- With Mayo Clinic internist
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, certified by the American Board of Family Practice, has been practicing medicine at Mayo Clinic since 1995 with special interests in breast diseases and women's health.
She is a consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, and the Breast Diagnostic Clinic. She is an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native stresses education and patient-related research and has been active in both areas since joining Mayo Clinic. She is the primary investigator at Mayo Clinic of several clinical trials evaluating new agents for the prevention of breast cancer and identification of biomarkers for early detection of breast cancer. Her other research and clinical interests include managing the health of women who are at increased risk of breast cancer, breast pain and hot flashes, and developing patient education decision-making tools for breast-related concerns. She is director of the Breast Diagnostic Clinic and is a member of the Women's Health Executive Committee. Dr. Pruthi has been newly elected as a member to the board of directors for the American Society of Breast Disease. She has assisted with a variety of articles for MayoClinic.com.
"Having an opportunity to share information with my patients in the way that will help them to understand and be able to make educated decisions about their own health is very important to me," she says.
"The Web has become a major information site for people, and I want them to get the best and accurate information to be able to make informed choices for themselves, their family members and friends."
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Question
Bleeding after sex: Is this normal?
Should I be concerned about occasional bleeding after sex?
Answer
from Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Bleeding after sex is not normal and should be evaluated by your doctor. Some causes of vaginal bleeding after sex, such as vaginal dryness after menopause, are not serious and may be easily treated. However, in some cases, vaginal bleeding after sex can be a sign of a serious underlying problem, including:
- Inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis)
- Sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea
- Cervical polyps
- Cervical ectropion, a condition in which the cervical tissue is more susceptible to abrasion
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Uterine fibroids
- Cancer of the cervix, uterus or vagina
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the bleeding. For example, if the cause is vaginal dryness due to menopause, your doctor may recommend estrogen therapy and over-the-counter water-based lubricants or moisturizers.
