What It Means If You're Bleeding During Sex: 11 Things That Might Be Causing It

If there’s one thing that never seems quite as awesome as movies make it appear to be, it’s sex. Hollywood has hyped it up to the point that most people who are inexperienced in it tend to think it always goes on without a hitch. In reality, though, sex is full of all sorts of awkward or even downright gross moments.

Sometimes, it gets awkward due to a random fart. Other times, it’s an equipment failure or you accidentally fall off the bed. Bleeding during sex is something that happens to every woman at least once in her life. That’s just the way it goes, and there’s nothing to be ashamed of.

But while it's often innocuous, if you're still asking yourself, "Why am I bleeding during sex?" there are also times you should be concerned. Wondering what could be causing the bleeding? Here are some of the most common reasons.

1. You’re on your period.

This one’s about as obvious as it gets and is the most common reason why women bleed during a romp. If Aunt Flo is visiting, you will end up bleeding while in the bedroom with your partner. Thankfully, most guys are cool with it and cleanup rarely ends up being too out of control.

2. You just lost your virginity.

Due to the fact that many parts of the U.S. do not have sex education, it’s worth talking about this. Women are (sometimes) born with a hymen that covers the vaginal opening. During intercourse, it will tear — sometimes partially, sometimes completely.

If your hymen tears, you will bleed, which is why many women bleed after their first couple of times.

3. Your efforts to have a baby are paying off.

When a fertilized egg implants into your uterus, it’s possible that you may experience implantation bleeding. This is often just a few drops of blood that ceases almost immediately, with cramps often leading up to the spotting. If you are trying to conceive, congrats! You may be pregnant!

4. Or, if it’s later in the pregnancy, it could be a sign of something going wrong.

Pregnant women who are bleeding heavily during sex, especially during the later stages of pregnancy, should call a doctor immediately. This could be an indication of miscarriage or pregnancy complications.

5. If you skipped your birth control, some unexpected bleeding could also occur.

Hormonal birth control that isn’t taken regularly could lead to irregular periods or just brief spotting.

6. It could also be a symptom of an STD.

Sexually transmitted diseases have a wide range of different symptoms, including bleeding during sex. Dr. Jennifer Shu of CNN’s expert panel noted that both Chlamydia and gonorrhea can have bleeding as a symptom.

7. Another concern that you may want to consider is the possibility of cancer.

Cervical cancer and uterine cancer are both known for causing bleeding during sex. If you cannot find an explanation as to why, you may need to go to a precancer screening. Unusual vaginal bleeding is one of the most common signs of cervical cancer, so if you’re spotting when you shouldn’t, give your doctor a call.

8. Extreme stress can be a culprit.

Rough days at work? Hard time with the family? You might be seeing a symptom of extreme stress.

It’s no shock that stress can affect people on a holistic level. Studies have repeatedly shown that it can shake up hormone levels and that extreme levels of stress can cause period-related issues. Though rare, it is possible that extreme stress could cause spotting in some women.

9. If you have sensitive skin or are recovering from an injury down there, bleeding might be a regular occurrence.

Sex involves a lot of friction, and that’s actually what makes sex feel good for many women. Unfortunately, if you have sensitive skin, tears from recent childbirth, or even vaginal polyps, this can lead to bleeding during and after sex.

10. Older women might bleed as a sign of menopause.

Menopause tends to thin the lining of your uterus and dry things out down there, which, in turn, can cause bleeding during rougher moments.

11. Finally, it could also be endometriosis or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.

If you have been having a lot of pelvic pain and other diseases have been omitted, the final reason that you might be bleeding during sex could have something to do with endometriosis or PID. Both involve pelvic pain and bleeding as symptoms, but if you have been diagnosed with either, you already know this could be a cause.