No, not always. Some women will bleed after having sex for the first time, while others will not. Both are perfectly normal.
A woman may bleed when she has penetrative sex for the first time because of her hymen stretching or tearing.
The hymen is a thin piece of skin that partially covers the entrance to the vagina. For some women, it may stretch or tear when they start having sex.
Having a stretched or torn hymen does not necessarily mean a woman has lost her virginity.
The hymen can also stretch or tear quite easily before a woman has sex for the first time, through:
- activities such as horse riding and other sports
- using tampons
- masturbation
A woman may not know her hymen has stretched or torn, because it does not always cause pain or noticeable bleeding.
If you're concerned about bleeding after sex, get advice from a GP or your nearest sexual health clinic.