Bleeding after sexual intercourse is relatively common, especially during the first intercourse, due to the rupture of the hymen. However, this discomfort can also appear during menopause, for example due to increased vaginal dryness.
However, in other women, post-intercourse bleeding may be a sign of a more serious problem, such as infections, sexually transmitted diseases, polyps or even vaginal cancer.
Whenever bleeding appears for no apparent reason or is very frequent, it is advisable to consult a gynecologist to identify the cause and begin the most appropriate treatment. Find out what can cause pain during sexual intercourse.
Causes of bleeding after intercourse
The main causes of bleeding after intercourse are:
1. Hymen rupture
The rupture of the hymen usually happens during the girl’s first intimate relationship, however, there are cases in which this rupture can happen later.
The hymen is a thin membrane that covers the entrance to the vagina and helps prevent the emergence of infections during childhood, however, this membrane is usually ruptured by penis penetration during the first intercourse, causing bleeding.
There are girls who have a flexible, or compliant, hymen that does not break during the first intercourse and can be maintained for several months. In these cases, it is normal for bleeding to appear only when the rupture occurs. Learn more about the compliant hymen.
What to do: in most cases, the bleeding caused by the rupture of the hymen is relatively small and ends up disappearing after a few minutes. Therefore, it is only recommended that women wash the area carefully to avoid infection. However, if the bleeding is very profuse, you should go to the hospital or consult a gynecologist.
2. Vaginal dryness
This is a relatively common problem that is more common in women after menopause, but it can happen at any age, especially when taking some type of hormonal treatment.
In these cases, the woman does not produce natural lubricant correctly and, therefore, during intimate intercourse it is possible that the penis can cause small wounds that end up bleeding and causing pain.
What to do: One way to alleviate the discomfort caused by vaginal dryness is to use water-based lubricants, which can be purchased at the pharmacy. Furthermore, it is important to consult a gynecologist to assess whether it is possible to undergo hormonal therapy to try to cure the problem. Another option is to use natural remedies that help increase vaginal lubrication. See some examples of natural remedies for vaginal dryness.
3. Intense intimate relationship
The genital region is a very sensitive area of the body, so it can easily suffer minor trauma, especially if the woman has a very intense intimate relationship.
However, the bleeding should be small and it is possible that you may feel some pain or discomfort after intercourse.
What to do: normally it is only advisable to keep the intimate area clean, especially if you are menstruating. However, if the pain is very intense or the bleeding takes a long time to disappear, you may need to see your gynecologist.
4. Vaginal infection
Various types of infection in the vagina, such as cervicitis or some sexually transmitted infection, cause inflammation of the walls of the vagina. When this happens, there is a very high risk of small wounds appearing during sex, resulting in bleeding.
However, it is also very possible that, if the bleeding is caused by an infection, there are other symptoms such as burning in the vaginal area, itching, bad smell and whitish, yellowish or greenish discharge. See how to identify a vaginal infection.
What to do: whenever there is a suspicion of an infection in the vagina, it is very important to consult a gynecologist to carry out tests and identify the type of infection. Most infections can be treated with the correct antibiotic and, therefore, it is very important to seek advice from a doctor.
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5. Vaginal polyp
Vaginal polyps are small benign growths that can appear on the wall of the vagina and which, due to contact and friction with the penis during intimate contact, can end up bleeding.
What to do: if the bleeding is recurrent, you can consult your gynecologist to evaluate the possibility of removing the polyps through minor surgery.
6. Vaginal cancer
Although it is a rarer situation, the presence of cancer in the vagina can also cause bleeding after intimate contact. This type of cancer is more common after the age of 50 or in women with risky behaviors, such as having multiple partners or having unprotected sex.
Other symptoms may include foul-smelling discharge, constant pelvic pain, bleeding outside of your period, or painful urination. See other signs that can help identify vaginal cancer.
What to do: whenever there is a suspicion of cancer, it is very important to go to the gynecologist as quickly as possible to carry out tests, such as a Pap smear, and confirm the presence of cancer cells, starting treatment as early as possible, to obtain better results.
