Expert: Norman Solberg - 11/27/2009

Question
I had sex with my boyfriend last night and discovered a cut on the inside of my labia. It is around an inch long and has bled quite a bit. I don't have insurance and don't know if I should go see a doctor or if it will heal on its own. I believe it happened because there was not enough lubrication. It is pretty painful and I'm quite nervous about it. I don't know if this will heal on its own or if I need to get it looked at, or if this is common.

Thanks so much

Answer
It's not very common, but can happen.  As long as there was no cut there before you had sex, I think you're right that it happened because of not enough lubrication.  You can avoid this in the future by using one of the lubricants like Astroglide.  Since I can't see the cut, it's hard for me to say whether you should see a doctor.  Many cuts will heal on their own, especially if you can keep it really clean (frequent soaks in warm water, dry well after, and put on a sanitary pad).  If you see a doctor, they may or may not recommend putting a stitch in.  Best wishes.