light spotting after sex

[lycheefan]

hi! is it normal to experience super light brown spotting after sex? it was a little rougher than usual (tmi oopsies) and we didnt use lubricant. im not near my period either it was just one wipe on a piece of toilet paper and that's all that there was

[lycheefan]

im just gonna add that the last time i had sex prior to this was the 14th and we always use condoms, pull out, and check if it leaks or not so im pretty sure it isnt implantation bleeding or anything

[Sam W]

Hi lycheefan ,

We can't say for certain what caused this, but if intercourse was a bit rougher than normal and lube wasn't used, it could have been that there was a small tear. Too, it could also just be some normal variation in your discharge. Since it was just for a moment, I would say it's not cause for concern.

[lycheefan]

Hi lycheefan ,

We can't say for certain what caused this, but if intercourse was a bit rougher than normal and lube wasn't used, it could have been that there was a small tear. Too, it could also just be some normal variation in your discharge. Since it was just for a moment, I would say it's not cause for concern.

so, another question if thats alright, can variation in discharge include blood that took a while to leave the body? thank you for your help

[Marisha]

Yes! Older blood tends to be a little darker in color. More here: Honorably Discharged: A Guide to Vaginal Secretions

[lycheefan]

Yes! Older blood tends to be a little darker in color. More here: Honorably Discharged: A Guide to Vaginal Secretions

alright! im about halfway through my cycle, so is it possible that this tiny bit of blood was from my old period? or is that unrealistic thank you for your patience

[Marisha]

I'm struggling a bit with the timeline. You mention in your first post in this thread that the spotting happened 'nowhere near your period,' but now it sounds like you're halfway through your cycle. So, I imagine that this spotting was likely normal bleeding occurring shortly before your period. From the article: Normal discharge "may have a brown tint just before or just after menses." Hope that helps!

[lycheefan]

I'm struggling a bit with the timeline. You mention in your first post in this thread that the spotting happened 'nowhere near your period,' but now it sounds like you're halfway through your cycle. So, I imagine that this spotting was likely normal bleeding occurring shortly before your period. From the article: Normal discharge "may have a brown tint just before or just after menses." Hope that helps!

sorry! to clear things up, i got my period on the 6th of august and the bleeding occurred the 19th

[Marisha]

Got it. I assume then that you are either about to start your next period within the next 2 weeks and the bleeding may be pre-period rather than post. Either way, it sounds like normal discharge. It shouldn't be implantation discharge not only because you used a condom but also because we aren't able to know whether you ovulated in the time between the end of your last period and the 14th.

[lycheefan]

alright! and one last question if thats alright, i know implantation spotting is somewhat rare but how long after intercourse does it usually happen? thank you so much for your help!

[Marisha]

Implantation is when a fertilized egg implants itself into the uterine lining, right? So, it would occur after conception (when the egg becomes fertilized), which can occur sometime after ovulation (when the egg is released from the ovary). Ovulation is projected to occur right smack-dab in the middle of a cycle, around day 14. The exact day a person ovulates, however, can depend on that person's natural hormone schedule. "All in all, the process from the moment ejaculate enters the vagina to implantation, what is medically recognized as a pregnancy, tends to take anywhere between around five days to two weeks (read more about the reproductive cycle here)." Therefore, you can expect implantation bleeding to occur (if it occurs at all - like you pointed out, IB only occurs in about 25% of pregnancies) about 10-14 days after you become pregnant. You can read more about this sort of bleeding here: The Period During Pregnancy Misunderstanding.