So you’re done having some amazing sexytime, then you look down on the sheets and see blood even if you’re not supposed to have your menstruation soon — what’s up?

Vaginal bleeding after sex may make you panic, but it’s actually quite common. It usually shouldn’t make you worry, but there are other causes that may need immediate medical attention.

Causes

There’s a long list of possible causes for vaginal bleeding after sex. Do you think any of these fit in your situation?

• Friction during sex
• Not enough lubrication or foreplay
• Vaginal dryness (atrophic vaginitis) due to reduced vaginal secretions after menopause
• Menstruation
• Cervical cancer (in rare cases)
• Cervical ectropion, a condition where the inner lining of the cervix sticks out of the cervical opening and grows on the vaginal side of the cervix
• Cervical polyps, which are benign (noncancerous) and grows on the cervix
• Cervicitis, which is inflammation of the cervix
• Endometrial cancer (uterine cancer)
• Genital sores from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as genital herpes or syphilis
• Damage to the uterine lining (endometrium) during sex, especially in women taking oral contraceptive pills
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Vaginal cancer (in rare cases)
• Vaginitis

What to do

You might not need to consult a doctor if: you’re not yet at the menopausal stage; you don’t necessarily bleed after sex all the time, and; your Pap smear tests and sexually transmitted infection screenings have normal results.

See your doctor for evaluation if it worries you or if you think you’ve been exposed to an infection. You may be asked questions and to go through some examinations depending on other symptoms and medical history.

For postmenopausal women, it’s best to see your doctor soon to evaluate the situation.

Prevention

You’ll be given options for treatment depending on the findings after getting a proper diagnosis from the doctor.

For vaginal bleeding caused by friction or lack of lubrication, using a personal lubricant during sex can lessen the chances of it happening again. We recommend using water-based lube such as EZ Lubricating Jelly. It can be used for most sexual activity, reduce friction and discomfort, and increase the pleasure and sensation during sex. Using condoms is also recommended to prevent getting STIs and to reduce friction during sex.

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/women/bleeding-after-sex#1

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/womens-health/what-causes-a-woman-to-bleed-after-sex/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/bleeding-after-vaginal-sex/basics/definition/sym-20050716