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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffBleeding after sex means having vaginal bleeding during or just after you have sexual intercourse when you're not menstruating. Bleeding after vaginal sex most commonly develops in women between the ages of 20 and 40.
Your cervix — the narrow, lower end of your uterus — is usually the source of bleeding brought on by vaginal sex, especially before menopause. If the cells of your cervix are inflamed or otherwise abnormal, sexual intercourse can cause enough friction to make them bleed.
Bleeding after vaginal sex is never normal, but in most cases, it's the result of harmless, treatable cervical changes, not cancer.
If you have bleeding after vaginal sex, it's important to see your doctor to determine the cause.
- Williams J. Abnormal uterine bleeding. In: Schorge J, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York: McGraw Hill Medical; 2008. http://accessmedicine.com/popup.aspx?aID=3153176&print=yes_chapter8.html. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Mohan S, et al. Diagnosis of abnormal uterine bleeding. Best Practice & Research. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2007;21:891.
- Goodman A. Overview of causes of genital tract bleeding in women. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Sahu B, et al. Prevalence of pathology in women attending colposcopy for postcoital bleeding with negative cytology. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 2007;276:471.
- Tehranian A, et al. Evaluation of women presenting with postcoital bleeding by cytology and colposcopy. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 2009;105:18.
