Bleeding during sex

[Hinesm]

Bleeding during sex, Does anyone else have this problem? Constant lower back pain and sharp pelvic pain? Smear came back normal thank goodness. I'm awaiting an appointment for a laparoscopy but just need to know if this can be a symptom of endo. I don't have any STIs I've had a full MOT x

[Chil616]

Hi, I had this problem for a few months and all my tests came back fine too, this was before I knew I had endo but after scans I ended up having a laparoscopy which was when I found out I definitely had endo but since then I haven't had any bleeding during sex (touch wood!)

Hope your laparoscopy goes well and you get the answers you need.

[Hinesm in reply to Chil616]

Hi Chil616, thanks for the reply. Did you have mid cycle bleeding/pain to with ovulation? Did anything show up on the scans? Xx where about is your endo? Sorry for all the questions

[Chil616]

Even though I'd always had heavy/painful periods they where always regular, until about 12 months before my lap when I started getting even worse pelvic and back pain even when I wasn't on. I also started bleeding during and after sex (which was also painful) and when ovulating which is when I went to the doctors . Had all the usual tests done and nothing was found so doctor sent me away. Next month I went back as the pain had become too much and I was signed off work , referred to someone else and sent for an ultrasound, all they could see was that my ovary was in the wrong place but couldn't tell why. Went back to talk to the doctor and he said I might have endo and he said he could book me in for a lap within the month. It was all very fast as I had never even heard of endo before and wasn't given much info by the doctor. Had it done and they found that I had multiple areas of endo around the uterus and ovaries as well as a lot of adhesions/scar tissue. They also found my left ovary had been twisted and stuck to the side of my uterus by all the adhesions so they had to sort that out too. I still have really bad pelvic and back pain but no bleeding (apart from the norm).

Don't worry about all the questions, that's what we're here for!

[Hinesm in reply to Chil616]

Thank you for replying my Lower back pain is horrendous I can hardly sit down it's like sciatica pain. I can't bend over properly an get shooting pains in my hips. I have bleeding and pain with ovulation, heavy enough to have to wear sanitary towels again (I can't wear tampons as it hurts too much pulling them out sorry tmi ha), and now the fresh red blood during sex. I hardly have a sex life now as I'm bleeding pretty much every two weeks and in pain. I'm so scared of having a laparoscopy and I've just started a new job so it means asking them for time off but I can't go on like this now. I have bowl problems, anxiety, fatigue.. Gyne have recommended the lap so I'm just waiting for an appointment date in the post :/ how long did it take you to recover from the lap? Xxx I know everyone's different but I'm wondering how long I'll need off work realistically

[Chil616 in reply to Hinesm]

About 6 months before my lap I had to stop using tampons because of the pain and my back was in so much pain too, similar to what you're describing. I too hardly had a sex life with all the bleeding and pain but after the lap the pain was no where near what it was before, gone back to using tampons (and pads it's really heavy) and my sex life definitely improved I wouldn't worry about having to ask for time off, they shouldn't really object as it is health related and you're not just doing it for the sake of it. I knew I wasn't feeling good due to severe fatigue and pain so had asked work for some time off (before I even knew about the endo!) luckily the MD said that I could take as much time as I needed off but suggested as it was health related to get signed off work. I went to the doctors and got signed off and then went back to the doctors the next day with even worse pelvic pain as I was worried and it was only then that suspected endo was mentioned and I was sent for a scan and then lap. I was keeping work up to date with the whole situation but from the lap date I took an extra 4 weeks off worked (signed off my doctor) because as well as working full time I was in uni too and had my final project due in 2 weeks after my lap which was very physically demanding (I was doing fashion design and still had to make 4 outfits for my collection for the fashion show!) I took one day after the lap to completely rest and then I had to get stuck back into doing uni work . I wouldn't recommend going back to work that soon though as I was in a lot of pain and If I didn't have to get everything ready for the show I would have took about 4 days to rest. I still wasn't good for about 2 weeks and because of the job I was in I wouldn't have gone back until after that amount of time anyway as it involves standing up and rushing round and carrying things so I think it would depend on your job as well. I've heard people say they went back to work after 3 days but I wouldn't have managed that in my job.

Sorry for the massive reply here! Hope it can give you a little idea x

[magnetta]

Hello. Sorry to hear you are suffering.

I have similar symptoms to you. My bleeding was caused by cervical erosion which is very common and takes a few minutes for the gynae to sort. They cauterise the cells with silver nitrate and it worked for me x

[Hinesm in reply to magnetta]

Hi magnetta, thanks for your reply il mention this to my gp. Is it heavy periods that cause the erosion? X

[magnetta in reply to Hinesm]

The name is odd because it isn't actually erosion! Another name for it is cervical ectropian. Basically cells from your cervix come out of your cervix! Obviously I am not a doc so they can explain it better! It is common after childbirth and things like birth control pill cause it x

[Hinesm in reply to magnetta]

Ah right okay xx il definitely ask my gp about that. When she did the smear she said she couldn't see my cervix because it was covered in old blood. And she struggled getting into it because I've got an extremely small cervix opening. She asked if I've ever had any treatment for my cervix as well which I thought was odd but I just answered no xx

[stevieflp]

Hi yes I also had a cervical erosion many years ago and was cauterised. As explained above, it is where some cells from inside the cervix find their way to the outside where they are vulnerable to bleed, particularly after sex. Also the type of pain you describe is possibly indicative of endo in the Pouch of Douglas or perhaps some scar tissue of some kind.

Interestingly enough both cervical erosion, endo and many other conditions are quite possibly all linked to an overriding condition called estrogen dominance. I have done much reading on this subject and, although I am not suggesting endo is caused by estrogen dominance as it is mostly thought to be laid down in the gestation period and triggered when the hormones kick in at puberty, with retrograde menstrual bleeding / caesarean sections being other far less common causes, it can certainly be exacerbated by it. I don't think it is any co-incidence that I have had PMS, Cervical Erosion, Pituitary microadenoma and then advanced endo - all of which are linked to being helped along by estrogen dominance . Many other conditions that ladies seem to get alongside endo could also be inflamed by estrogen dominance.

The old fashioned way of dealing with excess estrogen by the medical profession is removing ovaries but more modern thinking is that this is not necessarily going to cease all estrogen and can come along with it's own problems. Xenoestrogens is a good area to look into for anyone wanting to reduce their exposure. Xenoestrogens are not estrogen but are chemicals that mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. It is difficult to avoid all of the sources but it is easy to switch toiletries/cosmetics/household cleaning products/laundry products etc over time. Also not to have hot drinks from plastic cups or eat microwave dinners heated or oven meals heated up in plastic trays as the chemical leeches into the food/drink. Easy just to use china and cook with glassware.

I have probably gone off on a tangent here from your original question but it is all relevant and you might want to do some of your own reading / research into these important areas.

I can recommend the following books:

Stop Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain by Dr Andrew S Cook (top USA Endo Surgeon Consultant)

100 Questions and Answers about Endometriosis by by Dr David Redwine (retired top US Endo Surgeon Consultant (acknowledged as world leader in the field)

Estrogen Dominance by Dr Michael Lam

All very best wishes to you . Frances x

[Hinesm in reply to stevieflp]

Thank you so much for all this information x I will definitely be doing some research on this.

[Mabes]

Yes, every single time and quite a lot. - over the bed so unromantic it's like being a constant virgin! I do have a cervical erosion, so I blamed it on that, but I wonder if it is not that at all.

I'm a bleeder, I bleed so easily. I bleed from CD 10 through ovulation, if I'm lucky I get a few days off, then start PMS bleeding for about 5/6 days, then my period starts heavily. I wear pads so much as I can't wear tampons or the moon cup, that I've had the equivalent of nappy rash down there and now I have a boil/cyst thing... It's so frustrating and demoralising.

I also have severe lower back pain like you said - I'm taking Naproxen for it constantly, which is helping. I can sleep now. I'm on the waiting list for a lap. I'd recommend getting pain relief for your back - you might be surprised if you can get that under control then sleeping is a lot better as you can lie down more comfortably and not be tossing and turning trying to figure out a comfy sleep position.

[Hinesm in reply to Mabes]

r thanks for that info I will ask my doctor for stronger pain killers and mention those ones that you take. It's like nerve type pain very sharp and a constant dull ache. I have to sit on a cushion in the car and I can't bend forward when it's bad. I've got sharp shooting pains down my right leg and hip now xx

[Mabes in reply to Hinesm]

I'd ask them for a painkiller that will work for nerve pain and describe your pain as you have just done. The one I'm taking probably won't touch that - I know cos I have trigeminal neuralgia and the pain in my back is totally different to a nerve type, it's more like a constant boring pain... It's worse if I bend forward or if I try to lie down or stand for longer than a minute or two. There are options for them to explore controlling a nerve related pain and maybe they can combine it with something to help the duller pain. The leg and hip sounds somewhat like sciatica.

[Lyz1224]

I have all these symptoms and more .. Yet to be diagnosed. All my smears, swabs and scans have come back negative. Gp told me last time that most women have to live without pain and bleeding for no reason shocked that so many women are suffering for so long without any diagnosis xxx

[Hinesm in reply to Lyz1224]

I've been like this since my periods started, I'm now 29 and only just starting to get taken seriously about my symptoms X it's so frustrating because I'm starting to wonder if I'm mentally ill and that's what's causing my pain and bleeding! Because I do suffer with anxiety so maybe I'm just stressing my body out worrying about the symptoms :/ I suppose the only way for me to find out is to have the laparoscopy. I've been such a mess in work today. It's a new job I've been there two weeks and I've just come on my period, I felt so awful this morn and burst out crying in the office. I feel so embarrassed now and exhausted with it all xx I'm kinda hoping it is endo now and not all in my head. My mum had to get called out of work when I was younger because I collapsed with the pain of my periods. Now it's that with headaches, extreme fatigue, IBS, PMS, ovulation bleeding, bleeding during sex, migraines, BAD lower back/leg/hip sciatica pain. X why wasn't I born with a penis :')) x

[Lyz1224 in reply to Hinesm]

I know how you feel about the anxiety - i have suffered with this for years and now because noone is finding anything i am thinking 'is it me? Am I making my symptoms worse than what they actually are' but I am now starting to feel like I am not going to take no for an answer. All of your symptoms is exactly what I am feeling right now !! xx

[Hinesm in reply to Lyz1224]

It's awful isn't it I just feel like crawling under my quilt and staying there until next week x it helps to know I'm not alone feeling like this (even though I wouldn't wish this on anyone). I really really hope you get some answers, I'll let you know how I get on with the lap when I finally get an appointment! Xxx

[awinnie]

My sex life is awful. I get deep pain on penetration and bleed and clot afterwards. I struggle with relationships, due to this. Also get the usual pain during monthly cycle. Never ending. Horrid. If you can find a man who will stick with you during all this, lucky. I'm single, very hard.

[teach39]

I'm sorry to hear it's been so difficult for you. I'm very lucky, my partner i s understanding. I met him two weeks before I was diagnose so it's always been a hit and miss when it comes to sex. There are decent men out there who will understand. Try not to get disheartened. X

[Hinesm]

I've been with my partner for 8 years, he's very understanding, it's just me who doesn't want the sex any more, mainly because of fatigue/bleeding xx I'm sorry to hear you girls are suffering to! X xx