Back to Sexual health. No, not always. Some women will bleed after having sex for the first time, while others won't. Both are perfectly normal. 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. A woman may not know her hymen has broken, because it doesn't always cause pain or noticeable bleeding.

1. It's Actually Just Your Period
More from Sex & Relationships
Skip navigation! Story from Sex School. When it comes to virginity, there are a lot of myths out there. What Is "Popping Your Cherry"? There are two main reasons people with vaginas might bleed after their first time having P-in-V sex: tearing the hymen and lack of lubrication. This blood is more like the spotting you might see between periods than a full-on period. There are a lot of misconceptions about the hymen , which is also called the vaginal corona, or just the corona. When this happens, people need to have minor surgery when they begin menstruating so that their period blood can exit their body. Your hymen will gradually wear away over your whole life, for a whole bunch of reasons: everything from your hormones changing to period blood leaving your body to masturbation to physical activity to, yes, sex.
Further information
A searchable database of the laws, people, organizations, and litigation involved in sexual and reproductive health and justice in the United States. This column is published in partnership with Scarleteen. Sara Patterson-Brown.
Emma Kaywin, a Brooklyn-based sexual health writer and activist, is here to calm your nerves and answer your questions. No gender, sexual orientation, or question is off limits, and all questions will remain anonymous. Please send your questions to tips bustle. Just regular times. Could this be medically significant? No one ever told me about bleeding after sex. Your vagina, while a total badass that can squeeze out a tiny human all by itself, is also made of pretty tender material. Your vaginal canal is also connected to a bunch of other delicate and complex areas, and disruption of those can result in some bleeding.