Bleeding after sex 12 weeks pregnant can be frightening, but it’s not necessarily a sign of serious problems. It’s normal to experience painless, short-lived pinkish or light red bleeding after sexual intercourse during pregnancy.
The cervix becomes tender and sensitive to changes in hormones during pregnancy, so pelvic exams or ultrasound may cause a little bleeding. STIs like gonorrhea or chlamydia or urinary tract infections (UTI) can also cause light bleeding.
Causes
While it can be alarming to experience bleeding after sex, the good news is that it’s often nothing to worry about. Many factors can cause spotting or light bleeding during pregnancy and many of them don’t have anything to do with sexual activity, especially in the first trimester. Heavier bleeding after sex may indicate a more serious condition such as placenta previa or an ectopic pregnancy, and it’s important to see your practitioner right away.
If you’re 12 weeks pregnant, the most common cause of spotting after sex is implantation bleeding. This happens when the embryo attaches itself to the uterus wall, and is similar to how your period would normally start. It’s usually painless, short-lived and pinkish or brown in color (4).
In the later stages of pregnancy, it’s more common to have heavy bleeding after sex, which can be caused by a variety of things. Your cervix undergoes significant changes during this time, and can be irritated by rough intercourse or even certain toys, says Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, an OB-GYN at NYC Health + Hospitals. This can result in a small amount of vaginal bleeding and can be aggravated by the pressure of a full bladder or abdominal pain.
Heavier bleeding can also occur as you near the end of your pregnancy, and is often a sign of a bloody show, or a mucus discharge that’s red in color (5). This is a sign that the baby is almost ready to make its appearance and is moving into your pelvic canal.
Symptoms
During pregnancy your body goes through major hormonal changes, especially in the cervix. Spotting or bleeding after sex may happen as a result of these changes and is generally harmless, according to experts. However, sometimes the spotting can be a warning sign of an infection. This can be particularly dangerous if it’s a bacterial infection such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea, which can cause serious problems for the unborn baby.
If you experience light spotting in the first trimester of your pregnancy, it could be an early sign of miscarriage. This is because the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine lining, which causes this type of bleeding. This usually happens around the time that your period would normally have arrived. This is often accompanied by other symptoms of early pregnancy such as bloating, fatigue and breast tenderness.
Spotting can also be a sign of placental previa, a condition where the placenta overlies the cervix. This can be a serious problem and is a risk factor for premature birth and ectopic pregnancy, both of which can be life-threatening to the mother and baby. If you have this condition, it’s important to avoid sex, and your doctor will likely recommend bed rest and possibly hospitalization for the duration of the pregnancy. If you have a healthy diet, take prenatal vitamins and avoid smoking or drinking alcohol, your chances of having a healthy pregnancy are higher.
Treatment
The good news is that most cases of bleeding after sex during pregnancy are not serious and will go away on their own. However, it is still important to see a doctor as soon as possible. They will do a full evaluation and make sure that everything is okay with both you and the baby.
The most common cause of spotting after sex during pregnancy is due to the hormonal changes that occur with pregnancy. Higher levels of progesterone cause the blood vessels in the cervix to become enlarged, which can sometimes lead to bleeding. This type of spotting is usually short-lived and often looks pinkish or brown in color.
Another cause of spotting after sex while pregnant is due to a condition called placental abruption. This is when the placenta covers part or all of the cervix, and it can be very dangerous. Severe cases of placental abruption are accompanied by very heavy, life-threatening bleeding. Severe cases of this complication of pregnancy can be aggravated by penetrative sex, especially later in the second trimester.
Bleeding after sex while pregnant can also be caused by an injury to the cervix, such as a laceration or cut. This can happen with overly rough intercourse or the use of a toy, which can bruise or tear the thin layer of tissue that lines the cervix.
Prevention
Pregnancy sex doesn’t usually cause miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, but if the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus in the fallopian tube (ectopic pregnancy), it may cause heavy bleeding that needs medical attention right away. A doctor can check if you have this condition by doing a pelvic exam and doing an ultrasound or MRIi test (5). Also, if you have severe cramps, fluid discharge, high fever, dizziness or contractions (labor), call 111. These symptoms are signs of a dangerous condition called placenta previa or placental abruption, in which the placenta lies low in the uterus and covers the cervix fully or partially (5).
Spotting is normal in early pregnancy due to hormonal and bodily changes, but you should always tell your doctor about any vaginal bleeding, no matter what the reason. He or she will want to know how much bleeding you have, what color it is and whether the bleeding comes and goes.
It’s also a good idea to use a barrier method of birth control, such as condoms, for the first trimester of pregnancy, to prevent infection and reduce your risk of bleeding after sex. You should also practice safe sex with your partner by using a condom, even after your doctor gives you the OK to engage in sexual activity (8). This can help prevent STIs, which may cause infection and bleeding during pregnancy (9) (10). You should also avoid rough penetrative sex unless your doctor has specifically told you to do so.
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