Postcoital bleeding

Short description: Non-menstrual vaginal bleeding during or after sexual intercourse

Postcoital bleeding

Specialty| Gynecology
Frequency| Common[1]

Postcoital bleeding (PCB) is non-menstrual vaginal bleeding that occurs during or after sexual intercourse.[1][2] Though some causes are with associated pain, it is typically painless and frequently associated with intermenstrual bleeding.[1]

The bleeding can be from the uterus, cervix, vagina and other tissue or organs located near the vagina.[3] Postcoital bleeding can be one of the first indications of cervical cancer.[4][5] There are other reasons why vaginal bleeding may occur after intercourse. Some women will bleed after intercourse for the first time but others will not. The hymen may bleed if it is stretched since it is thin tissue. Other activities may have an effect on the vagina such as sports and tampon use.[6] Postcoital bleeding may stop without treatment.[7] In some instances, postcoital bleeding may resemble menstrual irregularities.[8] Postcoital bleeding may occur throughout pregnancy. The presence of cervical polyps may result in postcoital bleeding during pregnancy because the tissue of the polyps is more easily damaged.[9] Postcoital bleeding can be due to trauma after consensual and non-consensual sexual intercourse.[3][10]

A diagnosis to determine the cause will include obtaining a medical history and assessing the symptoms. Treatment is not always necessary.[11]

## Contents

* 1 Causes
* 2 Diagnosis and treatment
* 3 Epidemiology
* 4 In society and culture
* 5 See also
* 6 References

## Causes

Vaginal bleeding after sex is a symptom that can indicate:

* pelvic inflammatory disease[11]
* pelvic organ prolapse
* uterine disease[12]
* chlamydia or other sexually transmitted infection[11][13][14]
* atrophic vaginitis[11]
* childbirth
* inadequate vaginal lubrication[3]
* benign polyps
* cervical erosion (inflammation of the cervix)[11][3]
* cervical or vaginal cancer[11]
* anatomical abnormality of the uterus, vagina or both.[12]
* pregnancy
* endometrial polyps
* endometrial hyperplasia
* endometrial carcinoma
* leiomyomata
* cervicitis
* cervical dysplasia
* endometriosis
* coagulation defects
* trauma[3]

Bleeding from hemorrhoids and vulvar lesions can be mistaken for postcoital bleeding.[3] Post coital bleeding can occur with discharge, itching, or irritation. This may be due to Trichomonas or Candida.[12] A lack of estrogen can make vaginal tissue thinner and more susceptible to bleeding. Some have proposed that birth control pills may cause postcoital bleeding.[5]

Risk factors for developing postcoital bleeding are: low estrogen levels, rape and 'rough sex'.[3]

## Diagnosis and treatment

Tests and detailed examination are used to determine the cause of the bleeding:

* a pregnancy test
* a pelvic examination[11]
* obtaining tissue samples
* pap smear
* colposcopic examination of the vagina and cervix
* ultrasound
* histogram
* cultures for bacteria[12]
* biopsy of tissues[3]

A referral may be made to a specialist.[11][15] Imaging may not be necessary. Cryotherapy has been used but is not recommended.[3]

## Epidemiology

Postcoital bleeding rarely is associated with gynecological cancer in young women and its incidence is projected to drop due to the widespread immunizations against HPV. Postcoital bleeding has been most studied in women in the US. In a large Taiwanese study, the overall incidence of postcoital bleeding was found to be 39-59 per 100,000 women. Those with postcoital bleeding had a higher risk of cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer. Benign causes of postcoital bleeding were associated with cervical erosion, ectropion, vaginitis and vulvovaginitis. Other associations were noted such as the presence of leukoplakia of the cervix, an intrauterine contraceptive device, cervical polyps, cervicitis, menopause, dyspareunia, and vulvodynia.[16] In Scotland approximately 1 in 600 women aged 20–24 experience unexplained bleeding.[5] A study of African women found that trauma from consensual sexual intercourse was a cause of postcoital bleeding in young women.[17]

## In society and culture

Hymenorrhaphy is a controversial procedure to surgically repair a damaged hymen, thus restoring the appearance of virginity:

"From a Western-ethics perspective, the life-saving potential of the procedure is weighed against the role of the surgeon in directly assisting in a deception and in indirectly promoting cultural practices of sexual inequality. From an Islamic bioethical vantage point, jurists offer two opinions. The first is that the surgery is always impermissible. The second is that although the surgery is generally impermissible, it can become licit when the risks of not having postcoital bleeding harm are sufficiently great."[18]

## See also

* Female genital mutilation
* Gynecologic hemorrhage
* Menstruation
* Metrorrhagia

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Smith, Roger P. (2024). "60. Postcoital bleeding" (in en). Netter's Obstetrics and Gynecology: Netter's Obstetrics and Gynecology (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier. pp. 139–140. ISBN 978-0-443-10739-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=COK2EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA139.
2. ↑ Ardestani, Shakiba; Dason, Ebernella Shirin; Sobel, Mara (11 September 2023). "Postcoital bleeding". Canadian Medical Association Journal 195 (35): E1180. doi:10.1503/cmaj.230143. ISSN 1488-2329. PMID 37696551.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Smith, Roger P. (2017-02-16) (in en). Netter's Obstetrics and Gynecology E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 978-0-323-52350-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=9GclDgAAQBAJ&q=Postcoital+bleeding&pg=PA120.
4. ↑ Shapley, Mark; Jordan, Joanne; Croft, Peter R (2006-06-01). "A systematic review of postcoital bleeding and risk of cervical cancer". The British Journal of General Practice 56 (527): 453–460. PMID 16762128.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Health, Department of (2010-03-03). "Clinical practice guidelines for the assessment of young women aged 20-24 with abnormal vaginal bleeding". http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_113478.
6. ↑ Choices, N. H. S. (2016-07-12). "Does a woman always bleed when she has sex for the first time? - Health questions - NHS Choices". https://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2372.aspx?CategoryID=118&SubCategoryID=121.
7. ↑ Shapley, M; Blagojevic-Bucknall, M; Jordan, Kp; Croft, Pr (2013-10-01). "The epidemiology of self-reported intermenstrual and postcoital bleeding in the perimenopausal years" (in en). BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology 120 (11): 1348–1355. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.12218. ISSN 1471-0528. PMID 23530690.
8. ↑ Halpern, Vera; Raymond, Elizabeth G; Lopez, Laureen M (2014). "Repeated use of pre- and postcoital hormonal contraception for prevention of pregnancy" (in en). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014 (9). doi:10.1002/14651858.cd007595.pub3. PMID 25259677.
9. ↑ J., Cibulka, Nancy (2013). Guidelines for nurse practitioners in ambulatory obstetric settings. Barron, Mary Lee.. New York: Springer Publishing Company. pp. 240. ISBN 978-0-8261-9557-9. OCLC 841914663.
10. ↑ Boukhanni, Lahssen; Dhibou, Hanane; Zilfi, Wafaa; Housseini, Kawtar Iraki; Benkeddour, Yasser Ait; Aboulfalah, Abderrahim; Asmouki, Hamid; Soummani, Abderraouf (2016). "Les hémorragies post coïtales: à propos de 68 cas et revue de littérature" (in fr). Pan African Medical Journal 23: 131. doi:10.11604/pamj.2016.23.131.9073. PMID 27279958.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 Choices, N. H. S. (2018). "What causes a woman to bleed after sex? - Health questions - NHS Choices". https://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/977.aspx?CategoryID=118.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 "Postcoital Bleeding in a Premenopausal Patient". https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/412468.
13. ↑ Walker, Brian R.; Colledge, Nicki R. (2013-12-06) (in en). Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 978-0-7020-5103-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=W-5kAgAAQBAJ&q=Postcoital+bleeding+men+anal&pg=PA423.
14. ↑ Drake, William M.; Hutchison, Robert (2012-01-01) (in en). Hutchison's Clinical Methods, An Integrated Approach to Clinical Practice With STUDENT CONSULT Online Access,23: Hutchison's Clinical Methods. Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 978-0-7020-4091-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=h65BJiYvt_oC&q=Postcoital+bleeding&pg=PA441.
15. ↑ "Postcoital bleeding" (in en-US). https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/postcoital-bleeding-query-bank/.
16. ↑ Liu, Hsin-Li; Chen, Chuan-Mei; Pai, Lee-Wen; Hwu, Yueh-Juen; Lee, Horng-Mo; Chung, Yueh-Chin (2017-04-01). "Comorbidity profiles among women with postcoital bleeding: a nationwide health insurance database" (in en). Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics 295 (4): 935–941. doi:10.1007/s00404-017-4327-7. ISSN 0932-0067. PMID 28246983.
17. ↑ Boukhanni, Lahssen; Dhibou, Hanane; Zilfi, Wafaa; Housseini, Kawtar Iraki; Benkeddour, Yasser Ait; Aboulfalah, Abderrahim; Asmouki, Hamid; Soummani, Abderraouf (2016-03-25). "Les hémorragies post coïtales: à propos de 68 cas et revue de literature". The Pan African Medical Journal 23: 131. doi:10.11604/pamj.2016.23.131.9073. PMID 27279958.
18. ↑ Bawany, Mohammad H.; Padela, Aasim I. (August 2017). "Hymenoplasty and Muslim Patients: Islamic Ethico-Legal Perspectives". The Journal of Sexual Medicine 14 (8): 1003–1010. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.06.005. PMID 28760245.

Classification|

* ICD-10: N93.0

|

* v
* t
* e

Outline of human sexuality

Physiology and biology|

* Erection
* Insemination
* Intersex
* Libido
* Nocturnal emission
* Orgasm
* Female and male ejaculation
* Pelvic thrust
* Pre-ejaculate
* Pregnancy
* Sexual arousal
* Sexual stimulation

Health and
education|

* Birth control
* Condom
* Masters and Johnson
* Reproductive medicine
* Andrology
* Gynaecology
* Urology
* Safe sex
* Sex education
* Sex therapy (PLISSIT model)
* Sexology
* Sexual dysfunction
* Erectile dysfunction
* Hypersexuality
* Hyposexuality
* Sexual medicine
* Sexual surrogate
* Sexually transmitted infection

Identity and diversity|

* Gender binary
* Gender identity
* Men who have sex with men
* Sexual identity
* Sexual orientation
* Women who have sex with women

Law|

* Age of consent
* Criminal transmission of HIV
* Child sexual abuse
* Incest
* Indecent exposure
* Obscenity
* Sexual abuse
* Cybersex trafficking
* Rape
* Sex trafficking
* Sexual assault
* Sexual harassment
* Sexual misconduct
* Sexual slavery
* Sexual violence

History|

* Blue Movie
* Counterculture of the 1960s
* Feminist sex wars
* Golden Age of Porn
* History of erotic depictions
* Sexual revolution

Relationships
and society|

* Anarchism and love/sex
* Extramarital sex
* Family planning
* Flirting
* Free love
* Marriage
* Modesty
* Polyamory
* Premarital sex
* Promiscuity
* Romance
* Sex-positive movement
* Sexual abstinence
* Sexual addiction
* Sexual attraction
* Sexual capital
* Sexual ethics
* Sexual objectification
* Sexual slang

By country|

* Ancient Rome
* China
* India
* Japan
* Philippines
* South Korea
* United States

Sexual activities|

* Conventional sex
* Anal sex
* Bareback
* BDSM
* Child sex
* Creampie
* Edging
* Erotic sexual denial
* Fetishism
* Fingering
* Fisting
* Gang bang
* Group sex
* Masturbation
* Mechanics of sex
* Nipple stimulation
* Non-penetrative sex
* Facial
* Foot fetishism
* Footjob
* Forced orgasm
* Frot
* Handjob
* Mammary intercourse
* Sumata
* Oral sex
* 69
* Anilingus
* Cunnilingus
* Fellatio
* Irrumatio
* Paraphilia
* Pompoir
* Quickie
* Sex in space
* Sex positions
* Sexual fantasy
* Sexual fetishism
* Sexual intercourse
* Foreplay
* Sexual penetration
* Swinging
* Tribadism
* Urethral intercourse
* Urolagnia
* Virtual sex
* Cybersex
* Erotic talk
* Wet T-shirt contest

Sex industry|

* Red-light district
* Adult video games
* Erotica
* Pornography
* Film actor
* Prostitution
* Survival sex
* Sex museum
* Sex shop
* Sex tourism
* Child
* Female
* Sex worker
* Sex toy
* doll
* Strip club
* Webcam model

Religion and
sexuality|

* Buddhism
* Christian demonology
* Daoism
* Islam
* Mormonism
* Sex magic

* v
* t
* e

Female reproductive system

Internal|

| Adnexa|

| Ovaries|

| Follicles|

* corpus
* hemorrhagicum
* luteum
* albicans
* Theca of follicle
* externa
* interna
* Follicular antrum
* Follicular fluid
* Corona radiata
* Zona pellucida
* Membrana granulosa
* Perivitelline space

|

Other|

* Germinal epithelium
* Tunica albuginea
* cortex
* Cumulus oophorus
* Stroma
* Medulla

Fallopian tubes|

* Isthmus
* Ampulla
* Infundibulum
* Fimbria
* Ostium

Ligaments|

* Ovarian ligament
* Suspensory ligament

Wolffian vestiges|

* Gartner's duct
* Epoophoron
* Vesicular appendages of epoophoron
* Paroophoron

Uterus|

| Regions|

* Body
* Uterine cavity
* Fundus
* Cervix
* External orifice
* Cervical canal
* Internal orifice
* Supravaginal portion
* Vaginal portion
* Uterine horns

|

Layers|

* Endometrium
* epithelium
* Myometrium
* Perimetrium
* Parametrium

Ligaments|

* Round ligament
* Broad ligament
* Cardinal ligament
* Uterosacral ligament
* Pubocervical ligament

General|

* Uterine glands

Vagina|

* Fossa of vestibule of vagina
* Vaginal fornix
* Hymen
* Vaginal rugae
* Support structures
* Vaginal epithelium

External|

| Vulva|

| Labia|

* Mons pubis
* Labia majora
* Anterior commissure
* Posterior commissure
* Pudendal cleft
* Labia minora
* Frenulum of labia minora
* Frenulum of clitoris
* Vulval vestibule
* Interlabial sulci
* Bulb of vestibule
* Vaginal orifice
* vestibular glands/ducts
* Bartholin's glands/Bartholin's ducts
* Skene's glands/Skene's ducts

|

Clitoris|

* Crus of clitoris
* Corpus cavernosum
* Clitoral glans
* Hood

Urethra|

* Urethral crest

Other|

* G-spot
* Urethral sponge
* Perineal sponge

* v
* t
* e

Female genital surgical and other procedures (gynecological surgery) (ICD-9-CM V3 65–71, ICD-10-PCS 0U)

Adnexa|

| Ovaries|

* Oophorectomy
* Salpingoophorectomy

|

Fallopian tubes|

* Falloposcopy
* Salpingectomy
* Tubal ligation
* Essure
* Tubal reversal

Uterus|

| General:|

* Genitoplasty
* Hysterectomy
* Hysterotomy
* Pelvic exenteration
* Uterine artery embolization
* Transplantation

|

Uterine cavity:|

* Hysteroscopy
* Vacuum aspiration

Endometrium:|

* Endometrial biopsy
* Endometrial ablation

Myometrium:|

* Uterine myomectomy

Cervix:|

* Colposcopy
* Cervical conization
* LEEP
* Cervical cerclage
* Cervical screening (pap test)
* Cervicectomy
* Pessary insertion

Vagina|

* Vaginectomy
* Culdoscopy
* Culdocentesis
* Episiotomy
* husband stitch
* Hymenotomy
* Colpocleisis
* Hymenorrhaphy
* Vaginal wet mount
* Vaginal transplantation

Vulva|

* Vulvectomy
* Female genital mutilation
* Labiaplasty
* Clitoral hood reduction
* Vestibulectomy

Medical imaging|

* Gynecologic ultrasonography
* Hysterosalpingography

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