Emma Howard: Hello! We are answering questions on the sexual health. I am joined by Doctor Catherine Hood. Hello!

Catherine Hood: Hello!

Emma Howard: Catherine, I've got a question here from somebody who is recently started sleeping with her new boyfriend but they found that they've been bleeding after sex. What could be the cause of this?

Catherine Hood: Okay, I think most important thing is how old is this person. I know the age does come into it to some extent. If a young person who has not gone through the menopause and they're still menstruating, then you have to start looking at common causes like infection and you know, somebody would think missed pills but actually the most common cause of this is between your periods actually is infection, a sexually transmitted infection like Chlamydia. If you're through the menopause and you starting to get bleeding after sex then that could be a problem further up into the uterus and it's really important you get that checked up by your doctor. So if we are talking about young people here, let's stick with that --

Emma Howard: Yeah, it seems more likely, I think in this question.

Catherine Hood: I think the most important thing is I would say with a new partner, it's possible to pick up an infection and then there is an awful lot of sexually transmitted infections out there. Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection and this can cause in woman, can inflame the cervix which is the neck of the rim when you have sex, usually bashes the cervix and you get some bleeding afterwards.

Emma Howard: So get along to GP, get yourself checked out --

Catherine Hood: Go to GP or local Genitourinary Medicine clinic and get yourself check up.

Emma Hood: It's quite a simple test, isn't it for Chlamydia?

Catherine Hood: It is -- it is very simple. I mean GP is not going to do the test in that surgery. It might just involve a urine test. Well, that for most women, we will also suggest that do a sweep. Now that might something they do themselves to secrete sweep out of the vagina that can do in the ladies loo and hand bacl to the GP but if you go to a GU clinic or Genitourinary Medicine, you can have a full checkup where the doctor will actually examine, and have a look at the cervix and see what it's looking like. And just then they can give some advice with that but there are things to just check this, you have to take with the cemitas because obviously, any bleeding around sex, it's important that the cervix is to check to make sure there is no signs about Chlamydia and so --

Emma Howard: And probably goes without saying that any kind of blood from that area, you really must check out, don't look at thing, I am sure that will go.

Catherine Hood: Yeah, don't sit and think, oh, it'll be alright.

Emma Howard: Good, going to checked out.

Catherine Hood: Yeah, do make sure.

Emma Howard: Thank you Catherine for that good advice as always. Well, if you have a similar problem, we hope we might have given you some help but remember it's always best to get and see your doctor for medical advice. Thanks for watching. We'll be back with more health questions and answers.
Emma Howard: Hello! We are answering questions on the sexual health. I am joined by Doctor Catherine Hood. Hello!

Catherine Hood: Hello!

Emma Howard: Catherine, I've got a question here from somebody who is recently started sleeping with her new boyfriend but they found that they've been bleeding after sex. What could be the cause of this?

Catherine Hood: Okay, I think most important thing is how old is this person. I know the age does come into it to some extent. If a young person who has not gone through the menopause and they're still menstruating, then you have to start looking at common causes like infection and you know, somebody would think missed pills but actually the most common cause of this is between your periods actually is infection, a sexually transmitted infection like Chlamydia. If you're through the menopause and you starting to get bleeding after sex then that could be a problem further up into the uterus and it's really important you get that checked up by your doctor. So if we are talking about young people here, let's stick with that --

Emma Howard: Yeah, it seems more likely, I think in this question.

Catherine Hood: I think the most important thing is I would say with a new partner, it's possible to pick up an infection and then there is an awful lot of sexually transmitted infections out there. Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection and this can cause in woman, can inflame the cervix which is the neck of the rim when you have sex, usually bashes the cervix and you get some bleeding afterwards.

Emma Howard: So get along to GP, get yourself checked out --

Catherine Hood: Go to GP or local Genitourinary Medicine clinic and get yourself check up.

Emma Hood: It's quite a simple test, isn't it for Chlamydia?

Catherine Hood: It is -- it is very simple. I mean GP is not going to do the test in that surgery. It might just involve a urine test. Well, that for most women, we will also suggest that do a sweep. Now that might something they do themselves to secrete sweep out of the vagina that can do in the ladies loo and hand bacl to the GP but if you go to a GU clinic or Genitourinary Medicine, you can have a full checkup where the doctor will actually examine, and have a look at the cervix and see what it's looking like. And just then they can give some advice with that but there are things to just check this, you have to take with the cemitas because obviously, any bleeding around sex, it's important that the cervix is to check to make sure there is no signs about Chlamydia and so --

Emma Howard: And probably goes without saying that any kind of blood from that area, you really must check out, don't look at thing, I am sure that will go.

Catherine Hood: Yeah, don't sit and think, oh, it'll be alright.

Emma Howard: Good, going to checked out.

Catherine Hood: Yeah, do make sure.

Emma Howard: Thank you Catherine for that good advice as always. Well, if you have a similar problem, we hope we might have given you some help but remember it's always best to get and see your doctor for medical advice. Thanks for watching. We'll be back with more health questions and answers.