# Please advise - very scared about vaginal bleeding (WARNING GORY PICTURES) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 16, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042 "2013-11-16T03:58:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/21 "2013-11-16T06:06:19Z")
You’re 23, you don’t have to tell your parents anything and your doctors can’t without your permission. Tell them you are worried about odd vaginal bleeding and need to go to a doctor. They probably already know you masturbate, it is a pretty natural thing but I get not wanting to tell them - if you really don’t want them involved ask a friend or take yourself but go. I haven’t looked at the photos either, don’t need to, you are freaked out and that alone makes a doc visit worthwhile. It could be anything or nothing, you won’t know until you are checked out. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/22 "2013-11-16T06:59:41Z")
> [@Claire98909](#): > > You’re an arrogant asshole. Calling other posters names is not allowed in this forum. Use the BBQ Pit for that. Do not call names or insult other posters again. Furthermore, If you’re going to post any photos that are gory or/and offensive, you should probably put them under spoilers (which I’ve done for you) to make the ease of clicking on them harder to do. And lastly, the SDMB is not the place to ask medical advice. I know you said you will make an appointment with your doctor, that is what is best to do. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/23 "2013-11-16T09:57:47Z")
First… I hope it’s nothing serious and everything checks out okay. And as **Thylacine** has already mentioned, masturbation is perfectly normal. There’s an old joke about that… 90% of men will admit to masturbating, the other 10% are liars. 😛 (I’ve always heard it in reference to men, but IMHO, it applies to everyone.) For that matter, it has the potential to actually be beneficial in that it’s a good opportunity to ‘check under the hood’, so to speak. You know, check all the fluids, inspect the fan belt, make sure the battery is still fastened down and the connections aren’t becoming corroded, etc. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/24 "2013-11-16T11:05:18Z")
Sure, this isn’t the place for it, but she is scared and worried and wants to be reassured. I can totally get that, it’s not attention grabbing. Here’s my advice. Don’t come to the conclusion that it is serious - it could be you had a big zit and popped it or something else innocuous. The horrendous stuff gets all the press - a lot of stuff is just the body doing something weird and then it sort of comes right again. Keep you doctor’s appointment on Monday. Meanwhile: 1. If you’re feeling sick go to the ER. 2. If you are feeling otherwise okay do one of these: - phone a close friend and tell her (or him). The board is great, but nothing beats someone actually being there for you. - if you feel you can’t tell anyone, distract yourself. Go for a walk. Go out with friends. A film. Anything. Do NOT stay on the internet googling symptoms. You will go batshit insane and you will not find anything conclusive. If you’re not feeling bad, accept you can’t do anything till Monday so do something else to take your mind off it. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/25 "2013-11-16T14:00:50Z")
For your next meeting with the doctor don’t be reticent. Tell them about the speculum mishap. In googling similar scenarios the main answers seem to be injured or irritated vaginal tissue or PCOS related symptoms. This answer seems to come closest to your general scenario. It sounds like the heavy bleeding is due to injuring your vaginal walls with the really vigorous deep penetration you described. The lighter stuff is just a symptom of PCOS and the blood being flushed out. As an aside if your hymen is not completed opened or is only partially open this can cause similar issues also. > **[Yahoo Search - Web Search](https://search.yahoo.com/)** > > The search engine that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. Find the most relevant information, video, images, and answers from all across the Web. > [@](#): > > Doc Julio answered 2 years ago > > It could be that the muscular contractions during orgasm are just expelling some (menstrual) blood from your uterus. I would normally say to get it checked out by your doctor just in case, but it sounds like you have already been checked out so no real need. > > It is not a direct symptoms of PCOS, but still, quite probably related to the PCOS. PCOS sufferers tend to have low levels of progesterone. And its a drop in progesterone (and estrogen, but mainly progesterone) that initiates a period. But your progesterone may not have far to drop, causing continual spotting/very light bleeding ratehr than a full period. And the orgasms are just flushing a bit of that out. > > The pill would surely regulate your periods, but as you say, is would just be artificially driving your cycle and not curing anything. If your are happy on condoms, and not too concerned about the regular periods, then there is no real reason to go on the pill. The pill can also help with symptoms due to excess testosterone, common in PCOS, but you don’t mention any testosterone-related symptoms or concerns. > > An alternative treatment is metformin, commonly used in overweight patients and/or patients with elevated insulin/insulin resistance. This does tackle the problem at its root cause by lowering insulin levels. But there are many types of PCOS, not all of them are related to insulin (most are), and indeed you say you are under weight (suggesting you may not be one of the insulin-associated PCOS types). Dietary approaches to reducing insulin levels also exist, but they also may not be helpful to you. > > You should also be aware that having poly cystic ovaries (PCO) does NOT necessarily mean you have PCOS (the syndrome). Many women with PCO do not have PCOS, and many women with PCOS do not show PCO on ultrasound. > > So I think then there are 2 options for you going forward. (1) Just wait and see. As you are not trying to get pregnant at this point in time, there is no need for medical intervention at this stage. Later, if you have trouble conceiving, then you might seek help. (2) Find a good endocrinologist that will spend more time understanding your hormone levels, and the type/pattern of PCOS you have (if you have it at all). I would be inclined to suggest (1) unless you have particular issues or concerns that you feel need addressing now ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/26 "2013-11-16T14:15:30Z")
Please, please tell me you haven’t used the speculum since. Has the bleeding slowed down at all? If not, I really don’t think you need to go to urgent care. On the one hand, it does sound like you just burst a polyp, but continual bleeding like you described could be dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/27 "2013-11-16T15:11:23Z")
**Idle Thoughts** apparently forgot to close this when he wrote his notes earlier – I’ll close it now. **Claire** , strangers on a message board can’t help you with this. Go to a doctor. **twickster** , for the SDMB ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/28 "2013-11-16T15:13:03Z")
Go to the doctor! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/29 "2013-11-16T16:18:06Z")
Just realized this was in IMHO, not MPSIMS – so not my call to close. I’m reopening. Sorry for the mistake! **twickster** , MPSIMS and Cafe Society (but not IMHO) mod ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/30 "2013-11-16T16:34:23Z")
PCOS and endometriosis often cause endometrial tissue (the lining of the uterus that’s made to catch the fertilized egg and help it build the placenta) to grow where it shouldn’t, including over your cervix and along the walls of your vagina. As your hormones wax and wane - and PCOS means your hormones swing wider than a woman without PCOS - this tissue sometimes liquifies and comes out as “spotting”. Both the deep vigorous penetration and the muscle spasms generally brought on by orgasm can forcefully expel this tissue, too. Since it stopped on its own, it is very unlikely to be a medical emergency. Should you see a doctor? Yes, because if you’re bleeding a lot, they need to check out why and treat it. If it is the PCOS causing crazy hormones, they may want to remove or shrink some of those cysts on your ovaries. If it’s the endometriosis causing excess endometrial tissue, they may want to remove some of that excess tissue, either with medication, or laser surgery or other techniques your doctor can tell you more about. So, deep breaths, calm down, and yes, call your doctor to make an appointment. If you don’t want to tell your parents why, you don’t have to, or you can be vague and say you’re having some spotting and want to get it checked out. If you start to run a fever or you have pain in your abdomen or pelvis, then you call your doctor again and see if she wants you to go to the ER. If you have pain and bleeding that doesn’t stop on it’s own in about 15 minutes (and isn’t period blood), then you go to the ER. When you see your doctor, ask her to give you some information - either in writing or verbally - about PCOS, endometriosis and benign vaginal bleeding. That should all have been explained to you when you were diagnosed, but it sounds like you were young and maybe not listening, or they gave the information to your mom and she didn’t share it with you. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/31 "2013-11-16T17:06:52Z")
When you do see your doctor, tell her everything, even about the speculum. She can’t diagnose you properly without all the facts. Trust me, she won’t be shocked, doctors have heard everything. Also, put the thought of cancer out of your mind. You said you had 2 negative paps in the past couple of years. Don’t worry so much. Lastly, maybe go a little easier on the self-pleasure. That thing needs to last you your whole life. And I don’t mean the vibrator. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/32 "2013-11-16T17:08:39Z")
(Oh, and I did look at the pictures, and while I’m sure it was scary and looks like a lot of blood, and any amount of unexplained blood coming out of your body is worth checking with your doctor about, it’s, in medical terms, not a large amount. Maybe 30mL…maybe. Blood looks bigger than it is, because it spreads.) ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/33 "2013-11-16T17:56:49Z")
> [@Claire98909](#): > > The thing is, I don’t want to worry my parents, and I also don’t want them to know I’ve been masturbating. I suppose I could just say “hey, all of a sudden I had some very heavy vaginal bleeding”, but they’d probably get suspicious. Why would they suspect that bleeding meant masturbation? That’s a really weird thing to assume. If someone came to me and said “heavy vaginal bleeding” I’d think it was a bad period. Maybe fibroids. Or a miscarriage. But my first thought wouldn’t be that she’d been masturbating. That wouldn’t even be my tenth thought. Why can’t you just go to urgent care today without bothering your parents about it? Also, if you’re regularly masturbating vigorously enough to make yourself bleed, maybe consider switching it up a little. There are lots of ways to get off. ---
**Author:** ![coolbyrne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@coolbyrne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coolbyrne)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/34 "2013-11-16T18:46:26Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Claire, as a veteran of the dope, I can promise you, there will be one billion more posts for you to see the doctor, despite your post that you have a doctor appt. Monday. According to the OP and the post right above yours, is she not _making_ the appointment on Monday? So, not actually getting in to see the doctor on Monday? On the chance that I’ve read that wrong, I’ll apologize for adding to the billion posts- go see a doctor. You are clearly worried out of your mind. Take a book and go down to your local emergency room and get in to see some kind of medical professional. Tell them everything, including the speculum and the masturbation. Without all the information, how can the doctor be expected to make the right diagnosis? For your own peace of mind (and perhaps your health), do something now instead of waiting for a doctor’s appointment that might be weeks or even months down the road. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/35 "2013-11-16T18:58:33Z")
When you call your doctor’s office, you need to make it clear that you’re calling because you’re experiencing non-menstrual bleeding. If you make it sound like you just want a regular checkup then the next appointment may be months from now, but if you’re actually experiencing potentially troubling symptoms they will try to get you in sooner. And as others have said, you need to be honest with your doctor if you want to get help. If you don’t trust your current doctor enough to tell the truth then find another doctor, but you’re wasting everyone’s time by going in and not admitting what you’re really concerned about. ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Bisector](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@Black\_Bisector](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Bisector)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/36 "2013-11-16T19:31:07Z")
So fun story from a guy: I was having a problem about 5ish years ago with blood in the toilet after I would take an epic dump. And I would always freak out about it. So one day I screwed up the courage to do see my doctor. She took a peak between the cheeks and said, “Oh you have a hemorrhoid here. You really need to drink more water, eat more fiber and don’t sit on the toilet trying to wrestle a poop snake.” She probably said it nicer. So a month or so goes by and I, being one of those people that are terrified I’m dying of everything, actually follow her advice. I have a next appointment and she says, “Yup, it’s gone down, make sure you use good toilet paper and quit reading on the toilet dork.” I haven’t have a problem since. Just occasional spots of blood due to over vigorous wiping or when I have Taco Bell. Most likely, you will be fine. > [@Claire98909](#): > > HOWEVER, not 30 minutes ago I was masturbating rather vigorously (sorry for the TMI but I was really jamming it in there) … I can’t believe I’m the first one saying this. Seriously Dope? How YOU doin’? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/37 "2013-11-16T20:20:56Z")
> [@Black\_Bisector](#): > > I can’t believe I’m the first one saying this. Seriously Dope? > > How YOU doin’? Maybe you are the first person saying it because it’s an idiotic thing to say. Seriously. I mean, there’s lots of idiots around but I guess the other lame flirters had the sense of shame needed to stay out of a vaginal bleeding thread. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/38 "2013-11-16T20:46:19Z")
> [@Black\_Bisector](#): > > I can’t believe I’m the first one saying this. Seriously Dope? > > How YOU doin’? Seriously? She’s worried she has something serious and this is your bon mot? ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/39 "2013-11-16T22:11:11Z")
> [@Black\_Bisector](#): > > I can’t believe I’m the first one saying this. Seriously Dope? > > How YOU doin’? This is out of line for this topic. Don’t make jokes like this in serious threads. In case you missed it, this was a big discussion not too long ago. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2013, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042/40 "2013-11-17T05:34:20Z")
I think it’s hard for any of us to say what’s going on without doing a pelvic exam, so I do think that going to see a doctor is a smart idea. I would be honest with the doctor about having used a speculum and seeing something weird previously. Using a speculum isn’t that weird - I think most of the modern generation of ob/gyns would probably be glad that you wanted to understand your body better. I think it’s far better for women to be comfortable using a speculum rather than the frighteningly common scenario where some women are so squeamish about touching themselves that they sometimes “lose” things like tampons in their vaginas (even though things like that can’t really go far). Abnormal vaginal bleeding is a very common reason for women to come to the ER (back when I used to rotate through a busy ER we would usually see AT LEAST one vag bleeder every shift - often more than one), so if you are worried enough that you want to get checked out before Monday then I think it would be reasonable to go to the ER. If you have to tell your parents, I would just tell them that you’ve been having abnormal bleeding and not get into any more details than that. I don’t think your parents will assume that it was because you were masturbating, especially since you have PCOS and that in itself can cause abnormal bleeding. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-advise-very-scared-about-vaginal-bleeding-warning-gory-pictures/674042.md?page=3)