Emma Howard: Hello! We are answering questions on sexual health. I am joined by Dr. Dr. Catherine Hood. Hello!
Dr. Catherine Hood: Hello!
Emma Howard: Catherine, I have got a question here from somebody who has recently started sleeping with her new boyfriend, but they found that they have been bleeding after sex. What could be the cause of this?
Dr. Catherine Hood: Okay, I think the most important thing is how old is this person, and age does come into it to some extent. If you are a young person who has not gone through the menopause and is still menstruating then you have to start looking at common causes like infection and some people think missed pills but actually the most common cause of bleeding between your periods actually is infection, it's actually transmitted infection like Chlamydia. If you are through the menopause and you are starting to get bleeding after sex, then that could be a problem further up in the uterus and it's really important you get checked up by your doctor.
So if we are talking about young people here, let's stay with that.
Emma Howard: Yes, it seems more likelier reading this question, her new boyfriend.
Dr. Catherine Hood: Yeah, the most important thing is obviously with a new partner, it's possible to pick up an infection and there is an awful lot of sexually transmitted infections out there. Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection and this can cause in woman can inflame the cervix which is the neck of the womb. When you have sex, it actually bashes the cervix and you get some bleeding afterwards.
Emma Howard: So go along to your GP, get yourself checked.
Dr. Catherine Hood: Yeah, go to your GP or local genitourinary medicine clinic and get yourself a checkup.
Emma Howard: It's quite a simple test, isn't it, for Chlamydia.
Dr. Catherine Hood: It is, it is very simple. I mean GPs now can do a lot of the tests in their surgery; it might just involve a urine test. With most women, we will also suggest they do a swab. Now that might be something they do themselves, just a quick swab from inside the vagina; they can do in ladies loo and hand back to the GP.
But if you go to a GU clinic or Genitourinary Medicine clinic, you can have a full checkup where the doctor will actually examine you and have a look at the cervix and see what it's looking like. Just they can give some advices at the back of that. But the other thing to just check is you have to take these mini-tests because obviously any bleeding around sex, it's important that the cervix is just checked to make sure there're no signs of abnormality going on in the cervix.
Emma Howard: And it probably goes without saying that any kind of blood from that area, you really must check out. Don't look at anything, oh, I am sure that will go.
Dr. Catherine Hood: Yeah, don't say anything, oh, it's nothing. It will be alright.
Emma Howard: Go and get it checked out.
Dr. Catherine Hood: Yeah, do make sure.
Emma Howard: Thank you Catherine for that good advice as always. Well, if you have a similar problem, we hope we might have given you some help but remember, it's always best to go and see your doctor for medical advice. Thanks for watching; we'll be back with more health questions and answers.
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