There are a few things that can cause your period to come early. One is if you are pregnant. Another is if you have vaginal or uterine infections or cancer. If you’re experiencing bleeding after sex, it’s important to see a doctor for a check-up.
Your menstrual cycle depends on a delicate balance of hormones – This quote was taken from the service’s editor Lustful Musings. Sexual activity can influence these hormones and your uterine lining, but it cannot make your period come early.
Orgasms
The good news is that sex (and masturbation) does not cause your period to come early. However, the amazing feeling of an orgasm may make your period start a little bit sooner than usual if you are close to the end of your menstrual cycle. The reason is that an orgasm triggers uterine contractions, and the contractions can bring on your period by softening the cervix. The contractions are caused by the hormone oxytocin, as well as adrenaline and dopamine. Semen also stimulates oxytocin and can be a natural means of bringing on your period. However, if you are using sperm, it is important to be tested for pregnancy and use reliable birth control.
The key is that the menstrual cycle is regulated by a delicate interplay of hormones and sex does not influence the timing of your period directly. Orgasms can speed up your menstrual cycle a little by causing uterine contractions, but they will only do so if you are near the end of your normal menstrual cycle.
Many people experience spotting after sex, and sometimes they get their periods a day or two early. Usually, bleeding after sex isn’t a sign of a problem and can be due to friction between the clitoris and labia or other reasons such as an infection or gynaecological cancer.
Hormones
Hormones control so many of the things that happen in our bodies — including the menstrual cycle. They help prepare your body to potentially conceive by thickening the uterus lining so an egg can implant and then, if a pregnancy is not successful, the lining will break down and be shed, causing your period to start.
When you have sex, your body releases a lot of hormones — including oxytocin and adrenaline. These hormones help you bond with your partner, make you feel a rush of pleasure, and can even give you orgasms. But they also cause your uterus to contract and can lead to bleeding after sex.
The sex-related bleeding you may experience after a sexual encounter could be caused by a number of things, including a sexually transmitted disease (STI/STD) like chlamydia or herpes. Bleeding after sex may also be a sign of genital cancer or uterine fibroids.
If you’re experiencing abnormal or heavy bleeding after sex, talk to your healthcare provider. They can examine you and recommend a treatment plan.
Stress
It’s pretty normal for stress to throw off your menstrual cycle a little from time to time. That’s because your body can produce a ton of different hormones in response to stress, including cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine (which are all adrenaline), aldosterone (which regulates blood pressure) and DHEA, a precursor to estrogen and testosterone. All of these hormones can have an effect on your ovulation, making it either early or late, according to experts.
So, while sex might get your hormones all jazzed up and may trigger an orgasm, it’s unlikely that it will cause your period to come early if you’re already within the window for your menstrual cycle. The only way it could do that is if you have penetrative sex a day or two before your period is due, though that would also be a good reason to get a pregnancy test just to be safe.
That being said, it’s always worth mentioning to your doctor if you’re under a lot of stress and your cycle is off, or if it happens regularly. That way, they can give you tips on reducing the amount of stress you’re under and help keep your body running smoothly. They might even prescribe you something to ease the symptoms of stress, which can include things like yoga or meditation.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a wild card that can cause your period to play by its own rules. Having sex during pregnancy may result in light bleeding or spotting that isn’t related to your menstrual cycle, especially during the first trimester. However, you should always use the proper protection (like a condom) when having sex to protect yourself. It’s also important to talk to your doctor if you experience spotting between periods, which could be a sign of something more serious like ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
While sex can make it seem like your period is starting earlier than usual, it typically only happens if you’re already within a day or two of getting your period, Streicher says. Otherwise, your body was probably just ready to start and sex just helped speed it up a little bit.
Bleeding after sex can also be a sign of a sexually transmitted infection, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). If you’re experiencing pain in your pelvic area, fever or have bright red blood, see a doctor immediately. The sooner you seek treatment, the more likely you are to recover quickly. You may even be able to prevent your infection from spreading by using the correct protection during your sexual activities. Talk to your gynecologist for more information and to get personalized recommendations for your situation.
