QuestionI'm wondering, if indeed it is a laceration or scratch, about how long it would take to heal. As I mentioned, I cannot get into the Dr. until February and am now a bit hesitant to have intercourse if there is an area that needs healing. Is there a length of time you would recommend for abstaining so it can heal properly?
Also, how likely is it that it could be something more serious, given that I've had a normal pap smear within the last year? It's hard not to let my imagination get the worst of me while I wait.
Thanks again so much! I really appreciate your time.
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Followup To
Question -
Hi,
I am 43 years old, I have two children, and the date of my last menstrual period was December 18th.
Last week I had an episode of bleeding after intercourse. This has never happened to me before. One thing that was different is that my husband used a condom that had spermicide on it (we had never used spermicide before). It was not a lot of blood but was definitely noticable. The following day, I had vaginal irritation, a slight sensation of burning. The next time we had sex, I bled again, a little less than the first time.
My question is two-part: Is it possible to have a reaction to a spermicide that would cause bleeding (have you ever encountered this before?) and what could be the other causes of bleeding (of course, when I looked on the internet the main thing I found was cervical cancer - yikes!).
I had a pap smear 9 months ago and it was normal (I've never had an abnormal one) and I have scheduled an appointment with my gyn but couldn't get in until February.
Thanks so very much for your time.
Answer -
Other than cervical or uterine cancer, bleeding after intercourse can be caused by lack of lubrication of the vagina, lacerations due to vigorous sex, or hormonal imbalance. If you are not lubricating enough, you might try longer foreplay or the use of KY Jelly in the vagina or on the penis prior to initiating intercourse. If the bleeding persists, I would suggest a consultation with your gynecologist to rule out any vaginal laceration or scratch that is not healing. It is, indeed, possible to have a reaction to the spermicide, but that usually causes inflammatory changes rather than bleeding.
AnswerIf there is not much bleeding, a laceration or scratch usually heals within a few days (just as a laceration on your hand would heal). However, if it is a deeper laceration, it may reopen when you have sexual relations. It is impossible to tell you how long it will take to heal without observing it. If you have any bleeding or if this occurs again when you have sex, you MUST go to teh ER now. You can't wait until February. It is highly unlikely that the bleedng involves your cervix, but may be due to some hormonal imbalance. Just keep a record of the bleeding and show it to your gyn when you go for your visit. HOwever, if you start bleeding heavily, GO TO THE ER.
