7 Surprising Ways You May Be Hurting Your Lady Parts During Sex

When you think of sex, chances are you think of it as an experience that brings you pleasure. At least I hope that's what you think, because sex is definitely supposed to be enjoyable. But there are a few surprising ways you may be hurting your lady parts during sex, and some of them can happen during a romp you really enjoyed. And seeing as your vagina is kind of one of the most glorious (and important) body parts a woman has, you should be paying attention to and taking extra care of it.

Though you may not always be able to tell what's happening down there when you're in the heat of the moment, it's important to educate yourself on the possible dangers you could be subjecting yourself to and how you can best prevent any pain, discomfort, and health risks during sex. Because if there's anything better than good sex, it's good, comfortable, safe sex. So rather than jumping into the sheets without a care in the world, read up on all the surprising ways you may be hurting your lady parts during sex, and do your best to prevent any rough patches you may be putting your best friend through.

1. You Skip Foreplay

It takes women longer to get aroused than it does men, it's just a fact of life. In fact, in an article written for Everyday Health, sex therapist Dr. Laura Berman wrote that it can take women up to 20 minutes to become aroused during foreplay. So rather than jumping right into things, take your time, and don't feel pressured to jump into intercourse until you're good and ready. Because when you rush into sex, particularly when you're not feeling it, it can be painful. According to Health 24, rushing into intercourse can cause a lack of lubrication during sex, and can not only make things uncomfortable, but damage your vagina as well.

2. You Forego Lube

If you're not sufficiently lubricated before you dive into intercourse, you can not only cause yourself unnecessary pain, but tearing, inflammation, and irritation, according to Health 24. Dr. Debbie Herbenick, a sexual health researcher at Indiana University, told Prevention that you should always having lube ready for action to avoid any tears.

3. You Have Unprotected Sex

Although having unprotected sex might not seem like a huge deal when you're in the moment, and it can be tempting when you find yourself without a condom, there's nothing more risky than going at it unprotected. If you're not all that acquainted with your partner and their sexual bill of health, you could wind up with a terrifying sexually transmitted infection, or worse, according to the National Health Service.

4. You Don't Pee After Sex

According to Everyday Health, not peeing after sex can increase your chances of developing a UTI. And UTIs are more or less the worst thing ever. So do yourself a favor and pee after sex, OK?

5. You Are Getting It On With Someone Who's Too Big

You know how you hear "size doesn't matter" when it comes to sex, and enjoying sex? Well, you might be surprised to hear that size actually can matter. That is, if your partner is working with an extra large package, and your vagina's on the petite side. According to Herbenick, you may need to explore different positions with your partner to find a level of comfort. Otherwise, you can risk tearing, irritation, inflammation, and more.

6. You Are Stressed

I know what you're thinking, what do my stress levels have to do with sex? Surprisingly, a lot. By not addressing any stress you might be dealing with before you head into the bedroom, sex expert Dr. Logan Levkoff told Huffington post that you can neglect your libido, and suppress your sex hormones. Levkoff also noted that both of these things can take a toll not only on your actual intercourse, but on your sex life in general.

7. You Don't Clean Up After Sex

Though you know by now that your vagina is actually an amazing self-cleaning organ, it's still important to keep it clean after engaging in intercourse. Whether you used a condom or not, you should wash away any lube, sweat, or bodily fluids that might be lingering around your in your pelvic region. If you don't, your chances of getting a vaginal infection go way, way up. Though it's not something that's candidly discussed by many, knowing how to handle the post-sex clean up ritual is very important.