No, not always. Some women will bleed after having sex for the first time, while others won't. Both are perfectly normal.
A woman may bleed when she has penetrative sex for the first time because of her hymen breaking.
The hymen is a thin piece of skin that partially covers the entrance to the vagina. It usually breaks during sex, if it hasn't already broken before.
The hymen can break quite easily before a woman has sex for the first time, through:
- activities such as horse riding and other sports
- using tampons
A woman may not know her hymen has broken, because it doesn’t always cause pain or noticeable bleeding.
Having a broken hymen therefore doesn't necessarily mean a woman has lost her virginity.
If you're concerned about bleeding after sex, get advice from your GP or your nearest sexual health clinic.
