There are many women who have had a small amount of blood show up after sex on different occasions. This can happen simply because it was too dry or it could be the sign of trouble. If you are worried, you should speak to your doctor or visit a women’s health clinic. They will ask questions to gather details about your symptoms and medical history. They may offer treatment if it is needed.
Small Amount of Blood After Sex: Causes and Solutions
1. Rough Sex
Normal penetration and rough sex can cause friction. If the penis rubs the lower end of the uterus or cervix, it can be easy to see light bleeding after sex. This is even more true without lube and foreplay. Rough sex that causes friction may also cause women pain.
- If you are bleeding after being fingered, your vaginal walls may have been scratched or injured.
- If it is your first time of your bleeding, it is likely from tearing your hymen. It is common for virgins to see a small amount of blood after intercourse.
Solution
If you are seeing spotting after sex, try changing up what you are doing. Talk with your partner about being gentler. If you suspect dryness, invest in high-quality lubrication that is safe to use with your choice of birth control.
2. Cervical Polyps
Seeing light bleeding after sex can be a sign that you have cervical polyps. This is a benign, common polyp or tumor that is near the surface of the cervical canal. Other than irregular periods, you will likely have no other symptoms.
Solution
Uterine polyps can be removed surgically which will stop the bleeding. There may be some pain involved but your doctor can offer medication.
3. Cervicitis or Cervix Inflammation
Cervicitis is when the cervix is inflamed. This can be a common problem for women, particularly those who are prone to yeast infections and vaginal bacterial problems. Symptoms you might see are between-period bleeding, spotting after intercourse and discharge.
Solution
If the cause isn’t an STI (sexually transmitted infection), pain and spotting after sex may not need treated. Most mild infections clear up on their own. Your doctor may decide to treat the infection to stop you from seeing a small amount of blood after sex though.
4. Vaginal Dryness and Atrophy
If you are seeing small amounts of blood after sex frequently, it may be because you are experiencing vaginal atrophy or dryness. Atrophy is in reference to thinning, drying and inflammation of the vagina due to a loss of estrogen.
This is common during menopause and can cause other symptoms such as painful sex, urinary incontinence or burning when you urinate. You may also notice more urinary tract infections, a shorter, tighter vaginal canal and possibly light bleeding during sex.
Solution
Initial treatment may mean using a moisturizer for your vagina. Vagisil Feminine Moisturizer, Hyalo Gyn, Replens are all possible options. These will last longer than lubricant and are a better option for dryness. Estrogen therapy may be suggested to balance the estrogen in your boy and help with vaginal atrophy.
5. Yeast Infections
Women of all ages can get a yeast infection; they are quite common. Having chronic yeast infections can lead to small amounts of blood after sex. This can be from yeast cell overgrowth due to a weakened immune system. It can also happen from poor hygiene or too much sugar.
Yeast infection symptoms include:
- Vaginal itching
- White, clumpy discharge
- Burning inside the vagina
Solution
These infections are treated with anti-fungal medications. Your doctor may suggest an one to three-day dose of cream or ointment that is antifungal. There are also suppositories and tablets that may be given to get rid of the yeast.
6. PID or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Another reason for bleeding after sex can be PID or pelvic inflammatory disease. This is an infection that affects the upper genital tract over. This may not cause obvious symptoms in everyone but some of them include:
- Pain deep inside the pelvis during intercourse
- Lower abdomen pain
- Bleeding after sex and in between periods
- Pain when urinating
- Heavy periods
- Unusual green or yellow discharge
Solution
If you find it out early enough, antibiotics may kick it out. This is a two-week long treatment. There are either tablets or injections as an option. You may be asked to abstain from sex during treatment.
7. Cervical Dysplasia
This is a precancerous condition causing change to the epithelial cells lining the cervix. It is linked to HPV which is an STD. If you are diagnosed during a routine exam, treatment is generally a success. If left untreated, cervical dysplasia can lead to cervical cancer. Symptoms can include:
- Unusual discharge
- Light spotting after sex
- Lower back pain
- Genital warts
- Abnormal bleeding between periods
- Bleeding during intercourse or after
Solution
Removing abnormal tissue is a treatment for cervical dysplasia. Medications aren’t generally used for treatment. There are studies that show taking folate, beta carotene and vitamin C may help reduce the effects of cervical dysplasia.
Other Possible Causes of Bleeding After Sex
- Imbalanced Hormones: If you are seeing a small amount of blood after sex, you may have imbalanced hormones that need treatment.
- Endometriosis: Endometrial tissue lines your uterus and when it is found outside of it, this is called endometriosis. This tissue can attach to other organs and cause a lot of pain as well as infertility. When the lesions appear on the vagina or cervix, they can cause bleeding.
- Menstruation: If you experience the bleeding near your period, you may want to consider this as the primary cause. There are many women whose periods are not that regular.
- STDs: Some STDS like trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia can cause bleeding. Make sure to get tested to eliminate these as possibilities.
- Pregnancy: Spotting or light bleeding can occur during pregnancy. This happens when the embryo attaches itself to the uterine wall. If your spotting after sex is the first time it has happened, a pregnancy test may be in order.
- Vaginitis: It is inflammation, swelling and infection in the vagina.
- Uterine Fibroids: They are abnormal growths found in the uterus that may cause bleeding.
When to See the Doctor
Even a small amount of blood after sex is not normal so you should speak with your doctor. You may need to have testing for STDs and Pap tests to rule out infections. Check with your doctor if:
- You see heavy bleeding after intercourse.
- You are postmenopausal and still see it after sex.
- You have cervical cancer risk.
- You have pain with the bleeding during sex.
- You see it almost every time you have sex.
- Fever and abdominal pain accompany the bleeding.