Bleeding After Sex: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

If you are not anyplace close to your interval, it’d really feel alarming to see a little bit of blood after you have had intercourse. You would possibly even marvel if it means one thing critical.

Concern not: Vaginal bleeding after intercourse (additionally known as postcoital bleeding) is definitely fairly frequent. The truth is, mild bleeding after intercourse occurs to as much as 9 percent of all menstruating individuals. And most causes will not be trigger for concern.

“There are lots of causes of postcoital bleeding,” says Jamy Bulgarelli, DO, OB/GYN at Pediatrix Medical Group in Grand Prairie, Texas. “However most causes are benign.”

Be taught the commonest causes of bleeding after intercourse right here, together with different indicators and signs to look at for, and how one can deal with every.

“There are lots of causes of postcoital bleeding, however most causes are benign.” —Jamy Bulgarelli, DO, OB/GYN, gynecologist

1. Vaginal infections

One of the vital frequent causes of bleeding after intercourse is a vaginal 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.

“Infections, notably sexually transmitted ones, can result in important irritation of the cervix (cervicitis), making it extra vulnerable to bleeding throughout or after intercourse,” explains Dr. Bulgarelli. “Widespread signs of those infections embrace irregular vaginal discharge, vaginal odor, itching or irritation, urinary signs, and pelvic ache.”

Some individuals might even bleed after intercourse with out ache or different signs, she says.

Repair it

For those who assume 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 may have. 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 typical explanation for bleeding after intercourse, says Kelly Culwell, MD, OB/GYN, also called Dr. Lady Doctor. 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 move 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 College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), decrease estrogen ranges are additionally frequent after childbirth and throughout the postpartum interval, in addition to when you are breastfeeding or chestfeeding.

Repair it

Add some moisture to your vagina by making use of a lubricant before sex.“There are additionally vaginal moisturizers that can be utilized frequently (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 Health. When mixed with low estrogen ranges and vaginal dryness, chances are you’ll grow to be extra more likely to bleed after intercourse.

“Blood could be vivid crimson with a average move, or pink with mild move, and is normally accompanied by ache or burning,” says Dr. Dweck.

Repair it

Identical to with dryness, bleeding from vaginal atrophy might be prevented by utilizing a vaginal lubricant. Dr. Dweck suggests discovering a vaginal moisturizer with hyaluronic acid as a important 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 because of tough intercourse, anal sex, or having sexual activity for the primary time, says Ila Dayananda, MD, MPH OB/GYN and chief medical officer of Oula Health. That is normally because of the delicate tissue in your genital or anal space tearing or turning into broken.

Repair it

“If bleeding is from tough intercourse, permitting time for therapeutic and working towards gentler sexual exercise might resolve the difficulty,” says Dr. Dayananda. “Lubricants may be useful.”

In some circumstances, hormone remedy mixed with lubricants and moisturizers can alleviate signs, particularly if you’re in perimenopause. However after all, speak to your physician to see whether or not hormone remedy is best for you.

5. Cervical polyps

In some circumstances, bleeding after intercourse might be from small (usually innocent) growths in your cervix known as cervical polyps, says Dr. Dweck.

“Bleeding [from polyps] is normally vivid crimson and may trigger important move for some individuals,” she provides. Despite the fact that the causes of cervical polyps aren’t absolutely understood, they’re pretty frequent, says Dr. Dweck.

Repair it

Cervical polyps are sometimes discovered throughout a routine gynecologic exam, a colonoscopy, or a transvaginal ultrasound, in accordance with the National Library of Medicine.

“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 individuals might must see the physician frequently to keep watch over them.

For those who assume polyps are the perpetrator, make an appointment together 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, mild bleeding or recognizing throughout the first trimester of being pregnant is definitely fairly frequent. The truth is, about 15 to 25 % of pregnant individuals bleed throughout the first trimester, in accordance with ACOG.

This may be from the implantation of the fertilized egg in your uterus, or further blood move to your cervix, which may make you extra susceptible to vaginal bleeding, per ACOG. Recognizing whereas pregnant may also occur throughout a pelvic examination or after intercourse.

Repair it

Despite the fact that mild vaginal bleeding in your first trimester is just not dangerous, it’s best to nonetheless let your OB/GYN know when it occurs. They may also help you rule out any doubtlessly critical causes of bleeding, simply in case.

7. Not often, it may imply cervical most cancers

It is fairly uncommon, however bleeding after intercourse can typically imply most cancers, says Dr. Dayananda. You will probably produce other signs apart from postcoital bleeding, like irregular bleeding between periods or bleeding after menopause, she provides. “Some individuals may have pelvic ache or ache throughout intercourse,” she provides.

Threat components for cervical most cancers embrace smoking, a earlier chlamydia an infection, long-term contraception use, and a household historical past of any such most cancers. The best danger issue, although, is the human papillomavirus an infection (HPV), which is why common screenings for HPV and common pap smears are necessary, per the American Cancer Society.

Repair it

Be sure to’re getting routine pap smears and HPV screenings, as these may also help detect cervical most cancers in its early phases and stop critical circumstances. “Early detection is essential for higher outcomes,” emphasizes Dr. Dayananada.

And naturally, make sure you convey up any “out of the peculiar” signs you are feeling 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 may have intercourse, or may 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 weird odors, provides Dr. Bulgarelli. That is very true in the event 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! For those who’re ever not sure, although, you possibly can at all times name your physician about your signs and schedule an appointment.