---
title: "Vaginal bleeding: When to See a GP | HealthAnswers"
description: "Vaginal bleeding between periods, after sex or after the menopause needs GP review; common causes like fibroids and polyps are usually treatable."
url: https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/vaginal-bleeding/
robots: noindex
---

# Vaginal bleeding: When to See a GP | HealthAnswers

Symptoms

Vaginal bleeding between periods, after sex or after the menopause needs GP review; common causes like fibroids and polyps are usually treatable.

Written by HealthAnswers editorial team Medically reviewed by [HealthAnswers UK doctor review panel](https://healthanswers.co.uk/our-doctors/) Reviewed 3 July 2026

## Quick answer

What could vaginal bleeding mean? Abnormal vaginal bleeding is bleeding between periods, after sex or after the menopause, or periods that are unusually heavy. Common causes include hormonal contraception, fibroids, polyps and infection, and most are treatable. Any bleeding after the menopause needs GP assessment, and heavy bleeding with dizziness or bleeding in pregnancy needs urgent care.

## Who is this page for?

This page is for people in the UK who want a plain-English overview of Vaginal bleeding, including when to seek help and what NHS care usually involves. It explains general information, not what is wrong with you personally.

## Who should skip this page?

Skip this page if you need a diagnosis, a prescription, or emergency care. It cannot replace a GP, pharmacist, NHS 111 or 999. If you are in immediate danger, call 999; for urgent advice that is not life-threatening, call 111 in England, Scotland or Wales, or use your GP out-of-hours service in Northern Ireland.

On this page 4 sections

## Common causes of vaginal bleeding

- Bleeding after the menopause is always abnormal and needs to be checked by a GP.
- Fibroids and polyps are among the most common causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding.
- Heavy periods are treatable, so it is worth seeing a GP about them.
- Any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy needs same-day medical assessment.
- Breakthrough bleeding is common in the first months of hormonal contraception.

## Understanding abnormal vaginal bleeding

Vaginal bleeding that falls outside your normal cycle — bleeding between periods, bleeding after sex, or periods that are much heavier than usual — should be reviewed by a GP. Many of the causes are common and treatable.

Bleeding after the menopause is always abnormal. It should always be checked, however light it is.

## Common causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding

The most common causes are hormonal changes, fibroids, polyps and infection. Breakthrough bleeding is particularly common in the first months after starting hormonal contraception, and usually settles.

In anyone who bleeds after the menopause, doctors arrange tests to exclude endometrial cancer. The cause usually turns out to be something treatable, and it is rarely cancer.

## How a GP assesses vaginal bleeding

A GP will ask about your bleeding pattern and medical history, and may examine you. Depending on what they find, they may arrange an ultrasound scan or refer you to a specialist.

They may also offer cervical screening if yours is due.

## When vaginal bleeding is an emergency

Very heavy bleeding that makes you feel faint or dizzy needs urgent care. Any bleeding during pregnancy should be assessed the same day, and bleeding with pain in early pregnancy can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy, which is a medical emergency — call 999 or go to A&E.

## ! When to get medical help for vaginal bleeding

See a GP for any bleeding after the menopause, bleeding between periods, or bleeding after sex. Call **999** or go to A&E for very heavy bleeding or for pain in pregnancy. Call **111** for urgent advice when you are unsure what to do.

## Common questions about vaginal bleeding

Is it normal to bleed between periods? Bleeding between periods is common in the first few months after starting hormonal contraception. If the bleeding persists, or happens when nothing about your contraception has changed, it needs assessment by a GP. What does bleeding after the menopause mean? Bleeding after the menopause is always abnormal and should always be investigated by a GP. The cause is usually treatable and is rarely cancer, but tests are needed to rule this out. When are heavy periods an emergency? Seek urgent review if you are soaking through a pad or tampon every hour, or passing clots and feeling dizzy. Heavy periods are treatable, so see a GP even when the bleeding is not this severe. Why am I bleeding after sex? Bleeding after sex can be caused by a cervical ectropion, an infection or a polyp. It should always be checked by a GP so the cause can be identified and treated.

## Sources

- [NHS — Post-menopausal bleeding](https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/post-menopausal-bleeding/)
- [NHS — Heavy Periods](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heavy-periods)