This page is about bleeding between periods or after sex. Find out about other kinds of unusual bleeding:
- period problems
- vaginal bleeding in pregnancy, including implantation bleeding, which can happen at the start of pregnancy
- postmenopausal bleeding
Non-urgent advice: See a GP or go to a sexual health clinic if:
- you're bleeding between periods or after sex
Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
- you have recently missed a period, have unusual vaginal bleeding, and have pain anywhere in your tummy (abdomen), including your lower tummy (pelvic pain)
This could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy and needs to be checked as soon as possible.
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
Causes of bleeding between periods or after sex
Bleeding between periods or after sex can have lots of possible causes.
Bleeding between periods
Common causes of bleeding between periods include:
- hormonal contraception, such as the contraceptive pill
- small growths in and around the womb, such as polyps or fibroids
- sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia
Bleeding after sex
Causes of bleeding after sex include:
- changes to the surface of the cervix (cervical ectropion)
- small growths on the cervix (polyps)
- vaginal dryness
- sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia
Important
Bleeding between periods or after sex can sometimes be a sign of cancer. Always get any unusual bleeding checked by a GP or sexual health clinic.
What happens at your appointment
To find out what's causing bleeding between periods or after sex, a doctor or nurse will ask questions about your symptoms and medical history.
You may have tests including:
- a pregnancy test
- a blood test
- a test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), this may involve a urine test or taking a small sample of fluid from your vagina using a cotton bud (swab)
- an examination of your vagina and cervix
Any treatment you need will depend on what's causing the bleeding.
If further tests are needed, you may be referred for an ultrasound scan, colposcopy or hysteroscopy.