Breakthrough bleeding and the pill

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-06-2004
Breakthrough bleeding and the pill
1
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 6:43pm
I have experienced spotting off and on after intercourse. My doctor has performed checks for STD's (negative) and did a Pap Smear which was normal. I have yearly pap tests which have always been normal. She also checked for polyps and saw none. The bleeding is light and goes away fairly quickly and I experience no pain during intercourse. I am on birth control pills because of a history of very heavy and irregular periods. My Dr. concluded that the bleeding after intercourse is something that is probably happening because of being on the pill. I have been on the pill for 5 years now and am 22 years old. Just wondering if anyone else experiences this problem?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 10:02pm
::raising hand:: Yep! Me too. It's not every time, just some of the time, but if my cervix takes a good whack, I will have some bleeding for an hour or two. I asked my gynecologist as well, and since STD's aren't a concern for us and everything else seems normal, he doesn't see any reason to be alarmed. It's happened on every pill I've taken for the last eight years (I'm 29), and I've gotten used to it.

One theory that I've heard is that the hormones in the pill cause the cells on the surface of the cervix to be more sensitive to impact, and when the cervix gets whacked, whether during sex or a pap smear, there's bleeding. I've had bleeding with every pap since I started the pill, without fail!

I hope you feel a little better!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control