Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsVaginal CausesCervical CausesOther CausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Vaginal Causes
Cervical Causes
Other Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
To stop bleeding after sex, you need to treat the root cause. If you can’t easily identify what’s triggering your postcoital bleeding, it’s important to see your healthcare provider.
Postcoital bleeding rarely indicates cancer: Only 3% to 5.5% of women who experience it have cervical cancer.
Blood from postcoital bleeding may be bright red or brown, and barely noticeable or heavy enough to soak through bedsheets. Bleeding after sex can be so brief that you barely notice it, or it can last for a few days.
About 30% of people with postcoital bleeding have other episodes of bleeding that occur outside of their regular monthly period.If you’re bleeding after sex, you may also haveabnormal uterine bleedingthat is not related to sexual intercourse.
Many factors can contribute to vaginal dryness, including:
When postcoital bleeding comes from the vagina, the blood is usually bright red and it may be light or heavy.
The cervix is the passageway between the vagina and uterus. The outside of the cervix has the same type of cells as the vagina, but the inside (canal) has a different type of cell which are more fragile.
Unlike bleeding from the vagina, bleeding from the cervix after sex is usually only a small amount of blood. In fact, it can be so scant that you may notice it only after wiping yourself during a bathroom break.
There are four main reasons why your cervix may bleed after sex.
Verywell / JR Bee
There are some causes of postcoital bleeding that can involve the vagina, cervix, or both. These include:
To figure out the cause of your postcoital bleeding, your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and take a medical history. This may include questions like:
A healthcare provider may also perform laboratory and diagnostic tests to find out why you’re bleeding after sex. These may include:
How Do You Stop Postcoital Bleeding?
Using a lubricant before sexual intercourse can help prevent friction, and the postcoital vaginal bleeding that comes with it.
Summary
If you’re experiencing postcoital bleeding, don’t panic: Make an appointment with your healthcare provider to determine the cause.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ardestani S, Dason ES, Sobel M.Postcoital bleeding.Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2023.Austin JM, Cooksey CM, Minikel LL, Zaritsky EF.Postcoital vaginal rupture in a young woman with no prior pelvic surgery.J Sex Med.2013;10(8):2121-4. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02682.xThe National Health Service.Vaginal dryness.Mayo Clinic.Vaginal bleeding after sex.Malhotra M, Sood S, Mukherjee A, Muralidhar S, Bala M.Genital chlamydia trachomatis: An update.Indian J Med Res.2013;138(3):303-16.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ardestani S, Dason ES, Sobel M.Postcoital bleeding.Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2023.Austin JM, Cooksey CM, Minikel LL, Zaritsky EF.Postcoital vaginal rupture in a young woman with no prior pelvic surgery.J Sex Med.2013;10(8):2121-4. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02682.xThe National Health Service.Vaginal dryness.Mayo Clinic.Vaginal bleeding after sex.Malhotra M, Sood S, Mukherjee A, Muralidhar S, Bala M.Genital chlamydia trachomatis: An update.Indian J Med Res.2013;138(3):303-16.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ardestani S, Dason ES, Sobel M.Postcoital bleeding.Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2023.Austin JM, Cooksey CM, Minikel LL, Zaritsky EF.Postcoital vaginal rupture in a young woman with no prior pelvic surgery.J Sex Med.2013;10(8):2121-4. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02682.xThe National Health Service.Vaginal dryness.Mayo Clinic.Vaginal bleeding after sex.Malhotra M, Sood S, Mukherjee A, Muralidhar S, Bala M.Genital chlamydia trachomatis: An update.Indian J Med Res.2013;138(3):303-16.
Ardestani S, Dason ES, Sobel M.Postcoital bleeding.Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2023.
Austin JM, Cooksey CM, Minikel LL, Zaritsky EF.Postcoital vaginal rupture in a young woman with no prior pelvic surgery.J Sex Med.2013;10(8):2121-4. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02682.x
The National Health Service.Vaginal dryness.
Mayo Clinic.Vaginal bleeding after sex.
Malhotra M, Sood S, Mukherjee A, Muralidhar S, Bala M.Genital chlamydia trachomatis: An update.Indian J Med Res.2013;138(3):303-16.
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