If you are not wherever close to your interval, it would really feel alarming to see a little bit of blood after you’ve got had intercourse. You would possibly even surprise if it means one thing severe.
Worry not: Vaginal bleeding after intercourse (additionally known as postcoital bleeding) is definitely fairly frequent. In reality, gentle bleeding after intercourse occurs to as much as 9 p.c of all menstruating folks. And most causes are usually not trigger for concern.
“There are a lot of causes of postcoital bleeding,” says Jamy Bulgarelli, DO, OB/GYN at Pediatrix Medical Group in Grand Prairie, Texas. “However most causes are benign.”
Study the commonest causes of bleeding after intercourse right here, together with different indicators and signs to look at for, and find out how to deal with every.
“There are a lot of causes of postcoital bleeding, however most causes are benign.” —Jamy Bulgarelli, DO, OB/GYN, gynecologist
1. Vaginal infections
Some of the frequent causes of bleeding after intercourse is a vaginal an infection, says Dr. Bulgarelli. There are a number of totally different pathogens that may trigger vaginal infections, with the commonest being STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and herpes. Much less generally, yeast infections or an an infection known as bacterial vaginosis (BV) could cause bleeding after intercourse, says Dr. Bulgarelli.
Consultants In This Article
- Alyssa Dweck, MD, FACOG, board-certified OB/GYN on the Mount Kisco Medical Group
- Ila Dayananda, MD, MPH, OB/GYN, chief medical officer of Oula Well being.
- Jamy Bulgarelli, DO, OB/GYN, obstetrics and gynecologist at Pediatrix Medical Group in Grand Prairie, TX.
- Kelly Culwell, MD, board-certified doctor in obstetrics and gynecology
“Infections, notably sexually transmitted ones, can result in important irritation of the cervix (cervicitis), making it extra liable to bleeding throughout or after intercourse,” explains Dr. Bulgarelli. “Widespread signs of those infections embody irregular vaginal discharge, vaginal odor, itching or irritation, urinary signs, and pelvic ache.”
Some folks could even bleed after intercourse with out ache or different signs, she says.
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Should you suppose you might need an STI or different an infection, see your OB/GYN for testing.
Therapy for vaginal infections will depend on the kind of an infection you have got. STIs and BV are handled with antibiotics or antiviral drugs, whereas vaginal yeast infections are handled with topical or oral antifungal drugs.
2. Vaginal dryness
Vaginal dryness is a standard reason behind bleeding after intercourse, says Kelly Culwell, MD, OB/GYN, also referred to as Dr. Woman Physician. Dryness “makes the vagina extra delicate and susceptible to irritation or tears throughout vaginal intercourse,” she explains.
Whereas pure lubrication of your vaginal partitions can ebb and circulate all through the month, excessive dryness normally occurs when your estrogen ranges are low, says Dr. Culwell, like throughout menopause or perimenopause (i.e., the transition to menopause). Based on the American School of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), decrease estrogen ranges are additionally frequent after childbirth and in the course of the postpartum interval, in addition to if you are breastfeeding or chestfeeding.
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Add some moisture to your vagina by making use of a lubricant earlier than intercourse.“There are additionally vaginal moisturizers that can be utilized regularly (not simply earlier than intercourse), particularly in case your dryness is bothersome at any time of day,” notes Dr. Cullwell. One to strive? Foria’s Midlife Magic set.
3. Vaginal atrophy
Throughout perimenopause, your vaginal tissues would possibly get skinny and delicate, much less elastic, and susceptible to tears, in any other case often called vaginal atrophy, says Alyssa Dweck, MD, chief medical officer at Bonafide Well being. When mixed with low estrogen ranges and vaginal dryness, you might grow to be extra more likely to bleed after intercourse.
“Blood could be shiny pink with a average circulate, or pink with gentle circulate, and is normally accompanied by ache or burning,” says Dr. Dweck.
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Identical to with dryness, bleeding from vaginal atrophy could be prevented through the use of a vaginal lubricant. Dr. Dweck suggests discovering a vaginal moisturizer with hyaluronic acid as a predominant ingredient. Getting prescribed a vaginal estrogen cream by your gynecologist may also be useful, she provides.
4. Vaginal or anal tearing
Vaginal bleeding can occur on account of tough intercourse, anal intercourse, or having sexual activity for the primary time, says Ila Dayananda, MD, MPH OB/GYN and chief medical officer of Oula Well being. That is normally as a result of delicate tissue in your genital or anal space tearing or changing into broken.
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“If bleeding is from tough intercourse, permitting time for therapeutic and practising gentler sexual exercise could resolve the difficulty,” says Dr. Dayananda. “Lubricants can also be useful.”
In some circumstances, hormone remedy mixed with lubricants and moisturizers can alleviate signs, particularly in case you are in perimenopause. However in fact, discuss to your physician to see whether or not hormone remedy is best for you.
5. Cervical polyps
In some circumstances, bleeding after intercourse could be from small (usually innocent) growths in your cervix known as cervical polyps, says Dr. Dweck.
“Bleeding [from polyps] is normally shiny pink and may trigger important circulate for some folks,” she provides. Despite the fact that the causes of cervical polyps aren’t absolutely understood, they’re pretty frequent, says Dr. Dweck.
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Cervical polyps are sometimes discovered throughout a routine gynecologic examination, a colonoscopy, or a transvaginal ultrasound, in line with the Nationwide Library of Drugs.
“Whereas most polyps will fall off or go away on their very own, some can develop fairly massive and should require surgical removing,” says Dr. Dweck. Some folks could must see the physician regularly to keep watch over them.
Should you suppose polyps are the wrongdoer, make an appointment along with your gynecologist to get them checked out.
6. Being pregnant
Vaginal bleeding whereas pregnant at all times warrants a visit to the OB/GYN. However imagine it or not, gentle bleeding or recognizing in the course of the first trimester of being pregnant is definitely fairly frequent. In reality, about 15 to 25 p.c of pregnant folks bleed in the course of the first trimester, in line with ACOG.
This may be from the implantation of the fertilized egg in your uterus, or further blood circulate to your cervix, which might make you extra susceptible to vaginal bleeding, per ACOG. Recognizing whereas pregnant may occur throughout a pelvic examination or after intercourse.
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Despite the fact that gentle vaginal bleeding in your first trimester just isn’t dangerous, you must nonetheless let your OB/GYN know when it occurs. They may help you rule out any probably severe causes of bleeding, simply in case.
7. Not often, it might imply cervical most cancers
It is fairly uncommon, however bleeding after intercourse can generally imply most cancers, says Dr. Dayananda. You will possible produce other signs moreover postcoital bleeding, like irregular bleeding between intervals or bleeding after menopause, she provides. “Some folks can also have pelvic ache or ache throughout intercourse,” she provides.
Danger components for cervical most cancers embody smoking, a earlier chlamydia an infection, long-term contraception use, and a household historical past of this sort of most cancers. The best threat issue, although, is the human papillomavirus an infection (HPV), which is why common screenings for HPV and common pap smears are vital, per the American Most cancers Society.
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Be sure to’re getting routine pap smears and HPV screenings, as these may help detect cervical most cancers in its early levels and forestall severe circumstances. “Early detection is essential for higher outcomes,” emphasizes Dr. Dayananada.
And naturally, remember to carry up any “out of the unusual” signs you feel to your gynecologist.
When to see a physician
More often than not, vaginal bleeding after intercourse is a one-time deal and is not trigger for concern, says Dr. Bulgarelli. But when your bleeding persists, occurs each time you have got intercourse, or could be very heavy, attain out to your physician.
You also needs to name the physician if bleeding comes with different signs like vaginal discharge, pelvic ache, and strange odors, provides Dr. Bulgarelli. That is very true in case you’re previous menopause and have vaginal bleeding, no matter frequency or severity.
The underside line? Many individuals with vaginas expertise bleeding after intercourse at one level or one other. So no must panic! Should you’re ever uncertain, although, you’ll be able to at all times name your physician about your signs and schedule an appointment.
—medically reviewed by Andrea Braden, MD, OB/GYN
Properly+Good articles reference scientific, dependable, current, strong research to again up the knowledge we share. You may belief us alongside your wellness journey.
- Tarney, Christopher M, and Jasmine Han. “Postcoital bleeding: a assessment on etiology, analysis, and administration.” Obstetrics and gynecology worldwide vol. 2014 (2014): 192087. doi:10.1155/2014/192087
