Postcoital bleeding

Abstract

Postcoital bleeding (PCB) is defined as any bleeding or spotting unrelated to menstruation that occurs during or after sexual intercourse. It is a relatively common complaint presenting to general practice, and can sometimes prove challenging to diagnose and manage, due to the number of conditions that can cause PCB. It can cause a lot of distress to the patients, as many will associate such bleeding to a malignant cause. At the same time, some patients will take it lightly and present late. There are no current national guidelines in the UK for PCB, which may contribute to inconsistencies in investigation and management. There are many common and uncommon causes of PCB. This article will explore these with the help of a clinical scenario. An aid to diagnosis and management will be discussed.