Blood confusion
Question
I was having sex with my boyfriend and I started to bleed either sometime during or after. It isn't time for my period and I am on the pill, so I don't think I was having a miscarriage.
What really puzzled me was that it wasn't like the blood I have during my period. It was bright red and it dripped out at a fast pace. After about two hours it started to calm down.
I'm really confused I've already had sex with a few partners so it couldn't be my hymen breaking could it?
Answer
It can be worrying when our bodies act out of character, but unusual bleeding is not that uncommon, and can be caused by a number of things. Some people experience unexpected bleeding between their periods (intermenstrual bleeding), whilst others may experience heavier or lighter bleeding than usual during their period.
Taking the combined or progestogen only contraceptive pill can cause bleeding between periods. This is particularly common during the first two to three months of taking the pill, and is called breakthrough bleeding. Missing pills or taking pills late can also cause bleeding.
Other contraceptive methods such as the injection, implant or IUD can also cause periods to change, making them irregular, much longer and heavier, or causing them to stop.
If you are concerned that any method of contraception may be causing you to bleed unusually, it is always a good idea to have a quick chat with the service that provided you with it. They can let you know if what you are experiencing is a common side-effect, suggest another method of contraception if necessary, or advise on whether further investigation is needed into the cause of the bleed.
Although unusual bleeding is quite common, it can sometimes be caused by abnormalities or an infection of the cervix and uterus, so it's advisable to get it checked out by a doctor (GP).
When women have penetrative sex for the first time, some do bleed a little bit if the hymen (a small piece of thin skin which covers some of the opening of the vagina) is still intact, as it will break the first time they have sexual intercourse. This doesn't happen in all women as the hymen may already have broken before sex, for example through using tampons or taking part in some sports. It is therefore quite unlikely that your hymen wouldn't have broken until now.
Heavy periods, bleeding between periods, and bleeding after sex can also be signs of a sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are many different types of STIs and they can be spread in different ways, not just through penetrative sex. Some infections are not necessarily sexually transmitted at all. If you are worried that you may have an infection, you can get advice and testing at a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic. GUM consultations are free and confidential, which means that no one will be told about your visit, unless you want them to be.
If you need more advice about your method of contraception or STIs you can speak to a nurse via the Family Planning Association Helpline on 0845 310 1334. Alternatively, you can get medical advice from a doctor at Brook, or from your local doctor (GP).
Updated: 14/04/2010
Question answered by YouthNet in association with Brook
