EFFECT OF BLEEDING AFTER SEX

A study published in the journal CPC Emergency Medicine found that rough intercourse can lead to vaginal tears, which can increase the risk of unwanted infections. In case you suspect rough intercourse is triggering any vaginal problems, either use a lubricant during sex or spend more time in foreplay to avoid it.

Why Am I Bleeding After Sex?
You’ve just finished having sex with your partner, when you look down and see blood on the sheets. You don’t have your period and aren’t supposed to get it anytime soon, so what gives?

While vaginal bleeding after sex can be scary, it’s also fairly common. It affects up to 9% of menstruating women. There’s probably no cause for concern. But it can also result from an infection. In rare cases, it's a sign of cervical cancer.


Is Bleeding After Sex Serious?
If you have some minor bleeding every once in a while, chances are everything is fine. But the only way to know for sure is to see your doctor for a physical exam.

If the bleeding happens right before you get your period or within a few days after it ends and it doesn’t happen again, you can hold off on making that appointment. You can also probably hold off if you recently had a pelvic exam and Pap smear and got a clean bill of health. In all other cases -- or if you’re just worried -- it’s best to get checked out to rule out infection or anything more serious.

Abnormal Results
If the Pap test reveals any problems with your cervix at the time of your exam, you’ll probably get a colposcopy. It starts out like a Pap test but takes a bit longer. The doctor will use a special magnifying device called a colposcope to get a closer look at the cervix. If they see anything suspicious, they can take a small sample of tissue for testing.

Treatment for Bleeding After Sex
Since there’s no one cause of bleeding after sex, there’s no single treatment. Some options include:

• Vaginal lubricants and moisturizers
• Medication for sexually transmitted infections
• Estrogen therapy
• Cervical cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation)
• Polyp removal

PREVENTING BLEEDING AFTER SEX

• Use a lubricant before and during sex
• Wait a bit longer after your period ends to start having sex again.
• Have your doctor remove any cervical polyps or treat cervical infections.
• Have more foreplay before penetration
• Try less aggressive sex