▸ Why do some women bleed when they have sex? “We're taught in medical school that postcoital bleeding is a bad sign because it's often related to cervical carcinoma, but it may also be related to cervical ectropion, a stage of the developing cervix that exposes the columnar cells of the endocervical canal to the 'trauma' of coitus,” he said.
Other causes of bleeding during sex may include cervical dysplasia, cervicitis, vaginitis, cervical or uterine polyps, and trauma, such as coagulopathy.
▸ What does an abnormal Pap smear mean? The best reply is to tell the young woman that abnormal cells have been identified. The majority of abnormal Pap results (90%–95%) are a consequence of HPV infections “in all ages of the population, not just in adolescents,” Dr. MacKenzie said.
Other contributing factors to an abnormal Pap include cigarette smoking, the early onset of coitus, and having multiple sexual partners.