Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Can Chronic Coughing Cause Vaginal Bleeding?
Question: What causes vaginal bleeding in a patient with severe cough? I have had a hysterectomy, but pinkish vaginal bleeding occurred with this gagging cough. I also have a fair amount of an abdominal pressure feeling, even though I have urinated regularly.
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello Ms. XXXXXXX
It's possible that the pressure generated from coughing caused a tear along the scar from the past surgery, if it is definitely coming from the vagina and not the bladder.
The tear may be small. There may be small blood vessels at the scar site that are weaker and more prone to bleeding if they are stressed.
I recommend that you go in to have a pelvic exam - both a speculum exam to see where the bleeding is coming from, and a bimanual exam to try to find the location of the pressure feeling and check if there are any abnormalities on palpation.
Depending on how strong your symptoms are, you can wait to see your doctor, if he or she is in tomorrow. Or you can go in to an urgent care clinic today. If you have any further signs of bleeding, I recommend the urgent care.
If you do go in to the urgent care, I have 2 pieces of advice:
1. Request specifically to see a doctor. Many places now save money by staffing mostly with PA and NPs. They do not have the depth of knowledge or training a doctor does.
2. Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth until you have come home and thoroughly washed your hands and alcohol wiped your phone and any thing else you may have handled while there. There are a lot of germs at an urgent care, including flu right now.
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello Ms. XXXXXXX
It's possible that the pressure generated from coughing caused a tear along the scar from the past surgery, if it is definitely coming from the vagina and not the bladder.
The tear may be small. There may be small blood vessels at the scar site that are weaker and more prone to bleeding if they are stressed.
I recommend that you go in to have a pelvic exam - both a speculum exam to see where the bleeding is coming from, and a bimanual exam to try to find the location of the pressure feeling and check if there are any abnormalities on palpation.
Depending on how strong your symptoms are, you can wait to see your doctor, if he or she is in tomorrow. Or you can go in to an urgent care clinic today. If you have any further signs of bleeding, I recommend the urgent care.
If you do go in to the urgent care, I have 2 pieces of advice:
1. Request specifically to see a doctor. Many places now save money by staffing mostly with PA and NPs. They do not have the depth of knowledge or training a doctor does.
2. Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth until you have come home and thoroughly washed your hands and alcohol wiped your phone and any thing else you may have handled while there. There are a lot of germs at an urgent care, including flu right now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
How would I know if it is from a scar not the bladder? I do have a fair amount of abdominal pressure.
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
One way to differentiate: you can ask the clinic to do a urinalysis, and put in a tampon so that bleeding from the vagina does not entire the urine specimen. If you don't have tampons anymore, most clinics can provide one.
Also, if there is bleeding from the vagina, they will most likely be able to see that during speculum exam.
For figuring it out on your own, it can be harder. Usually pink trace bleeding from the vagina has a bit of mucus in it where blood from the bladder does not, but that is not always reliable.
Information
Detailed Answer:
One way to differentiate: you can ask the clinic to do a urinalysis, and put in a tampon so that bleeding from the vagina does not entire the urine specimen. If you don't have tampons anymore, most clinics can provide one.
Also, if there is bleeding from the vagina, they will most likely be able to see that during speculum exam.
For figuring it out on your own, it can be harder. Usually pink trace bleeding from the vagina has a bit of mucus in it where blood from the bladder does not, but that is not always reliable.
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
