Bleeding After Sex? Here’s What Your Body’s Trying To Tell You

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

Worry not: Vaginal bleeding after intercourse (additionally known as postcoital bleeding) is definitely fairly widespread. In truth, mild bleeding after intercourse occurs to as much as 9 % of all menstruating folks. And most causes will not be trigger for concern.

“There are various 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 deal with every.

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

1. Vaginal infections

One of the vital widespread 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) may 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 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.

Repair it

Should you suppose you might need an STI or different an infection, see your OB/GYN for testing.

Therapy for vaginal infections is dependent upon the kind of an infection you might 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 standard explanation for bleeding after intercourse, says Kelly Culwell, MD, OB/GYN, also referred to as Dr. Girl 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 movement all through the month, excessive dryness often occurs when your estrogen ranges are low, says Dr. Culwell, like throughout menopause or perimenopause (i.e., the transition to menopause). In keeping with the American School of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), decrease estrogen ranges are additionally widespread after childbirth and throughout the postpartum interval, in addition to if you are breastfeeding or chestfeeding.

Repair it

Add some moisture to your vagina by making use of a lubricant earlier than intercourse.“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 attempt? Foria’s Midlife Magic set.

3. Vaginal atrophy

Throughout perimenopause, your vaginal tissues may get skinny and delicate, much less elastic, and susceptible to tears, in any other case referred to as vaginal atrophy, says Alyssa Dweck, MD, chief medical officer at Bonafide Well being. When mixed with low estrogen ranges and vaginal dryness, you might develop into extra more likely to bleed after intercourse.

“Blood could be vibrant pink with a average movement, or pink with mild movement, and is often accompanied by ache or burning,” says Dr. Dweck.

Repair it

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 because 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 often as a result of 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 practising gentler sexual exercise could resolve the problem,” says Dr. Dayananda. “Lubricants might also 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 could be from small (sometimes innocent) growths in your cervix known as cervical polyps, says Dr. Dweck.

“Bleeding [from polyps] is often vibrant pink and might trigger important movement for some folks,” she provides. Regardless that the causes of cervical polyps aren’t absolutely understood, they’re pretty widespread, says Dr. Dweck.

Repair it

Cervical polyps are sometimes discovered throughout a routine gynecologic examination, a colonoscopy, or a transvaginal ultrasound, in response to the Nationwide Library of Medication.

“Whereas most polyps will fall off or go away on their very own, some can develop fairly giant and will require surgical removing,” says Dr. Dweck. Some folks could must see the physician frequently to regulate them.

Should you suppose polyps are the perpetrator, 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 consider it or not, mild bleeding or recognizing throughout the first trimester of being pregnant is definitely fairly widespread. In truth, about 15 to 25 % of pregnant folks bleed throughout the first trimester, in response to ACOG.

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

Repair it

Regardless that mild vaginal bleeding in your first trimester is just not dangerous, you need to nonetheless let your OB/GYN know when it occurs. They might help you rule out any probably severe causes of bleeding, simply in case.

7. Hardly ever, it might imply cervical most cancers

It is fairly uncommon, however bleeding after intercourse can generally imply most cancers, says Dr. Dayananda. You will doubtless produce other signs moreover postcoital bleeding, like irregular bleeding between durations or bleeding after menopause, she provides. “Some folks might 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 kind 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 necessary, per the American Most cancers Society.

Repair it

Be sure you’re getting routine pap smears and HPV screenings, as these might 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, make sure to 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 might 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 strange 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! Should you’re ever not sure, although, you’ll be able to at all times name your physician about your signs and schedule an appointment.