Chances are that if you're reading this, you've had an unexpected surprise after sex. Postcoital or after sex bleeding can be alarming at first, not to mention a real mood killer. Obviously, there are many different ways to have sex. When talking about postcoital bleeding, we are referring to bleeding that happens after sex when vaginal penetration is involved. Anatomically, the two parts of your body that can bleed from the friction or relative trauma of vaginal sex are your vagina and your cervix. When your vagina bleeds after sex, it's most likely the result of direct trauma to the wall of your vagina. If the vagina is not well lubricated , the friction caused by vaginal penetration can tear the wall of your vagina.

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Vaginal bleeding after sex is common. Although it's often called "vaginal" bleeding, most benign bleeding in younger women comes from the cervix. However other parts of your genital and urinary systems can be involved. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
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If you buy something through a link on this page, we may earn a small commission. How this works. Postcoital bleeding refers to genital bleeding after intercourse. The medical community typically uses this term to describe bleeding from the vagina, a fairly common occurrence caused by a wide range of factors.
Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.