Is spotting after sex normal with a birth control ring?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been on birth control vaginal ring for the past five years. I had no problems with it until this morning. I was intimate with my partner (penetration with fingers) and had an orgasm. We then noticed that I had a bleed. It was light spotting and looked like a little period. It has stopped now, but I am experiencing cramps like regular period cramps. I have been using the ring correctly, in for three and out for one, so I am assuming I can rule out pregnancy. The STI test came out negative. Could this just be a little injury?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your complaint is about post-intercourse spotting with birth control vaginal ring and then period-like pain, so you are asking about the possibility of injury.

Birth control vaginal ring is a polymeric drug delivery device designed to produce two hormones, etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol, that provide contraception.

The ring could slip and cause local inflammation after being misplaced. Other side effects could be clot formation, stroke, high blood pressure, migraine, mood changes, vaginal discharge, breast pain or discomfort, etc.

You have not described your last menstrual period date, menstrual, medical, obstetrical, gynecological, drug, and surgical histories. So yes, there could be some local injury or trauma leading to spotting post-activity, as you experienced.

As you missed your periods for 7 to 10 days, you can have a urine pregnancy test to confirm pregnancy.
Start Folic acid 0.4 mg daily after consulting your doctor.
Avoid alcohol, cocaine, ketamine, tobacco smoking, etc.
Take a good healthy diet.
Consult your physician if you have been treated for any chronic disease.

Thank you.