube — people think you need to be naturally gushing from your vagina at all times for sex to be hot. But uh, new flash: sometimes we just don’t get wet enough on our own, and that’s exactly why lube is there. If you’re not using lube when you really should be, it could be that all that friction that’s going on has basically rubbed your labia raw, causing it to swell. Even if you are lubed up enough, maybe you just had a night of some really rough sex. I too, am a fan of the occasional rough pounding, but we have to remember that it might result in more than just shaky legs.

And if you’re specifically concerned about your clit, it’s absolutely normal for your clitoris to increase in size when you’re turned on, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Now there are a few, slightly more serious reasons your labia might be swollen. It could be that you might be allergic to condoms you’re using, so the swelling is an allergic reaction. It could also mean there’s something concerning going on down there, like a potential STI or other kind of infection. If you notice that your vagina’s swelling won’t go down even after a few hours, it’s probably time to make a visit to your gyno and see what’s up.

What Should I Do If My Vagina Is Swollen?

Okay, so you realized you skimped on the lube or that maybe you took “pound town” a little too seriously — and now you’re staring at a vagina that is swollen AF. So, what do you? While normal swelling should go away on its own after a few hours you could help speed up the process a bit by taking a warm bath, putting a cold compress on the swelling, and then wearing loose underwear and pajamas — basically have a mini spa day for your vag. She’s been through a lot, she deserves it.