Bleeding occasionally after intercourse

[Stopandbreathe]

Long-time lurker, first time poster hoping for some words of reassurance

For the last approx 10 months I have had occasional spotting after sex, which tends to only happen if sex is in the week leading up to my period? Its very light and only seen immediately after (on wiping)- I can then go months before it happens again. It happened again a few weeks ago (last time was around October) and so decided I really needed to check what was going on. I came off all contraception just over a year ago having had the implant from 2013-2020 and been on the pill from 2002-2013 apart from two 1 year breaks when pregnant in 2008 and 2012.

My last smear was August 2019 and all fine, all smears to date have been clear. GP checked my cervix and took swabs said all looked OK but I did bleed a bit when she did the exam- this was about 5 days before my period started.

She said she would refer me for an ultrasound and transvaginal scan as next step. My appointment is still a few weeks away and I'm doing my best not to worry (have had horrendous HA in the past) but it is niggling away at me that I left it too long before going to my GP, even though the episodes of bleeding were often a few months apart and never consistently re-occuring.

Guess I'm just hoping someone might have had something similar happen to them and all was ok- maybe hormonal or something?! Trying SO hard not to catastrophise my thought right now, any replies would be appreciated!

I get the same thing. Something to do with the cervix having lots of blood vessels on the surface.

I've been told before that due to being on the pill previously I have something called a cervical ectropion, which is nothing like as scary as it sounds. Basically I have some cells from the inside of my cervix growing on the outside of it, which can cause minor bleeding after sex. You're doing the right thing getting everything checked by a doctor, try to keep your mind busy with other things in the meantime. Xx

I had this and it was cervical ectropian and very much nothing serious; it’s to do with the cells on the cervix and I had a procedure to stop them bleeding (painless apart from the discomfort associated with any procedure involving a speculum) and it’s not reoccurred

I've just had exactly this scenario except with more frequency. Bleeding, no infections, swabs and biopsy done. My scan was last month and all clear, no issues at all. I was more concerned about fibroids as DM had them. You might find that it's just a hormonal trigger as you're so close to your period when it happens.

I'm now on the waiting list for ablation to stop the bleeding. No issue for me as I'm finished having DC. The other option was the Merina coil.

I also have the same thing and was also told it was a cervical ectropion! Was not serious at all and as it was only occasional they just left it; you're still doing absolutely the right thing by getting it checked out.

Like others I have had that and had it cauterised because it was just sensitive cells growing where they shouldn't HOWEVER, all irregular bleeding should be checked, so do go to your GP.

I had the same - and a uterine polyp - it was sorted out very easily and was nothing to be concerned about.

It is usually an ectropion or polyp but is occasionally something more serious.For this reason you will need to speak to your doctor and arrange to be examined.

@CornishGem1975 thank you, I went to my GP a couple of weeks ago who has referred me for an ultrasound and transvaginal scan as the next step, this scan is in 2 weeks time.

@yikesanotherbooboo thank you, I went to my GP a couple of weeks ago who has examined me and said all looks OK but has referred me for an ultrasound and transvaginal scan as the next step, this scan is in 2 weeks time.

@CallyfromBlakes7 @NetflixAndSauvignonBlanc @Ohdoleavemealone @WithASpider @Bdhntbis @thetwofridas thank you all for your words of reassurance, hugely appreciated! I did wonder about cervical erosion/ectropion but assumed the GP would have seen that when she examined me?!

@Stopandbreathe did you get to the bottom of this at all? 😊

@Lollyl88 yes I did in the end - finally ended up going private (scans showed nothing and was not put forward for any further testing despite the bleeding still happening) and turns out it was cervical erosion - I had it cauterised and have had no problems since! Private doctor said it should have been recognised by the GP that examined me but said it was becoming more common for private referrals as people weren't being examined by doctors/nurses with the appropriate gynaecology experience. So, expensive but worth for peace of mind and in the end, there was nothing to worry about at all 😊

@Stopandbreathe thanks so much for replying! I've had a scan and completely all clear. Smear clear so I'm thinking it's got to be this. But nobody has suggested it! Did you have to have a separate appointment for caeuterisation?

@Lollyl88 all done at the same private appointment. I went in there terrified something was wrong with me after my next routine smear at my GPs where they told me they could 'see something' on my cervix but didn't know what so were referring me on the two week nhs pathway! Absolutely sh*t myself and wasn't waiting 2 more weeks after pushing for answers for 6 months so went private, best money I've ever spent and the relief afterwards after being so worried was unbelievable! Should never have come to that really but reality now is that the NHS is super stretched and you don't always see the person you should for these things, even when you go to your GP 😔