What Does it Mean If You Bleed a Day or Two After Sex?

Bleeding after sex can be unpleasant and embarrassing for women. Bleeding varies from small vaginal tears, causing light bleeding, to more serious conditions with prolonged and heavy bleeding. Debbie Herbenick, PhD, recommends that women see a doctor for any bleeding.

Prevention/Solution

• Small tears on the vaginal wall or vulva usually heal within one to three days. Avoiding vaginal penetration, such as sex, masturbation and using tampons, can assist in faster healing. Silicone and water-based lubricants can reduce tears during sex.

Conditions

• Benign growths, including polyps and fibroids, develop in the uterus and can cause vaginal bleeding. Although more rare, other medical conditions, such as a bleeding disorder, can also lead to bleeding after sex. Herbenick recommends seeking a second opinion in cases where bleeding continues after treatment. Sexually transmissible infections, such as chlamydia, can cause bleeding but this frequently happens even when the woman hasn't had sex.

Men

• Men can also suffer from bleeding during sex when they have blood in their semen. A woman may notice a small amount of blood after her partner ejaculates in her. By masturbating, the man can determine which of the couple has the health issue.