Bleeding after intercourse is relatively common, especially in women who had this type of contact for the first time due to hymen rupture. However, this discomfort can also arise during menopause, for example due to the onset of vaginal dryness.
But in other women, bleeding may be a sign of a more serious problem, such as infections, sexually transmitted diseases, polyps, or even vaginal cancer.
Thus, whenever the bleeding arises without an apparent reason, or is very frequent, it is advised to consult the gynecologist to identify the correct cause and initiate the most appropriate treatment. Get to know what can cause pain during sexual intercourse.
1. Hymen rupture
Disruption of the hymen usually occurs in the first intimate relationship of the girl, however, there are cases where such disruption may occur later. The hymen is a thin membrane that covers the entrance of the vagina and it helps to prevent the onset of infections during childhood, however, this membrane is usually ruptured by penetration of the penis during the first intercourse, causing bleeding.
There are girls who have a flexible or compliant hymen, and do not break in the first relationship, and can be maintained for several months. In these cases, it is normal for the bleeding to appear only when the breakup occurs. Learn more about compliant hymen.
- What to do : in most cases the bleeding caused by the hymen's rupture is relatively small and ends up disappearing after a few minutes. That way, it is only recommended that the woman wash the place carefully to avoid infection. However, if the bleeding is very heavy, you should go to the hospital or consult the gynecologist.
2. Vaginal dryness
This is a relatively common problem that is more common in postmenopausal women, but it can happen at any age, especially when doing some type of hormonal treatment. In these cases, the woman does not properly produce the natural lubricant and so during the intimate relationship it is possible that the penis can cause small wounds that end up bleeding and causing pain.
- What to do : One way to relieve the discomfort caused by vaginal dryness is to use water-based lubricants, which can be purchased at the pharmacy. In addition, it is important to consult your gynecologist to assess if it is possible to do hormone therapy to try to cure the problem. Another option is to use natural remedies that help increase vaginal lubrication. Here are 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, bleeding should be in short supply and it is possible that you feel some pain or discomfort after the relationship.
- What to do : It is usually only advisable to keep the intimate region clean, especially if you are in your period. However, if the pain is too severe or the bleeding time to go away, it may be necessary to consult your gynecologist.
4. Vaginal infection
Various types of vaginal infections, such as cervicitis or some sexually transmitted disease, cause inflammation of the vaginal walls. When this happens, there is a very high risk of small wounds arising during the sex act, 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 region, itching, stench and whitish, yellowish or greenish discharge. Here's how to spot a vaginal infection.
- What to do : Whenever there is suspicion of infection in the vagina it is very important to consult the gynecologist to do tests and identify the type of infection. Most infections can be treated with the correct antibiotic and therefore it is very important to have a doctor's advice.
5. Vaginal polyp
Vaginal polyps are small benign growths that may appear on the wall of the vagina and that, due to contact and friction with the penis during intimate contact, may end up bleeding.
- What to do : If the bleeding is recurrent, the gynecologist can be consulted to evaluate the possibility of removing the polyps through a minor surgery with general anesthesia, for example.
6. Cancer in the vagina
Although it is a rarer situation, the presence of cancer in the vagina can also cause bleeding during or after intimate contact. This type of cancer is most common after age 50 or in women with risky behaviors, such as having multiple partners or having unprotected sex, for example.
Other symptoms may include foul smelling discharge, constant pelvic pain, bleeding out of the menstrual period or pain when urinating. See other signs that may help identify vaginal cancer.
- What to do : Whenever there is a suspicion of cancer, it is very important to go to the gynecologist as soon as possible to make tests, such as the pap smear, and confirm the presence of cancer cells, starting treatment at an early stage for best results.
