WHY DO I SPOT AFTER SEX?! - Girl Talk with Dr. Rejuvenation

While vaginal bleeding after sex can be alarming, it’s also fairly common -- affecting up to 9% of menstruating women -- and probably no cause for concern. But it can also be caused by an infection, and in rare cases, it's a sign of cervical cancer. WHY DOES IT HAPPEN? The most common causes for vaginal bleeding after sex both start in the cervix, which is the narrow, tube-like end of the uterus that opens into the vagina. One of those causes is cervical inflammation, or cervicitis. It can be ongoing and totally harmless, or it can happen because of a sexually transmitted infection that you need to get treated, like chlamydia or gonorrhea. Both types of cervical inflammation can cause bleeding after sex. A second common reason for bleeding after sex are cervical polyps. They are growths that are usually small -- about 1 to 2 centimeters -- that often appear on the cervix where it connects to the vagina. Most aren’t cancerous, and a doctor can remove them during an appointment. Other causes of vaginal bleeding after sex include: •Friction during sex or not enough lubrication •Normal uterine bleeding if you're just beginning your period or if it’s just ended •A cervical or vaginal infection •Genital sores caused by herpes or another condition •A precancerous cervical spot •Cervical ectropion (when the inner lining of the cervix pokes through the cervical opening and grows on the vaginal side of the cervix) •Pelvic organ prolapse (when pelvic organs, like the bladder or uterus, jut beyond the vaginal walls) • Cancer of the cervix, vagina, or uterus