Healthy Living
Monday, September 8, 2008
Ask Dr. Kate: Post-Coital Bleeding, Instead of Bliss
Dr. Kate,
I am 28 and have been dating my boyfriend for over a year and
at least once a month, I bleed after sex. Sometimes it is a little bit
and sometimes it is a lot and I need to wear a tampon afterward. I have
been to my gyno twice telling her how nervous I am, and she says that
everything looks normal. I am realizing that it usually happens when I
am on top. Any advice?
--Wanting Cuddles Not Kotex
Dear WCNK,
Nothing kills a post-sex high like bleeding in the bathroom (or
in bed). I don't worry when a patient has one episode of post-coital
bleeding, but you've been bleeding like this for quite a while. There
are multiple reasons why we may bleed after the deed:
- Infections. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trich,
even a wicked yeast infection can cause enough inflammation in your
cervix or vagina to cause bleeding. Your gyno can test you for all of
these with a pelvic exam.
- Trauma. Small scratches or lacerations can be caused with really vigorous sex, especially with toys, fingernails, or not enough lube. Try to see your gyno the day after a bleeding episode for her to rule this out.
- Polyps. These
are fleshy overgrowths in your cervix or uterus--think skin tags the
size of a golf pencil--that can cause irregular bleeding. Your gyno can
often pick these up on an ultrasound.
- Hormonal imbalance. Abnormalities of your thyroid or prolactin hormone can cause irregular bleeding, and can be checked by a blood test.
- Cervical dysplasia. It's unusual, but post-coital bleeding can point to pap smear abnormalities--make sure your pap is up to date.
- Fibroids and endometriosis. Also unusual. These are usually present with other symptoms, too, that your gyno will pick up in your history.
- Period jump-start. If you're seeing bleeding in the days
before your period starts, it may be the first signs of menses (sex can
"shake loose" the first drops). Similarly, if it's in the day or so
after your period ends, it may be the leftover blood that you see.
If your gyno has ruled all of these out, your bleeding may
remain a mystery for now...but try not to worry. If none of these
causes show up, your gyn health is clearly excellent, and something to
celebrate.
Have any of you had bleeding after sex?
MORE FROM DAILY BEDPOST AND GLAMOUR:
[photo credit: Getty Images]
Related: wellness, polyps, period, infections, hormonal imbalance, fibroids, endometriosis, cervical dyplasia, bleeding after sex
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Posted by Beth Wed Jul 9, 2008 5:59am PDT
Yse actually just a couple weeks ago I had some pain and bleeding, I went to my gyno to have everything checked out and everything was fine. She tested for the infections that you mentioned and haven't heard back on those which she said if I didn't hear anything then I didn't have an infection. It scared me a bit because that was the first time I had had it happen.
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Posted by Rachel T Wed Jul 9, 2008 7:13am PDT
yes, I for awhile would bleed after sex, but I noticed it only happened when we did a certain thing in a certain position
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Posted by mustang196673 Wed Jul 9, 2008 8:04am PDT
YES I HAVE IT WAS JUST MY PERIOD I KNEW IT WAS CLOSE TO TIME FOR IT THATS HOW I CAN TELL I KEEP TRACK OF IT AT ALL TIME.
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Posted by Dark angel Wed Jul 9, 2008 8:27am PDT
i never bleed after sex but there was one time like last week i was bleeding and i was omg i got my period it was getting around the time
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Posted by oneill1415 Wed Jul 9, 2008 9:30am PDT
Bleeding after or during sex is also a possible side effect of the pill.
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Posted by Tiff Wed Jul 9, 2008 10:33am PDT
I have, and it was because of the birth control pill. It was so wierd and I had never experienced it before. It wasn't until I stopped taking the birth control pills and went on another form of birth control that it stopped. I now no longer bleed after sex....and I only bled when we did it doggy.....wierd.
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Posted by M@R!@ Wed Jul 9, 2008 4:56pm PDT
get an ultrasound to be sure!
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Posted by up too late Wed Jul 9, 2008 10:17pm PDT
i bled when i was on depo and when i was on the pill. so frustrating and i wanted to cry every time. still makes me nervous cause it used to happen so much. now i'm on nuvaring and i guess it's the right amount of hormones cause i don't bleed any more unless i skip too many periods. the docs just say "huh." not too helpful.
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Posted by swatts1 Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:30am PDT
I was not on the pill and did not have an STD. What I DID have was a cyst the size of a grapefruit! I needed surgery ASAP. Not only did they remove one of my ovaries but they diagnosed endometriosis. After that they (Drs.)said it would be highly unlikely that I could have kids. They were sooooo wrong. At 38 I delivered a perfect baby girl. Do not hesitate...get to your OB fast. A ruptured cyst is quite painful. PS It is not as unusual as this Dr. reported.
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Posted by christine m Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:21pm PDT
I also bled after sex and found out that I also had a tumor the size of a large grapefruit, and i had to have my right ovary and fallpoian tube removed...that was a year ago, and since then...no bleeding!!
GET AN ULTRASOUND!!!
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