You could try gentle in making loving. But if fast and furious is more of your style, here's how to do it with minimal pain.

You're no greenhorn when it comes to the horizontal limbo. But there you are, grabbing each other like a pair of teenagers in the throes at passion. Knees are scuffed, skin bruised and muscles overstretched, Make Love doesn't have to hurt, "Oh baby" (unless that's your thing!).

Ooooh #1 Skin Bruises

Love bites or hickeys come to mind. Of course, being over-enthusiastic in anything you do (thrusting, groping etc) can also earn you discolored patches on knees, legs and arms. Be prepared to live with your bruises for about two weeks. Hickeys are smaller and fade faster - within a few days to a week.

Any Treatment? Try the cold-and-hot treatment. If you got bruised less than four hours ago, press ice cubes wrapped with a towel, or a bag of frozen peas on large bruises. Then, switch to a warm towel and keep it on for 10 minutes. Repeat the warm treatment two or three times a day.

PREVENTION it's simple - go easy and gentle on each other! But how can control when passion rises in high stage?

Ooooh #2 Vaginal Irritation

Dryness and a reaction to condoms, lubricants or vibrators can upset the harmony down there and also cause small abrasions on vaginal walls. The irritation can last for a few hours to a couple of days. But if it lasts longer, see a doctor to rule out a vaginal infection.

Does vagina self-healing? Small abrasions on the vaginal walls usually take care of themselves in 48 hours. Avoid douching as it disturbs the harmony in your vagina, and can cause one colony of organisms to dominate, leading to an infection. Your best after-sex defense is really just to wash with water. "Soap is not advised as it may be too harsh,"

PREVENTION Generous foreplay can get your juices flowing, and save you the need to use potentially irritation-causing lubes. If you must use a lubricant, test it on your inner labia. Wait for a few hours, and if there is no reaction, slather on!

Ooooh #3 Rug Burn

Carpets aren't the only offenders. Doing it on wood floors, car seats and even scratchy wool can feel like humping on a cheese grater. Good thing is, rug burns are typically superficial and affect just a small area. Give yourself a few days for the marks to fade.

If there is no bleeding, wash the area with clean water.

See blood? "Wash the area with antiseptic cleansing agent and apply antiseptic cream on it until it heals," Healing should take a few days to a week.

PREVENTION If your sexual adventures take you away from skin-friendly soft beds and high thread-count sheets, place soft covers over wherever you plan to have your tryst. Generally, the upholstery on car seats is okay, but the tight space can still give you bumps and scrapes. Avoid wood floors, especially uneven surfaces: it can be quite painful if you get abrasions on them.

Ooooh #4 Overstrained Muscles

You stretched more than you ever did in yoga class, and now you're suffering. Neck, back, abdominal, buttock and thigh muscles tend to get overstretched

Stretching the affected muscles and rest should ease the soreness, but if the aches continue past a week, along with muscle weakness, hard muscle lumps or bruises, you might want to get yourself checked for a muscle tear.

PREVENTION Stay limber with stretches that focus on the back, abdominal and buttock muscles. Also, having strong core muscles would help prevent many injuries, including those in the bedroom.