Vaginal bleeding between periods or after sex

This page is about bleeding between periods or after sex. Find out about other kinds of unusual bleeding:

See a GP or go to a sexual health clinic if:

  • you're bleeding between periods or after sex
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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.

Bleeding between periods or after sex can have lots of possible causes.

Bleeding between periods

Common causes of bleeding between periods include:

Bleeding after sex

Causes of bleeding after sex include:

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.

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.