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Hi there Aunt Vadge,
I had an accident while having sex with my partner and tore my labia where the skin joins. At the time it bled A LOT, but stopped soon after and reduced to a little seeping. From what I can see the tear is about 1.5 inches.
It happened around 32 hours ago. I don’t know whether to see someone or not – this has never happened before and I’m worried. I’m working abroad and return to the UK on the 28th. Should I wait, or find someone here?
Is there anything else I can do?
Kind regards,
Split X
Dear Split,
First, well done for keeping an eye on it.
A tear that bled heavily and measures around 1.5 inches (3–4 cm) is on the larger side, and the fact it’s still seeping a day and a half later is the part I’d take seriously – so my steer is to get it looked at in person where you are now, rather than waiting until you’re home.
Tears where the labia meet are common during sex and most are minor and heal beautifully on their own, but the two things that change the picture are exactly the two you’ve got: how much it bled, and how long it is.
Heavier bleeding and longer tears are the ones that sometimes need a stitch or two to close cleanly, and a clinician can tell in moments whether the edges are gaping (which points to stitches) or whether it’s a shallow split that will knit together by itself.
Go and be seen sooner rather than later, and especially if it’s still bleeding or starts up again, if the edges gape open or there’s a loose flap of skin, if the pain is getting worse instead of better, or if you notice spreading redness, swelling, heat or unusual discharge, which would signal infection.
If it turns out to be a shallow graze, the care is simple: keep it clean, rinse with plain warm water, pat dry, wear cotton underwear, and skip sex until it’s fully healed – our full guide to cuts and tears from sex walks you through it.
But with that much bleeding and a tear that size, a quick in-person check now is the safe, sensible move, wherever you happen to be.
Warmest regards,
Aunt Vadge
This is general information, not a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you are worried about bleeding or a wound, please see a clinician in person.
