Patient's question:
Hello doctor, after having sex with my girlfriend, she started bleeding. However, it has been 3 days and she is still bleeding. My girlfriend says it's not serious, but I'm very worried. Could this be harmful to her health? What measures should we take? I hope you can tell me what's going on. I am very grateful for your help. Thank you~Doctor's answer:
It is necessary to have a gynecological examination at the hospital.Post-coital vaginal bleeding is a common symptom of gynecological diseases, and it is generally caused by the following reasons:
1. Cervicitis (erosion). 90% of women after marriage suffer from cervicitis. Cervicitis is divided into three degrees—mild, moderate, and severe—based on the extent of cervical erosion. For women with moderate or severe cervical erosion, friction between the male penis and the cervix during intercourse can cause injury and bleeding. Because the bleeding is minimal and does not flow out immediately but accumulates in the vagina, the color of the blood changes from fresh to old. Therefore, when it is expelled the next day, the blood appears dark red.
2. Cervical polyps. Chronic inflammation of the cervix can lead to cervical polyps. These are small, pedunculated granular tissues that grow at the cervix opening, resembling sprouts of soybean, and can grow as large as a finger. The polyps are fragile and bleed easily upon contact, so post-coital bleeding may occur. This bleeding is usually bright red.
3. Cervical cancer. Post-coital bleeding is one of the earliest symptoms. Due to the presence of numerous small blood vessels and fragile tissue at the tumor site, capillaries are easily damaged and bleed during intercourse. If the cancer progresses further, bleeding becomes more likely.
4. Endometriosis. In some cases, endometrial tissue grows on the cervix, forming bluish-purple nodules. During intercourse, if these bluish-purple nodule lesions are encountered, bleeding may occur. The bleeding is usually minimal and dark red, and abdominal pain may also occur post-coital.
5. Pelvic inflammatory disease. Pelvic inflammation can cause pelvic congestion. If the endometrium is congested and edematous, sexual intercourse may lead to