Bleeding after sex. All tests normal but worried

[Leemoe]

Hi I'm just posting here for traffic and some help hopefully?

I've been bleeding after sex on and off for a couple of months. All smears normal, last one in February 21 although I do know that they now only test for HPV which worries me.

I had a pelvic ultrasound last week but apparently that was normal too. My GP has looked at my cervix and no visible ectropion or cause for concern either.

I'm forty in December so thought possible hormonal issue related to perimenopause so bought some bioidentical progesterone cream and various supplements intended for peri but still there was bleeding when we had sex earlier today. Its bright red and looks like the start of a period

I'm at my wits end and really worried that I now have cancer and its been missed by the screenings. I suffer from health anxiety too which isnt helping as I always jump to the worst conclusion.

Has anybody else ever experienced this as a sign of peri or just for no apparent reason and have it happen periodically?

Sorry for the possible TMI post but I am sat here in tears thinking I'm going to leave my children without a mother etc. I know that sounds very dramatic but I just can't seem to calm myself down.

Thanks in advance of any reassurance or experiences anybody has to offer.

Hopeful bump

No help but I'm going through exactly the same except I also get almost constant period pains. Smear, blood test, ultrasound all clear but still happening. I've been referred to gynaecology but they're not adding anyone onto the waiting list at the moment so could take forever!!

I get this too and have had it for about 3 years (I’m 45).

I’ve had 3 smear tests in the past 3 years to rule out abnormal cells, two ultrasounds, some STD tests …and everything comes back normal. It’s frustrating.

I am mid 30's so unlikely to be menopause related too.

I went through bleeding during/after sex for 4 years (aged 17-21) I’d had lots of tests, samples taken, all ruled out- eventually a consultant found I had some extra skin within the cervix which was what he thought caused the bleeding.

I had my cervix frozen

Only have of what I wrote appeared…

I had my cervix frozen (cryosurgery) and the bleeding stopped for number of years. Started again and had cervix frozen a second. No issues since, 10+ years and counting. Was told freezing cervix would strengthen the skin and make less vulnerable.

Thanks for your replies, it does help me to feel a bit more reassured, if only because others are experiencing the same issues.

@theginge I understand its unlikely to be peri related for you but perhaps its a hormonal cause if everything is showing up as normal on all of the tests?

@Dovana has anyone mentioned it as being possibly related to peri for you?

I'm umming and ahhing whether I'm at the start of peri and thats whats causing this because I'm only thirty nine but know it can go on for fourteen years before the menopause and my mum had hers at fifty so do t know what to think to be honest.

I'd be happy to be able to put it down to hormonal changes because the thought of cancer is drivi g me to distraction. I think I will see if I can get a referral to colposcopy to put my mind at rest hopefully.

@PennySweetie thats interesting, perhaps thats what's going on? I think being seen by a consultant as you did would be a good start.

I even (don't laugh) bought a home chlamydia test in case it had been dormant for a decade 🙁because I read online and on here that it causes bleeding after sex! Anyway it was negative so at least I won't be getting a divorce!

I had exactly the same for a few cycles recently OP, similar age and also normal smears, tests and ultrasounds, no ectropion, not on contraception. No change in sexual behaviour, same partner etc but it did only happen in the week before my period was due. It resolved after few months. I wouldn’t worry if your smears are normal.

I had this. Lots of blood as well. It was a polyp. No probs since it was removed.

I can completely empathise, it is so stressful seeing that red blood after sex. I've had it investigated 3 times over the last 14 years. Twice it was due to a cervical ectropian. First one was frozen off, second one many years later was painted with silver nitrite. When I had bleeding again in 2019 this time there was no ectropian and after all the other tests came back clear my gynae suggested the mirena coil. She reckoned that my uterus wasn't fully shedding the lining in periods so when it was stimulated during sex/orgasm, I was bleeding. So basically it was linked to hormones.

When I had the coil fitted, it was awful, I didn't stop spotting for eight months and eventually had it removed. However, it must have done something to my hormones because I haven't had any bleeding after sex since it was removed and my periods are more regular than they used to be. I am 45 and believe there is a link to the peri menopause though, but it definitely improved after the hormonal coil was inserted/removed.

Definitely keep a diary of your bleeding, you may see a pattern linked to your cycle. I was always more likely to bleed in the 7 days after a period had finished.

Hope I've made sense!

@User19876 yes its always in the week to ten days before my period and usually after (sorry TMI) but deeper penetration. Reassuring that yours has now stopped. Mine started at the end of May then stopped in June and July then came back in August. Fingers crossed it rights itself as yours did.

@Whyisitdarkalready yes there does seem to be a pattern to it, I suppose that is reassuring as perhaps a hormonal cause. Gosh I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with the mirena. I think they like to give them to women in the years leading up to menopause but I am reticent to have any hormonal devices because I had my tubes tied so that I didnt have to use hormonal methods and it kind of defeats the object so thank you I will bear what you have said in mind in case I am offered that route. Having said all of that I'm glad it helped to stop your bleeding however it managed to do that!

@Ledkr was your polyp on your cervix? Did you have to go to colposcopy for them to find it?

Sorry for all the questions but I am so very grateful to you all for responding to this thread because I feel much more calm now after hearing all of your experiences. Google is a nightmare because everything leads to bloody cancer and we don't really ever get to hear experiences of this where its just hormonal causes and polyps etc. So thank you all again 😊

I think it was in my uterus. I can't remember but I had a ga so they could look inside and they found it.
Mine was very red blood and lots of it. So distressing and worrying and ruined mattress. I was in a fairly new relationship as well so horrid..

I've had the same the last 3 years, last smear and colposcopy was fine. It happens every single time I have sex. Really annoying. My next smear is due shortly so I'm going to push for answers

I had this a few years ago in my early 20s. All tests were fine and jr eventually stopped?

@frillypots I'm sorry to hear that this has been going on for three years for you. I suppose its reassuring that all tests are coming back as normal so its nothing sinister. How old are you if you don't mind me asking? I'm really beginning to think this is linked to my age. Absolutely you should ask for further answers at your next smear too.

I had a telephone consult yesterday with a different GP from the surgery and she is going to refer me to colposcopy at my request. She doesn't think I need the referral and so has said that it won't be under the 'two week wait' thing which is fine because obviously those appointments should be for those who have a high suspicion of malignancy but I am just glad to be in the system and hopefully nothing will be seen. Fingers crossed.
The GP had said that sometimes this just occurs for no discernible reason, which is true I suppose but my anxiety just wants to rule everything out. My youngest is only five and I constantly catastrophise the worst.

Thinking back I have also been spotting before my period on and off for the past ten months and so I mentioned this to the GP and said maybe its peri? I know it can last for fourteen years or so. She said yes perhaps its that. Who knows.

Anyway I will keep this thread updated when I have been seen by colp so that it can be found by others who have the same issue because I have found the help and experiences really reassuring and perhaps it will be here for someone in future searching for reassurance.

@Leemoe I'm 41. I did have a coil 4 years ago so I'm wondering if it could somehow be related to that. At least you're in the system now like you say and they will keep an eye on it.

Well I've got my gynae appointment at 1.30pm tomorrow.
Really hoping not to get bad news as its in my lunch hour from work but it was the earliest appointment they had so I jumped at it as if this is being caused by something sinister its best to get the ball rolling with treatment sooner rather than later.

Absolutely anxiety ridden and feel as if my head is about to go 'pop' over the past few days.
Health anxiety really not helping right now.

I said to my mum earlier, trying my best to rationalise things that if this is cervical cancer at least it has hopefully been found early and I do have womens cancer insurance and income protection insurance. In a way it would be better for me to have cancer than somebody with no financial cushion or a single parent. Trying to find the silver lining before I'm even diagnosed with anything. I am aware that I sound quite, quite mad 🙄

Updating this thread just in case it can help anybody searching for answers to this issue in future.

I went to gynae for a colposcopy on Saturday, the consultant looked at my cervix under the microscope for a maximum of ten seconds and declared it to be a textbook cervix with no evidence of any kind of issue at all. No lesions, inflammation or ectropion.

In all honesty he was one of those old school consultants and quite dismissive of my concerns.
He says that as I have heavy periods that some of the blood from my uterus is getting knocked out of place during sex in the second half of my cycle. It is apparently quite a common issue.

He has said that I could try the mini pill to lighten my periods and hopefully stop the problem entirely so I'm going to see how I go for a few months and decide, as I'm reluctant to take hormones really.

I hope this info is helpful to others, I wish I had known that bleeding after sex isn't necessarily something to be overly worried about but just to push for a gynae appointment for reassurance if it ever happens. I have literally had myself in the grave for no good reason. The relief is tremendous. Thanks again to all who reassured me on this thread.

Was it harsh sex?

@YourJessie honestly not really harsh but (sorry if TMI) happens more if penetration is deeper and sort of hits my cervix. I think that's when the blood was getting knocked out.

Maybe you have damaged your cervix, yes it's possible.

Thanks for your update op.
So pleased you are ok.
You've got it right that Googling stuff doesn't help and when I am worried about something I often do a search on mumsnet as I find real life experiences really help calm my anxiety.
This will really help women in future. Xxx

@validnumber thank you. I am exactly the same, I find the experiences of real people on here much more reassuring than the horrors of Dr Google 😊