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Nothing kills the mood quite like seeing blood on your sheets.
VTT Studio/Getty Images
But finding a little blood on your sheets during or even after sex (a.k.a.
Is it normal to bleed during or after sex?
If you havent yet hitmenopause, sporadic, light bleeding after sex is usually nothing to worry about.
But there are some cases where the blood can be a sign of a larger issue.
Bleeding during sex becomes less normal once you hit menopause.
During your reproductive years, there are many likely (and very common) explanations for it.
Yes, even if it happened only one time and was short-lived.
Thats not to say bleeding postmenopause isalwaysdue to cancer.
Period,tells SELF.Vaginal drynessin this age group (thanks, hormones!)
can cause tears and sometimes bleeding after sex, Dr. Ross explains.
Can hitting the cervix cause bleeding?
The short answer: Yes, definitely.
Some people just have extra-sensitive cervixes.
The name for this common issue iscervical ectropion.
If you touch the cervix with anything, it starts bleeding, Dr. Moritz says.
Is bleeding during sex a sign of pregnancy?
Its not uncommon to experience light bleeding during or after sex when youre pregnant.
In fact, spotting in general can be anearly sign of pregnancy.
(Its considered a very normal part of pregnancy, though not every pregnant person experiences it.)
So if you happen to have sex around this time, you may notice some droplets on your sheets.
For some, this experience persists throughout pregnancy.
During this time, your body is changing to support a growing fetus.
Its so common; pretty much everyone will experience it during pregnancy, Dr. Moritz says.
Can bleeding during sex be a sign of a tear?
Extra-rough sex can certainly cause vaginal tears and postcoital bleeding, Dr. Ross says.
These tears may not always be painful, she adds, though some can makeyour vagina sore.
In general, tearing is more common among people who are new to sex or were recently abstinent.
If you have inflammation in the cervix, it becomes more sensitive, she explains.
PID happens when an infection in the pelvis causes inflammation in the reproductive organs.
If left untreated for too long, it can cause permanent damage and lead toinfertilityand chronic pelvic pain.
Regular postcoital bleeding can also be a sign that something is growing on the cervix, Dr. Moritz says.
It can range anywhere from a small cervical polyp to cancer, he says.
It can also cause heavy periods and bleeding in between periods.
Doctors dont yet understand why these conditions can cause postcoital bleeding, Dr. Moritz says.
But recentresearchshows this is a potentially common yet underreported symptom.
If youre postmenopausal, you shouldalwaystell your doctor about any post-sex bleedingeven if its just a small amount.
No matter your age, its important to listen to your instincts.
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