Bleeding is not a common side effect of exercise, although people with certain medical conditions or who experience exercise-related injuries are more likely to experience it. Most of the time, light bleeding, such as from accidental injury, during exercise is not a cause for medical concern, although bleeding that continues or increases requires medical attention. You often can prevent bleeding during exercise with changes in your exercise routine or lifestyle and treat bleeding with self or medical care.
Injuries
While exercise is generally good for your body, sometimes physical activity involves accidental injuries. Use of improper gear or gear that does not fit you properly can cause you to bleed during exercise. A fall while you exercise can cause you to bleed from a scrape or cut sustained during the fall. During sports, an elbow or hit to the nose can cause you to have a nosebleed while you exercise. A blow to the head with a ball, piece of equipment or crash into another person can cause bleeding from your nose, mouth or ears; bleeding after a blow to the head requires urgent medical care. Rarely, bleeding accompanies an injury such as a severe fracture.
Hemorrhoids
If you notice rectal bleeding after exercising, you likely have hemorrhoids. Strenuous exercise, especially exercises that increase the strain on the muscles of your buttocks and rectum, can cause these enlarged veins. Irritation from close-fitting workout clothes can cause the hemorrhoids to bleed, as can friction from physical activity. You can prevent hemorrhoids by drinking plenty of water during and after exercise and following a diet rich in fiber, advises the National Library of Medicine website.
Gynecological Issues
Women who exercise intensely might experience vaginal bleeding or spotting during exercise as a result of hormone fluctuations. Hormone fluctuations can also cause vaginal bleeding during exercise in women who are pregnant, although anything more than spotting requires medical evaluation. Changing your type of birth control and hormone changes during menopause can also cause women to experience vaginal bleeding during exercise. If you exercise shortly after having sexual intercourse or an internal pelvic exam, you might experience light vaginal bleeding as a result of small tears to vaginal tissue. Other gynecological concerns, including polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine fibroids and polyps can also cause vaginal bleeding during exercise.
Bleeding Disorders
Bleeding during exercise might occur as a result of bleeding disorders. Most bleeding disorders result from a genetic cause and include conditions such as hemophilia and von Willebrand's disease. In people with these conditions, bleeding underneath the skin occurs easily, even from minor bumps that often occur during exercise, such as a hard landing or getting elbowed during a competitive sport. People with bleeding disorders often experience prolonged or unusually heavy bleeding from a minor cut or nosebleed, which can occur when running outdoors or at a high elevation.
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