One SteadyHealth member reported that she "recently had unprotected sex about a week and a half after [her] period", only to be met with a symptom that worried her enough to ask other people what she was dealing with:
"Within 24-48 hours since I had sex I found that there is slight bleeding (but more in a thicker mucus form, but still reddish in color). This happened right before i was able to get Plan B. Does this mean anything? I don't think it's my period because I just had it."
While Plan B — a popular emergency contraceptive — can indeed cause irregular vaginal spotting, the fact that this bleeding occurred before she took it means that there must be another cause.
Discussion Highlights
Questions
Women who experienced bleeding after sex wanted to know:
- i just want to know if I'm preg.
- do you know what is happening?
- and do you think the emergency contraception pill will be effective, because i am bleeding?
- Is it too soon to be implantation blood?
- hello people i had sex 4days ago and now i'm having blood it started really dark brown now its starting to go lighter, the last time i was on was about 2weeks ago so im a bit worryed about it could i be having a baby?
Symptoms
Some women who bled after sex also reported other symptoms:
- I had sore upper thighs for like 3 days I think they were cramps but not sure, I have been very weak lately in the arms and back but this all didn't happen until I had unprotected sex but I am sick so maybe that's why I am weak and tired and sore.
- I haven't had any pains aside from waking up and having hunger pains which went away when I ate something.
- Hey after me and my bf had sex he looked at the condom and it pop and he wasnt sure if the sprem came in me then we did it again after it happened but without protection but after all that 2 days later I been have light blood then it would stop then come back light I don't havr no cramps or don't be heavy like I usually have when I'm in my prd .
- I am having the same problem right now but with bad adominal pain.
- I was also cramping a little today.
Suggestions
Women experiencing vaginal bleeding after intercourse were given the following bits of advice:
- Although I agree one should go to the doctor when these things occur to find out what the actual cause is and/or if you are pregnant I do not think that anyone should immediatly think such horrible serious things.
- Just be sure you only take the things you read on the internet lightly until you speak with your doctor.
- right away, that could be a sign of being pregnant, BUT it could be an ectopic pregnangy which very dangerous.
- Go to Dr.
- sylvia wehunt,I would go to a clinic and both of you get tested for an STI (STD) just to be safe either way.
Warnings
Plenty of women warned anyone experiencing bleeding after sex to seek medical attention:
- I'm going to the doctors next week.
- HOWEVER, for the sake of the ones that will indeed continue to come through this I want to say that the GUEST that posted to go to the dr immediately and all this stuff about possible tubal pregnancies and you bleeding to death and all that really should be a bit more hesitant in his/her responses.
- Although I agree one should go to the doctor when these things occur to find out what the actual cause is and/or if you are pregnant I do not think that anyone should immediatly think such horrible serious things.
- The internet is a resourceful thing to us all but, is also a very misleading and overwhelming things to us all too if we are not careful!
- There’s really no way to properly diagnose anyone based on Internet comments alone, most people posting in this forum need to be examined by a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
The SteadyHealth team reacts
Causes of bleeding after sex
Causes of bleeding after sex include:
- Cancer, which can be cervical, vaginal, or endometrial. One study indicates that these diagnoses will apply to a mere four percent of women presenting with postcoital bleeding.
- Lesions (injuries), which can indeed be caused by, let's say an extra-passionate night. Newly postpartum women are also more likely to experience this.
- Uterine polyps
- Cervicitis, an inflammation of the cervix, which can be short-term of chronic. Common causes of acute cervicitis, in turn, include sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis. Chronic cervicitis isn't usually caused by an infection, meanwhile.
- If left untreated, reproductive infections can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease in women. This condition causes damage to the reproductive system, leading to pain and potentially infertility.
- Low estrogen levels, often associated with the menopause. Remember that it's possible to go through the menopause prematurely, as well.
- Cervical ectropion, an inflammation of a particular area on the cervix.
We also have to acknowledge that it's possible that "bleeding after sex" is actually simply a menstrual period that coincidentally announced itself after you had intercourse, as well as that some women experience a light vaginal spotting around the time of ovulation. Urinary tract infections, meanwhile, can cause bleeding from the urethra that will give your urine a pink-tinted color.
Some of the women who experience bleeding after sex will indeed be pregnant. Vaginal spotting isn't uncommon in early pregnancy, including before a missed period. Vaginal bleeding should still be taken seriously in its own right, however — don't simply assume pregnancy and take that as a reason not to seek medical attention.
What should you do if you experience bleeding after sex?
Women who advised others experiencing postcoital bleeding to see a doctor were right — though the cause may be benign and ultimately harmless, it is important to have more serious conditions ruled out. Timely diagnosis, as always, improves your prognosis, as it will enable you to start treatment as soon as possible.
Regular OBGYN checkups — at least once a year — will, meanwhile, allow you to catch any problems you may be dealing with before you even display symptoms. Your reproductive health is important, so strongly consider making this part of your routine, just like you hopefully see your dentist twice a year.
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