No one wants to experience bleeding after intercourse. However, many women find themselves in this situation. There are a variety of different reasons as to why you might be bleeding after sex. So, let’s discuss some of the reasons, add some important medical information, and provide some tips to help cope and possibly prevent the unwanted bleeding.
The Main Causes For Vaginal Bleeding After Sex
The first thing to acknowledge is that many women experience this. It can be considerably normal and harmless. Light spotting after a period can, however, be an indication of a serious illness. Therefore, if you have any type of bleeding after sex, it is important to bring up to your doctor.
Below are mentioned the various causes for vaginal bleeding, from the harmless to the most harmful.
1. You’re A Newbie
Having sex for the first time can bring on a little bit of spotting after sex. The actual first act of penetration places quite a bit of pressure onto the hymen and breaks it. While this is not entirely painful, many women shed a bit of blood from this act.
It is important to know before you have sex for the first time that your vagina might bleed afterwards. Some women might be alarmed and get upset by this. Thus, knowing what to expect is pivotal. This type of bleeding typically stops on its own within a minute or two.
The blood in this type of spotting will appear red and then darker as it dries. Faint spotting might appear throughout the next 24 hours for a select few women. For anyone who has had sex before, there are also a few other reasons why you might be experiencing bleeding after sex.
2. Your Vagina Has Been Through A Traumatic Event
There are many different ways that your vagina could experience a trauma that is detrimental enough to cause bleeding after sex. The first possibility is if you are not exactly the most hygienic person when it comes to bodily practices. Not cleaning your vagina properly can lead to inflammation or infection of the vagina. Once this occurs, penetration and friction could definitely cause bleeding.
If you have recently given birth, then this too can cause some bleeding after sex. After all, your vagina just popped out an entirely new human being, so some trauma has definitely occurred down there. This is completely normal, and it should stop within a few weeks.
You also can scratch the walls of your vagina during foreplay or even in your preparations for sex. Many women shave down there, and if you knick yourself with a razor, first of all, ouch, it hurts. Second of all, you will leave a little scratch on your vaginal wall or lip that can result in bleeding during sex. Also, if you or your partner has particularly long or sharp nails, then certain events during foreplay could cause some bleeding.
3. Your Period Brings Forth Some Blood
Of course we know that your period involves blood, but what if you are having sex right before or after your period? That, too, can cause some spotting during sex. Especially if you are nearing your menstrual cycle date, your vagina might shed some blood.
This occurs because the lining of your uterus begins to shed ahead of time. Apparently the uterus is a type-A personality. It likes to begin ahead of time, so you may experience some bleeding because of this.
This type of bleeding can last for a few minutes and appear much more serious than it actually is. This type of bleeding is quite superficial, even though the blood might appear dark and truly disturbing to you. But, the chances are that it is residual from your last period. If this occurs during other times of the month, then you might consider bringing this issue up with your doctor.
4. Aw, Is It A Boy Or A Girl?
That’s right. Bleeding during intercourse might be an indication that you are pregnant. Even if you are not noticing any of the other early signs of pregnancy, spotting during intercourse could be the red flag you need, no pun intended.
This occurs because once a woman is pregnant, the fertilized egg attaches to the uterus. This attachment to the uterus can cause some unwanted spotting and bleeding. And, this is why many doctors advise to refrain from sexual activity during the first two to three months of pregnancy.
5. Blame It On An STD
Unfortunately, bleeding during or after intercourse can also be an indication that you are suffering from a sexually transmitted disease (STD). This is when we begin to discuss some of the heavier, more serious and harmful causes for vaginal bleeding.
If the bleeding occurs after you have sex, and it is a regular occurrence and frequently painful, then your doctor may screen you for STDs immediately, especially for chlamydia. This can also indicate pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID. But, it is in your best interest to be examined, just in case.
6. You’re About To Experience The Great Change
The great change sounds much more regal and exciting than it actually is. We are talking about menopause. Yes, that great change. Bleeding after sex can let a woman know that her body might be preparing itself for menopause.
This occurs because of the hormonal fluctuations within the body. The dramatic roller coaster ride of hormone imbalances leads to vaginal dryness, so a woman will have difficulty naturally lubricating her vagina. This friction can result in bleeding after sex.
If you are within the age group for perimenopause, which is typically the 40s, then you should bring up this symptom to your doctor, along with your concerns. Well, technically you should be bringing this symptom up to your doctor regardless, but you catch our drift.
7. The Most Serious Of Them All
Let’s start with the fact that this is extremely rare. Not many of the bleeding after sex cases are caused by this. But, that does not mean that it cannot go without being discussed. Polyps and malignant tumors are known for causing bleeding after sex.
If a woman has a polyp or malignant tumor on her cervix, then the friction from sex will cause it to rupture and therefore bleed. This can be identified separately from the other causes if the women who experiences the bleeding also has lower abdominal pain and pelvic pain long after intercourse is over.
When a doctor suspects that a woman might have polyps, he will perform a pap smear and pelvic exam. While this cause is severe, it is also highly unlikely if you are merely experiencing some abnormal bleeding after sex with no other symptoms. Truly, no one wants to go through this unwanted bleeding after sex. After all, it’s not extremely sexy, is it? Here are some of the ways to prevent or treat this uninvited side effect.
- Undergo Some Tests
Don’t worry; they are not exactly as intense as that calculus exam you took back in college. The first order of business is to get to the root of the problem. Your doctor might perform some tests on you to determine what the cause is, and therefore find a treatment that will work best for you.
Your doctor may examine your blood to rule out thyroid, liver or kidney abnormalities. Your blood count will also be taken to determine if you are anemic, and therefore losing more blood than you should. It might also be routine for you to take a pregnancy test if you have not yet hit menopause, as that will help the doctor identify the proper course of action.
As we have previously mentioned, your doctor may perform a cervical exam to take a look at the vaginal walls.
Any woman who says they are experiencing abdominal and pelvic pain will have an ultrasound performed on her pelvic area to take a look and see what might be causing the discomfort.
The most invasive test that a doctor may on a woman who experiences abnormal bleeding after sex would be the endometrial biopsy. This is when the doctor takes a small biopsy of the uterine lining. It is not technically surgery, but it might cause a slight pressure and discomfort afterwards.
- Open Up Your Medicine Cabinet
Your doctor can always prescribe you with a medication to help alleviate the issue if it is not the cause of something harmful. For example, if it just appears to be due to your oncoming period, then your physician might write you a prescription for a strong form of Motrin, or naproxen sodium in generic form.
You can also always turn to Advil and other pain relievers. A nice, hot heating pad might do the trick for some people, and caffeine will always help to boost the Advil, Motrin or other pain reliever.
The physician may prescribe a completely different round of prescriptions for any woman experiencing this bleeding as a result of oncoming menopause. If the bleeding resulted because of perimenopause, it is a due to a dramatic fluctuation in hormones. So, a doctor may prescribe hormone replacement therapy. Smaller doses of hormone replacement therapy are somewhat safe and effective.
Even though there are various prescribed treatments, some premenopausal women might want a different, more natural alternative. That is when companies such as www.HerSolution.com come in. Her Solution has created a natural, yet high quality supplement for women who are interested in increasing their natural lubrication in addition to their libido and other health benefits, as well.
For any woman who is beginning menopause, finding the right way to restore your hormones is the best way to get back to the sex life you once had. Talk to your doctor to find the solution that works best for you.