Sex is supposed to be a thing of fun.
But one unlucky woman ended up with a life-threatening injury that left her with a 10-out-of-10 pain.
Now doctors have published her story.
In a medical report published in the American Journal Case Report, a 45-year-old from Mississippi was rushed to the hospital after experiencing excruciating, stabbing sensations in her chest.
She also became suddenly nauseous and struggled to breathe.
The woman was enjoying sex with her husband with her legs pressed against her chest when the terrifying injury was sustained, the report said.
As she reached orgasm, she felt a strong and stabbing pain accompanied by a popping sound.
She was rushed to the hospital where tests determined that in the heat of the moment her blood pressure jumped to 220/140mmHg.
On average, the healthy blood pressure for a woman in her 40s is around 120/80, according to the CDC.
The doctors also found out that her aorta, the largest artery in the body at over an inch wide, had a leak in it.
Her condition is called an aortic intramural haematoma and can lead to a full tear of the aorta.
Doctors gave her morphine and fentanyl to reduce the pain.
Her case, and others of its kind, call for immediate treatment to avoid death or significant complications.
The circumstances surrounding the woman’s diagnosis – the fact it was brought about by sexual intercourse – has now been explored more fully by scientists in a new journal.
Bemused researchers admitted it was ‘not a commonly reported occurrence.’
The publication also reported that the woman was discharged from hospital after three days as her blood pressure lowered thereafter. She escaped going through a surgery, which is usually reserved for patients who experience leaks closer to the heart.
