What Causes Bleeding From The Vulva In Sleep?

Posted on Tue, 15 Jul 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 Answered on

Mon, 11 Aug 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I am a 76-year-old woman. During the night tonight I was awakened with bleeding which seems to have come from a small hole in the side of the vulva. There is no lump, pain, rash, or anything other than a small hole. What could it be?

Answered by Dr. Shanti Vennam (21 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Need a clinical examination.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for posting your query.

You need a clinical examination by a specialist immediately. It needs to be seen where the bleeding is issuing from. The bleeding may be controlled by using styptics.

It is possible that some trauma may have led to the formation of a hematoma that may have bled. At your age, several factors are at stake. Please mention if you have any other significant feature to share. Infections should be ruled out and so are new growths.

Hope I have answered your query. Please feel free to contact for further information. I will be happy to help.

regards,
Shanti.V.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shanti Vennam (17 minutes later)

There was no trauma that I can think of. There does appear to be a little blue vein that leads superficially to the small hole that bled. Could it be just a ruptured vein?

Answered by Dr. Shanti Vennam (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It is possible.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing back.

It is very much possible that some venous engorgement may have caused that bleed and as the tissues are thinned out, even minor trauma can lead to a bleed. Yet, it remains to be seen where that engorgement has come from and why. I presume it is a continuous bleeding and not a bout of bleeding, which is usually seen in vascular conditions.

Hope I have answered your doubt. Please contact if you need any more information. I will be ready to help.

regards,
Shanti.V.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar