sexual knowledge

Do you know this: after sex, you turn on the light and see chaos in the room? Clothing, condoms, sex toys, stains of unknown origin, and sometimes blood. "Bleeding after sex isn't all that unusual ," says Constance Young, assistant professor of gynecology at Columbia University Medical Center.

There can be several reasons for the appearance of blood after sex . If bleeding does not occur regularly, then there should be no cause for alarm. "You should be concerned if you bleed every time you have sex or if the bleeding gets worse ," says Dr. Yang. Bleeding can be a sign of a serious problem, such as a sexually transmitted disease or even cervical cancer.

To find out why you're bleeding and how to stop it, you need to go to the gynecologist and have a Pap smear, discuss your contraception, and maybe have a few other tests. "First you have to find out what causes bleeding, only after that it will be possible to solve the problem . " So that you can understand the possible causes, we have compiled 8 of the most common factors that cause bleeding after sex.

1. Harder sex than usual

“Most of the time, bleeding after intercourse is due to an injury or damage to the vagina ,” says Dr. Yang. Your cervix may also bleed a little if it has experienced a lot of stress due to sudden and careless movements of a partner.

2. Vaginal infection

Vaginal fungi, bacterial vaginosis and other infections can cause cervical inflammation, according to Raquel Dardik, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone Medical Center. Even if you do not have severe pain with inflammation of the vagina, it is better to go to the doctor and refuse sex until the end of treatment.

3. The intrauterine device has become unusable

"There are many causes of irritation in the genitals, the result of which is bleeding ," says Dr. Yang. A copper coil or other mechanical contraception can cause friction and bleeding during sex.

4. “These” days have begun

Of course, you know that during menstruation there is blood. If you are in the phase immediately before (or after) your period, it is quite possible that your partner will notice blood on the penis. But you won't know if it's really menstrual blood or not until you see your doctor.

5. Not enough lubrication

Dr. Yang says rubbing against a condom can cause bleeding. Even if you don't use a condom, bleeding can mean your vagina isn't hydrated enough . In this case, you should use a gel lubricant.

6. It's a symptom of serious illness

If bleeding becomes a constant companion of sexual intercourse, you need to see a doctor. It could be a sign of cervical cancer or an STD, Dr. Yang points out. Bleeding can be a symptom of an overgrowth of cells in the uterus or inflammation in the vagina. Without an accurate examination and assessment, it is impossible to tell where the bleeding is coming from, so go see a doctor.

7. Hormonal fluctuations

The reason for the appearance of blood after sex can be, for example, hormonal fluctuations, which in turn can be caused by stress. This bleeding occurs irregularly and outside of menstruation. If you notice it during or immediately after making love, it may seem like it was caused by sexual intercourse.

8. Benign changes in the cervix

Changes in the cervix can also cause bleeding during sex: for example, polyps or ectopia are benign and treatable.