When you’re pregnant, some bleeding after sex is normal. But you should see a doctor about it. This may be a sign of an infection or something more serious.
Sex during pregnancy can cause light bleeding because of hormone changes. But it can’t cause miscarriage, placental previa or other dangerous conditions.
Infection
Seeing blood after sex can be alarming, especially when you’re pregnant. You’re likely wondering if the bleeding will harm your baby or cause a miscarriage, so it’s important to speak to your doctor as soon as possible. The good news is that most times, the bleeding is nothing to worry about.
During pregnancy, the body goes through many changes, and your cervix is one of the most sensitive areas. Light, pinkish, or brown spotting is normal early on in the pregnancy. This type of spotting is usually painless and short-lived, and it’s often mixed with semen and mucus. This type of spotting is called implantation bleeding.
As you get further along in the pregnancy, hormonal changes can cause different types of spotting. For example, the increased levels of progesterone can lead to a condition called cervical ectopic pregnancies, which are fragile areas on the cervix that bleed easily. It’s also common for women to have cervical lesions, which are the same as an ectopic pregnancy and can bleed when touched or during sexual activity.
Bleeding isn’t normal in later pregnancy and may indicate a serious problem, such as placenta previa or a miscarriage. If you’re experiencing heavy bleeding, your doctor will probably recommend a procedure called dilation and curettage to remove any tissue that hasn’t passed naturally.
Polyps
Bleeding after sex at 4 weeks pregnant is usually not caused by a serious problem, but it’s still important to see your doctor, especially if you have other symptoms such as pelvic pain or contractions. A doctor can assess whether the bleeding is normal or a sign of something more serious, such as ectopic pregnancy or placenta previa.
The most common reason for light bleeding after sex during pregnancy is due to hormone changes. The levels of the hormone progesterone increase throughout pregnancy and encourage blood vessels to grow on the cervix. When you have penetrative sex, the cervix is irritated and some of these blood vessels may rupture. This causes spotting or streaks of blood. It can happen after sexual intercourse, a pap smear or even vaginal contact during cleaning.
Another common cause of spotting after sex during pregnancy is implantation bleeding, which occurs when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, usually 10 to 14 days after you ovulate. It looks like spotting and it’s often tinged with pink or brown.
Some women may also experience a miscarriage at some point in their pregnancy. Depending on the type of miscarriage and how far along you are, your doctor will probably prescribe bed rest until the bleeding stops and may do a procedure called dilation and curettage to remove any tissue that has already passed.
Placenta Previa
If you experience heavy bleeding after sex, especially if it happens regularly or over a long period of time, your placenta may be covering part of or all of the cervix. This is a serious problem and can cause hemorrhaging and put the baby at risk. Seek medical attention immediately if this is the case.
Light bleeding, or spotting, after sex during pregnancy is normal and often due to increased blood cell activity in the cervix and vaginal area. This can also happen if the cervix is irritated during penetration or a pelvic exam, including during sex or when getting a pap smear.
Spotting early in the second trimester can also be a sign of implantation, which is when an embryo burrows into the uterine lining. This can cause spotting and light bleeding that is sometimes carried by semen or mucus.
Bleeding after sex that is bright red and without pain and/or contractions may indicate a placental previa, which occurs when the placenta grows in the lower part of the womb (uterus) and covers all or part of the opening to the cervix. This is largely out of the mother’s control and can result in catastrophic, life-threatening hemorrhaging. If this is the case, a caesarean section is usually recommended.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Bleeding after sex when you’re pregnant can sometimes be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. This happens when a fertilized egg implants itself outside the uterus (womb), usually in one of the fallopian tubes. It’s dangerous for both the fetus and you. Ectopic pregnancies usually occur in the sixth week of pregnancy and require immediate medical attention.
The symptoms of ectopic pregnancy are similar to the usual signs of early pregnancy, such as nausea, vomiting, and breast tenderness. A health care provider can tell if you’re having an ectopic pregnancy by checking your blood level of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and doing a pelvic exam and an ultrasound. If you have a severe case of ectopic pregnancy, the doctor may need to do surgery right away.
Heavier bleeding and pain after sex can also be a sign of a miscarriage in the first trimester. But it’s less serious than a ruptured pelvic organ because the bleeding isn’t associated with intercourse. If the bleeding is bright red, it’s even more worrisome because that means it’s older blood.
If you have a miscarriage, your doctor may prescribe medicine to stop the bleeding. You may need surgery to remove a large piece of tissue that’s blocking your fallopian tube, or the fetus might need to be removed. Occasionally, an ectopic pregnancy can be supported by blood vessels in the abdomen, such as those from your bowel or liver, and has been known to develop into a live baby.
