What Causes Vaginal Bleeding After Intercourse?
This sounds like a yeast infection
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the question and I am happy to help.
When you first went to the bathroom about two hours after intercourse, the brownish discharge was likely just related to a very small amount of bleeding from intercourse. This is very common and comes from the cervix. When the bleeding is very minimal, it often makes its way out as a discharge just like you are describing.
The most common vaginal infections are either yeast infections or something called BV, or bacterial vaginosis. BV is a discharge that is irritating and associated with an odor. This odor is often worse after intercourse when the infectious discharge combines with semen. This does not sound like BV.
Yeast classically is associated with a whitish discharge with itching and no odor. The discharge can be very variable, so I would not get distracted by the fact that it does not fit with what you have read online. I think that your discharge is confused by recent intercourse and an impending menstrual cycle. But given the itching and discomfort with intercourse, this is the absolute most likely explanation. Here is what I would tell a patient in your situation:
1. The most ideal treatment would be oral diflucan (150mg now and repeated in three days). You would need a prescription for this
2. The other option is an over the counter yeast cream, such as monistat. I would do a more prolonged course, such as 5 days
3. Do not worry about this being a chronic problem. It is common and easy to treat and may not occur again for a while.
Does this help?
Dr. Tim
They are caused by an alteration of the normal vaginal bacteria
Detailed Answer:
The vagina is colonized by 'normal' vaginal bacteria that live in balance with yeast and the bacteria that cause these infections. Anything that alters this normal balance will set you up for an infection. This might include:
1. Recent antibiotics (that kill the normal bacteria)
2. Tight fitting clothes that favor the environment that yeast like
3. Birth control pills or hormones that might reduce estrogen levels in the vagina (which may lead to less normal bacteria as they like estrogen)
4. Douches or ANY over the counter feminine products
I am not recommending that you stop birth control if you are on it, but you could:
1. Not wear tight fitting clothes - wear cotton
2. Eat yogurt daily - contains lactobacilli which is vaginal bacteria
3. Consider a probiotic such as acidophilus or florajen
Does this help?
Dr. Tim