Bleeding after sex

Category: Women's Health · All women's health symptoms

What it can feel like

Bleeding after sex (postcoital bleeding) means vaginal bleeding that follows intercourse, from spotting to a heavier loss. The bleeding source is usually the cervix — its surface is delicate and easily disturbed — which is why the cervix is always examined directly in this symptom.

Possible causes

A symptom can have many causes, and most are not serious. The lists below group conditions this symptom can be associated with — common causes first. They are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.

Common causes

Bleeding after sex can be associated with a cervical ectropion (a normal, glandular area on the cervix that bleeds easily, common in younger women and on the pill), cervix inflammation or infection, vaginal dryness, and cervical polyps.

Other possible causes

Bleeding after sex can also be the presenting symptom of cervical cancer — uncommon, but the reason every case earns a speculum examination of the cervix and an up-to-date screening history, with referral if the cervix looks abnormal.

Red flags — when to seek help promptly

Bleeding after sex that happens repeatedly
Bleeding after sex with pelvic pain, fever or offensive discharge
Bleeding after sex in a woman whose cervical screening is overdue
Any bleeding after sex after the menopause

What a clinician may do

A clinician will examine the cervix with a speculum, take infection swabs, review screening status and arrange a pregnancy test where relevant. An abnormal-looking cervix is referred urgently for colposcopy (magnified examination); a normal cervix with persistent bleeding leads to gynaecology review and often ultrasound.

Watch: related videos

Examination and clinical videos from the MedicalVideos.com library relevant to this symptom. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.

▶ WatchBleeding after sexWatch on MedicalVideos.com

Related guides on MedicalVideos.com

Frequently asked questions

Does bleeding after sex mean cancer?

Usually not — ectropion, infection and polyps account for most cases, and they are benign. But because cervical cancer can present exactly this way, the rule is examination every time the symptom persists, rather than reassurance without a look.

What is a cervical ectropion?

In younger women and on hormonal contraception, the delicate glandular lining of the cervical canal extends onto the outer cervix, where it looks redder and bleeds on contact. It is a normal variant, not a disease, though it is sometimes treated if bleeding is troublesome.

Related symptoms — Women's Health

Bleeding after the menopause Bleeding between periods Breast lump Breast pain Heavy periods Hot flushes

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Please note: This page is educational information about a symptom. A symptom alone cannot diagnose any condition, and the causes listed here are possibilities, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about a symptom — especially one that is new, severe, getting worse or not going away — please see your own clinician, who can examine you and arrange tests. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.