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 would possibly even marvel if it means one thing severe.

Concern not: Vaginal bleeding after intercourse (additionally known as postcoital bleeding) is definitely fairly widespread. In truth, gentle bleeding after intercourse occurs to as much as 9 p.c of all menstruating individuals. And most causes usually are not trigger for concern.

“There are numerous 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 most typical causes of bleeding after intercourse right here, together with different indicators and signs to observe for, and how you can deal with every.

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

1. Vaginal infections

One of the 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 most typical 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 vital irritation of the cervix (cervicitis), making it extra liable to bleeding throughout or after intercourse,” explains Dr. Bulgarelli. “Frequent signs of those infections embrace irregular vaginal discharge, vaginal odor, itching or irritation, urinary signs, and pelvic ache.”

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

Repair it

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

Remedy for vaginal infections depends 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 reason behind bleeding after intercourse, says Kelly Culwell, MD, OB/GYN, often known 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 often occurs when your estrogen ranges are low, says Dr. Culwell, like throughout menopause or perimenopause (i.e., the transition to menopause). In line with the American Faculty of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), decrease estrogen ranges are additionally widespread after childbirth and through 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 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 generally known as vaginal atrophy, says Alyssa Dweck, MD, chief medical officer at Bonafide Well being. When mixed with low estrogen ranges and vaginal dryness, you could grow to be extra more likely to bleed after intercourse.

“Blood is likely to be vivid purple with a average circulate, or pink with gentle circulate, and is often accompanied by ache or burning,” says Dr. Dweck.

Repair it

Similar to with dryness, bleeding from vaginal atrophy could be prevented by utilizing 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 often as a result of delicate tissue in your genital or anal space tearing or changing into broken.

Repair it

“If bleeding is from tough intercourse, permitting time for therapeutic and training gentler sexual exercise could resolve the problem,” says Dr. Dayananda. “Lubricants may be useful.”

In some instances, 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 instances, 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 vivid purple and might trigger vital circulate for some individuals,” 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 line with the Nationwide Library of Medication.

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

When you 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 consider it or not, gentle bleeding or recognizing through the first trimester of being pregnant is definitely fairly widespread. In truth, about 15 to 25 p.c of pregnant individuals bleed through the first trimester, in line with ACOG.

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

Repair it

Regardless that gentle vaginal bleeding in your first trimester isn’t dangerous, you must nonetheless let your OB/GYN know when it occurs. They may also help you rule out any probably severe causes of bleeding, simply in case.

7. Hardly ever, it may imply cervical most cancers

It is fairly uncommon, however bleeding after intercourse can typically imply most cancers, says Dr. Dayananda. You may seemingly produce other signs apart from postcoital bleeding, like irregular bleeding between intervals 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 one of these 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 may also help detect cervical most cancers in its early levels and stop severe instances. “Early detection is essential for higher outcomes,” emphasizes Dr. Dayananada.

And naturally, be sure you deliver up any “out of the bizarre” signs you feel to your gynecologist.

When to see a health care provider

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 could be very heavy, attain out to your physician.

You must also name the physician if bleeding comes with different signs like vaginal discharge, pelvic ache, and strange odors, provides Dr. Bulgarelli. That is very true when 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 have to panic! When you’re ever not sure, although, you may at all times name your physician about your signs and schedule an appointment.