1. What exactly is it?
Bleeding from intercourse, also known as post-coital bleeding, is vaginal bleeding that occurs after sexual intercourse. This bleeding can result for a variety of reasons, ranging from vaginal trauma, cervical conditions or infections and STDs. Bleeding after sex is not normal and should be evaluated by a physician immediately. The treatment that your physician recommends depends on the underlying cause of the bleeding.
While in many women may experience bleeding or spotting between periods, this is not the same as bleeding either during or after intercourse. Any other type of vaginal bleeding is considered to be abnormal. Excessive/constant bleeding during or after intercourse accompanied by pain or even vaginal discharge should be addressed by a physician. This could be a sign of an infection of the pelvic organs or a sexually transmitted disease.
2. Could Be Caused By an Infection
Bleeding during or after intercourse could be attributed to infections ranging from yeast infections to vaginitis. Endometritis, adenomyosis and endometriosis can also cause vaginal bleeding during or after intercourse. In the case of endometriosis, the endometrial tissue that should be lining the uterus has grown on to other organs such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes or even the bladder. These conditions are not life threatening but could cause pain and disrupt a woman's quality of life. In certain severe cases and cases where treatment has been delayed endometriosis may require a hysterectomy to permanently resolve symptoms. Additional vaginal infections such as thrush may increase the blood supply and make the vaginal surface more prone to bleeding.
3. Could Be Caused By an STD
Bleeding accompanied by pain may be attributed to a sexually transmitted disease. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infection of the upper genital tract usually presents itself with bleeding accompanied by pain and a fever. If these symptoms are present during or after sexual intercourse a physician should be consulted immediately.
4. Birth Control Culprit
Women who have had an intra uterine device (IUD) inserted could experience light bleeding during intercourse during the first few weeks after insertion of the device. Some women who are taking a combination birth control contraceptive may be more prone to what is known as cervical erosion. Cervical erosion occurs when there is a partial or complete absence of the surface area of the cervix. The majority of women with cervical erosion may not have any symptoms; however, few may be faced with excessive discharge or bleeding after intercourse.
5. Cervical Cancer Warning
In general, irregular vaginal bleeding is due to non-cancerous conditions. In women that are pre-menopausal irregular vaginal bleeding can be caused due to hormonal fluctuations and not due to cancer. Women that are older, and particularly post-menopausal women, vaginal bleeding could be an indication of a gynecologic cancer or possibly a non-cancerous condition. The most important thing to do is to consult with your physician about whether you are at increased risk for any cancers due to vaginal bleeding.
