Let’s be real: sex is supposed to be fun, exciting, maybe even a little wild — but no one wants to end up in the ER because of it.
And yet… a surprising number of people do. According to a survey from Superdrug OnlineDoctor, over 60% of people say they’ve experienced an injury during sex.
Yes, sixty percent. That’s more than half of us who’ve limped away from what was supposed to be a good time.
Of the 1,662 people surveyed, 1,023 reported getting injured in the bedroom — or kitchen, shower, couch, or wherever the heat of the moment struck. And these injuries range from mildly awkward to downright painful: we’re talking vaginal tearing, UTIs, rug burn, back spasms, and, yes, actual hospital visits.
So what’s causing all this carnage between the sheets? According to the survey, rough sex was the biggest culprit, with 37% blaming their injuries on things getting a little too intense. And for women in particular, there are a few positions that seem to spell trouble more often than not.
Let’s count down the top nine sex positions most likely to leave women bruised, pulled, or painfully sore — starting with the least risky and working up to the ultimate danger zone.
9. Oral Sex
Surprised? So were we. But 1.8% of women said oral sex caused an injury. The likely culprit? An overly enthusiastic partner. “Playful nips while performing cunnilingus can feel good,” the report notes, “but biting? That’s where you run into some trouble.”
8. 69 While Standing
This position sounds acrobatic because it is. And 2.4% of women paid the price. “I imagine it involves being dropped on their heads,” the OnlineDoctor article jokes — and we’re honestly not laughing because it sounds about right.
7. Anal Sex
It may not surprise anyone that anal made the list, with 2.9% of women reporting an injury. “We’re talking about a very tight hole that needs lots of lube so as to avoid anal tearing,” the report explains. “If you’re not relaxed, all the lube in the world isn’t going to ease any possible pain.”
6. Standing
Sex while standing might look great in movies, but in real life? It’s a balancing act — literally. “Walls exist not just to keep buildings from falling apart, but to keep you and your partner from falling over,” it jokes. 4.5% of women got injured this way, and that number spikes when you factor in standing shower sex.
5. Legs Up
This one’s a classic — but don’t underestimate the risk. 5.1% of respondents said it led to injury. If you haven’t stretched in a while, you’re basically begging for a cramp or a charley horse.
4. Cowgirl
Being in control can still lead to disaster. 5.7% of women reported injuries from this position, with leg pain (29%), vaginal pain (25%), and knee pain (21%) topping the list.
3. Switching Positions
Smoothly transitioning from one position to another sounds sexy… until you pull a muscle mid-flip. 9.4% of women got hurt doing just that. “You totally get an A for effort — to go with that herniated disc and bruised ego,” the article quips.
2. Missionary
Yes, even the most “vanilla” of positions can pack a punch. 16.3% of women said missionary led to injury, and in over half of those cases (58%), the injury was vaginal. Too rough or too long — either one can leave you wincing.
1. Doggy Style
And the winner (or loser) is… doggy style. 20.5% of women have been injured in this position. “Between all that thrusting and having to put so much pressure on our arms and wrists… doggy style, although great, can cause some major damage.” Injuries broke down as follows: vaginal (57%), back (13%), and knees (11%).
So, what can you do?
First of all: listen to your body. If something starts to hurt — even mid-orgasm — stop. No climax is worth a pulled hamstring, sprained wrist, or trip to urgent care.
And if you do need to see a doctor? Be honest. “You can’t be treated properly if your doctor doesn’t know how you hurt yourself in the first place,” the article points out. Plus, you won’t be the first — or last — person to walk in with a sex-related injury.
So stretch, lube up, and maybe think twice before trying Cirque du Soleil positions in your bedroom. Or at least keep a heating pad on standby.
TL;DR: Sex injuries are real, they’re common, and sometimes they happen in the most unexpected ways. Be safe, be honest, and don’t forget to stretch.
