What would you do?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2003
What would you do?
1
Tue, 07-05-2005 - 11:19am

I'll try to condense this because it is a long story.

I was on the pill from age 19 until 38 (except for off for 2 pregnancies). I never had any problems while on the pill during these years - always the same pill Ortho-Novum 7/7/7.

At age 38, I went off the pill - we were thinking about another child. I went for probably 6 months off then started having weird bleeding - sometimes after sex, sometimes mid month, sometimes a few days before my period started, sometimes a couple days after. I went through a battery of tests (paps, colposcopy, endometrial biopsy, internal ultrasound) - everything came back normal. I have had a few abnormal paps but my colposcopys always were normal. I also had a blood test done to see if I was ovulating - and it showed that I was.

So, I could not take the weird bleeding - so I went back on the pill. This time he put me on Ovcon 35 (he thought the Ortho Novum 7/7/7 would not be the right option to eliminate the bleeding). After 3 months, I was still having breakthrough so I went on the Nuvaring. This worked. I have to admit that I was cautious to have sex right before my period or a few days after because these were usually the times I would bleed. But I was on the Nuvaring for 11 months with basically no problems.

Well at age 40, we decided we really want another child so I am now off the Nuvaring (since June 21st). My dh was out of town so no sex until this last Sunday. Everything was fine. When we had sex on Monday though - I was bleeding afterwards. It wasn't a lot but it was blood - which of course bothers me.

Now finally for the question. What could be causing this? Is it my age (this started at age 38 and I am 40 now). My doctor really told me before not to worry about it (he actually said "sounds like you are having real sex - meaning having an O - which I am). I have seen 2 different doctors in the practice and a couple nurse practioners. I also last year went outside of that practice and saw another doctor for another opinion. He said that he would recommend a colposcopy but also felt that I was ok. Well since that time, I did ask for a colposcopy (from my doctor) and it came back normal.

I don't know if I should call the doctors office again - I mean I've been through this so many times. He had told me before that if I went off birth control it would probably start happening again. Your opinion would really help.

I also want to note that on Sunday morning an Ovulation Predictor Test was showing that I would ovulation in the next 12 - 36 hours. I did another test on Monday but it was then negative.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 07-05-2005 - 2:00pm

Hi mom23gs, welcome!

If you have had all the standard tests to rule out endo, fibroids, vaginal growths and the like it may just be that your cervix is very sensitive to penetrative intercourse... that can be especially true of women on hormonal contraceptives so it seems possible to me that the condition could occur also when you are cycling naturally. I'm assuming you are in no pain and are well lubricated so DH isn't chafing you and making you bleed. As long as you are having annual pelvics and everything is ok then I see no need to worry.

Does your doctor know where the bleeding is coming from, the outside of your cervix, your uterus or your vagina? If NuvaRing controlled the bleeding it sounds as though it could be endometrial bleeding perhaps brought on by the contractions of your uterus during orgasm. If you weren't TTC you could use Instead menstrual cups www.softcup.com to collect the blood from cervical or uterine bleeding while you had intercourse but Instead, while not approved for contraceptive use, would lessen your chances of getting prego. Thanks for posting. The very best of luck TTCing! Keep in touch and let us know how you're doing, ok?

Hugs,

      Jill