Prolapse and Bleeding After Sex

Sorry to hear that you are having this bleeding. It obviously distresses you. No doubt your husband is not real happy about it either.

It is hard to be sure what has caused the prolapsed uterus. I am thinking that carrying low was caused by the prolapse, not the other way around, but it is all interconnected, so who knows?

You say you know what the doctor will say if you go along to get checked out, which is surgery, which you understandably don't want. However s/he cannot make you have surgery, so going along is not going to get you into anything that you don't want, unless you agree to it. You do not have to agree. Not agreeing with the doctor is how so many of us have remained in one piece, despite significant prolapses, and you know, it ain't bad! ;-)

Simple prolapse does not usually cause bleeding after sex, particularly in a woman in her 30's. If you were near menopause and had vaginal tissue that is fragile I would think that might be a likely reason, but you wouldn't need prolapsed uterus for that to happen. It is unlikely that fragile vaginal tissue is the reason. I would encourage you to go to the doctor, the morning after sex, and have him/her examine you to find out whether there is some trauma to your vagina, and where the bleeding has been coming from.

In the meantime, some things to think about. How long ago was your fourth baby born, and are you still nursing? Is your menstrual cycle normal, or do you have spotting between real periods? Are you taking any medication that might be affecting your cycle, or thinning your blood? Have you ever had PAP Smears? When did you have your last vaginal examination? One last question - hope it is not TMI. Are we talking normal, gentle, penetrative sex, or could there be some injury from the sex itself or sex toys? Are you sure that it is your blood, and not your husband's?

I don't mean to pry, and you don't have to answer these questions online, but there are lots of things that might cause bleeding in the right circumstances. The doctor is there to help you nut this out. They can't, and wouldn't, just put you to sleep and butcher you in a normal consultation. You might feel happier if your husband or a trusted friend or relative went to the consultation with you.

Your fear is real, even if it isn't very rational. Having somebody with you will help you to stay calm and to hear with you what the doctor has to say. Taking a friend might also help you to stand up for yourself too. Finding a more friendly doctor might be another option for you.

Call back when you want to talk about it some more. The bleeding may or may not be connected with your prolapsed uterus. We can help you with your uterus and other pelvic organs, but finding out the source of bleeding is really detective work that a doctor needs to be involved in.

Louise

I definitely agree, get it checked out. Know that surgery is not an option for your, and you can let the doctor know that from the outset. But, you want to know what the bleeding is about.
re sex being painful, i have noticed post pop that some positions just don't feel good anymore, and can even hurt. no idea why, as when i lie down, it all falls into place. but it is what happens. i just learn to avoid those, and do what feels good--isn't that what sex is about?

i would be sure you are using plenty of lube, as that can help everything feel more comfortable--and might help the bleeding if it turns out to be about irritated tissues during sex (but do go find out!). i'm sure you'll figure it out and be able to proceed w/o worry very soon ;-)

I was coming on tonight to ask if anyone else had a c-sec and now has scar hurting once prolapse hits. I'm having pain in my scar for the first time in 5 years now that I have pop.

And Just had sex for second time pp this weekend, and thought my period was suddenly coming on afterwards, but then it stopped again hours later. Seeing you had a c-sec also, Busymom, am wondering if these issues might be related.

In my case, Louise, no rough play, no toys, condom so not his, felt like from uterus not vag tissues. In fact caught half the blood in a 'keeper' that was pretty much cupping the cervix thanks to pop, so must have been uterine. Does that sound like you Busymom? I have heard that uterine prolapse can cause spotting, but then I am new to all this so not certain of my facts.

And thanks for the comment about 'prolapse causing the pregnancy to carry low', this clarifies for me that my prolapse was probably before the (vbac)birth, which is helpful for me emotionally to confirm. It was cause for comment that the pregnancy was low the whole way, as if the baby was permanently engaged.

hope you get reassuring results, and soon! much love

Hi Busy

Two points.

1 The uterus is involved in orgasm, ie it moves around and I think can kind of spasm. I think the cervix yawns too, like it is receiving the sperm. I know I can certainly feel something happening in the uterus department, and in a good way!

2 Some women report the uterus 'purging' itself at different times, ie contracting and bleeding unexpectedly, or dischagrging brown stuff, maybe old blood). I wonder if it could be related to the shedding of endometrium, or perhaps something happening at the site of the CS scar. Perhaps the endometrium, which is rich in blood supply as you build up to ovulation, simply gets bruised during sex, and sheds a little blood. Does it bleed all through your cycle?

We need to think of our uterus being active in ways other than just gestating a foetus. The uterus has a complex life of its own.

Good luck with the PAP smear. I am sure you will rest easier once you get that our of the way.

Louise

Nice point, Louise, thanks as always : ) You really seem to inhabit the body from the inside, and kind of get down eye-to-eye and see things from the body-level persective, and it's a useful thing for me that you share that so generously.

Reading this, you also make me wonder if sex sometimes acts as a sort of splinting for the uterus, knocking out any blood that might have collected/got stuck there. Some of mine was brownish.

(Gosh what a thing for sophisticated Western women to be online discussing the length of poos and the hues of blood. About time too, I think! Increasingly, I see this Pop as a gift)

Hey Squeak, check this out. http://www.womensquest.org/ . A whole community devoted to menstruation!

*Grin* hooray for the XX : )

Hi Busy

Before you even think about hysterectomy pay a visit to the HERS Foundation website, www.hersfoundation.org. This site was set up by Nora Coffey as a means of telling the world about the full effects of hysterectomy. If you have the time there is a video at the Theatre of an interview Christine did of Nora Coffey. You really owe it to yourself to see this video and/or visit the website before you see the Specialist, so you can ask the questions Nora suggests all women should ask their doctor and get answers to, before agreeing to hysterectomy.

There is also a very good video all about hysterectomy. I will leave you to be the judge of it.

Hysterectomy is not the only pelvic surgery that has long lasting side effects on your body, that may not be controllable. All pelvic repair surgeries have risks and possible complications that you are unlikely to find out about unless you ask very specific questions. The results of all these surgeries are unpredictable. If you draw the short straw you could end up in very bad shape. Women on these Forums who have had surgery that has left them worse off than before the surgery are testament to this, as are the myriad of unhappy women on the Hystersisters Forums and other forums set up for women who have had surgery.

Further prolapse is the most common side effect of these repair surgeries, and hyssterectomy in particular. Sometimes the operation is helpful, but usually followup surgery is required later, and your body will become more and more difficult to repair after each surgery.

I don't want to sound alarmist about this, believe it or not. I wish I could be more positive about pelvic repair surgery, but I cannot. Please read the Forums, using the Search box and search for 'surgery'.

Most doctors will underplay the downside of surgery and be very reassuring about the prospects for successful surgery. Bear in mind that when they talk long term success they are talking less than five years.

Please think verrrrryyyy carefully before going down the surgery route. Once you have been there your body will be changed forever, and your natural organ-retaining design will be compromised for ever.

You will have use for your uterus and its supports, and your ovaries for their hormone producing capabilities, until the day you die in old age, even if they make no more babies. Please don't throw them away.

I do realise that you are only gathering information at this stage. Just keep your head about you. From the experiences of many of us, the specialist will probably try to subtley frighten you into surgery. Don't be fooled. Think clearly for yourself. If anyone says to you, "You don't have an alternative. Surgery is the only thing that will help you," run like the wind, and don't look back. It is a lie!

You are in no hurry. Get Christine's book, Saving the Whole Woman, and the DVD, First Aid for Prolapse. You have plenty of time to take it all in.

Louise