Bleeding after intercourse - characteristics, causes, diagnosis

Bleeding after intercourse is also known as spotting on the genitals. It is sometimes referred to as contact bleeding. There are many reasons that can cause bleeding after intercourse. Bleeding after intercourse is not always caused by a disease, but it can be benign conditions such as polyps. However, you should always keep in mind that spotting from the vagina can be a sign of cervical cancer. What are its causes and how to deal with this problem?

1. What is bleeding after intercourse?

Bleeding after intercourse is not uncommon for women with a so-called first time. Pain, often associated with bleeding, is a consequence of a ruptured hymen in a woman.

If bleeding after intercourse is not related to menstruation, it should always cause a serious illness. This ailment often accompanies women struggling with cervical cancer. Spots can also be the result of cervical or vaginal polyps. Each time this is an alarming symptom that should be consulted with a gynecologist.

Bleeding mainly comes from the superficial layers of the genital tract. Most often, it is also accompanied by pain and discomfort during intercourse. It is worth mentioning that in some cases spotting can return even in the absence of sexual contact.

Bloody discharge after sexual intercourse usually appears as small traces of blood or blood-stained cervical mucus.

2. Causes of bleeding after intercourse

Bleeding after intercourse is also known as spotting on the genitals. This ailment can be caused by various reasons:

• mechanical damage to the vaginal mucosa associated with its dryness, which may be caused by the lack of foreplay or the use of contraceptives, or may be an individual feature,
• too deep penetration, which, in addition to contact bleeding, can cause pain in the lower abdomen,
• the time between periods when hormonal changes occur
• menopause,
• rape or sexual assault (victims of sexual assault can injure the vagina or tear the perineum).

Bloody discharge after intercourse, turning into bleeding that appears more often, may indicate ongoing painful processes. 

The following conditions should be mentioned here:

• zrosty i endometrioza,
• erosion - when, in addition to blood, a large amount of mucus is observed. In addition, there are pains in the abdomen and lumbar spine. Often, erosion does not give any symptoms, so in such a situation it is necessary to go for tests, and in particular for loading. cytology,
• ovarian cysts - which occur as a result of hormonal disorders,
• Cervical polyps - occur due to the fact that the lining of the uterus does not separate during menstruation. They are characterized by frequent recurrences and require histopathological diagnosis,
• cervicitis - manifested by inflammation of the canal connecting the vagina to the uterine cavity. This condition can result in vaginal bleeding.
• adnexitis, also called pelvic inflammatory disease. This problem most often affects women who are sexually active (between the ages of 20 and 30). Patients complain of a sharp pain in the lower abdomen, pain during intercourse, subfebrile condition.

• bacterial vaginosis - when you smell a characteristic fishy smell and red blood cells are present in the mucus,
• vaginal fungal infections - caused mainly by Candida Albicans, Candida Glabrata, Candida Tropicalis, characterized by itching, vaginal discharge and irritation of the mucous membrane,
• chlamydia - which is manifested by bleeding from the genital tract. The bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the development of the disease.
• Gonorrhea - which often develops asymptomatically. Symptoms usually appear later and, in addition to blood stains, yellow vaginal discharge and painful urination appear.
• trichomoniasis - manifested by contact spotting. The disease occurs as a result of infection with the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis,
• syphilis - caused by bacteria spirochetes. Other than bruising, the most common symptoms include: an itchy rash of pink or copper colored patches and pustules, sore throat, headache, hair loss, weight loss, and swollen lymph nodes.
• herpes of the labia - which is a great danger to pregnant women. The disease is caused by the herpes virus type 2 (HSV-2). Common symptoms of herpes labia include: itching, burning, vaginal discharge, bloody discharge, painful blisters on the genitals,
• inguinal Hodgkin's - resulting from infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis,
• cancers that affect not only the vagina, but are primarily metastatic tumors of the ovaries, cervix or vulva. According to statistics, about 5% of women who turn to a specialist with this disease are diagnosed with cervical cancer. Of course, without proper tests, a doctor cannot tell if the continuous bleeding after intercourse is due to cancer.

3. Bleeding after intercourse and diagnosis

With frequent and increased bleeding after intercourse, you should immediately contact a gynecologist. Before visiting a doctor, it is important to pay attention to the length of the cycle, whether the cycles are regular. It is necessary to check if menstrual bleeding is heavy and how long it lasts. The date of the last menstrual period is also essential for a correct diagnosis. A woman should know if post-sexual bleeding occurs immediately after intercourse.

When interviewing a patient, the doctor should ask about the number of partners and gynecological operations performed in the past. The last cytological diet is also important. Of course, bleeding after intercourse, which can be the cause of the disease, is also associated with other ailments, for example, there may be pain in the lower abdomen, altered discharge, burning or a feeling of heaviness in the vagina.

In addition to the standard interview, the specialist must appoint a gynecological examination along with a smear from the vagina, as well as the cervix. In addition, transvaginal ultrasound is recommended. By performing this test, the doctor can find out the cause of any ongoing bleeding.

Sometimes it is also necessary to perform hormonal tests, hysteroscopy or colposcopy.

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