Normal first intercourse reactions

Dear Normal First Intercourse?,

After intercourse for the first time, a person may experience a range of physical and/or emotional reactions. Common emotional reactions can include pride, guilt, happiness, relief, and disappointment, for starters. Common physical reactions vary, too, and can include soreness, numbness, pleasure, orgasm, no orgasm, lubrication, no lubrication, irritation, urinary tract infection (UTI), vaginal infection, or a sexually transmitted infection (STI), with or without symptoms. Without knowing more about your specific experience with first intercourse, it's difficult to say if your reactions were within the normal range of physical/emotional responses. If you are concerned with physical symptoms (or emotional reactions), it may be best to visit a health care provider, whether it's a gynecologist or primary care provider is up to you.

As for delaying going to the gynecologist, before deciding whether to visit sooner rather than later, take a look at Gynecologist for the first time from the Go Ask Alice! archives. There are a number of benefits to visiting the gynecologist soon after the onset of sexual activity. It can be useful and reassuring to you for verification that your health is in good shape. It also gives you a chance to ask your questions, discuss contraceptive methods and safer sex, and develop a relationship with a provider. Columbia students can call Medical Services at x4-2284 or log in to Open Communicator to make an appointment. If you are not a Columbia student, you may want to ask your own primary care provider for a recommendation. You could also visit Planned Parenthood for help in finding a women's health center.