What's this stuff coming out of my vagina after unprotected sex?

The most likely possibility is that what you’re seeing coming out⁠ (out: Short for ‘out of the closet’. When someone’s LGBTQ+ identity is known to other people.) of your vagina⁠ (vagina: The internal passage leading from the opening of the vulva to the cervix of the uterus.) is simply semen⁠ (semen: Fluid which comes from the urethra of the penis during ejaculation, and which usually contains sperm.) : the sexual⁠ (sexual: About or relating in some way to sex or sexuality.) fluid which carries sperm⁠ (sperm: Reproductive cells of people with penises which can fertilize an ovum and create pregnancy.) .

The vagina isn’t a bottomless pit: it ends with the cervix⁠ (cervix: The opening to the uterus, the bottom of which is at the back end of the vagina.) , the base of the uterus⁠ (uterus: An internal, muscular reproductive organ in the pelvis. During pregnancy, this is where a fetus will develop. The lining of a person’s uterus is also the thing that sheds every menstrual cycle in what we call a period.) . The opening to the cervix – called the os – is incredibly small. It can dilate to a much larger size when a person is going to deliver an infant, can be dilated for medical procedures by a healthcare provider⁠ (healthcare provider: A qualified person to provide sound physical and/or mental healthcare, such as a doctor, nurse, clinician, counselor, medical assistant, midwife or other healthcare professional.) , and it does get a little bit larger during certain times in your fertility⁠ (fertility: The ability to become pregnant or other things having to do with becoming pregnant (eg, “the fertility clinic”).) cycle – it’s a little more open during menstruation⁠ (menstruation: The shedding of the uterine lining as part of the menstrual cycle.) and ovulation⁠ (ovulation: The process in the human menstrual/fertility cycle where a mature ovarian follicle ruptures and releases ova.) – but overall, it’s seriously teeny.

Sperm can get through that opening, because they are microscopically small, as can some bacteria, and your menstrual⁠ (menstrual: Having to do with menstruation.) fluids can make their way out, but semen as a whole, doesn’t go in there. It will pool in your vagina when ejaculated, and then run out afterwards. A lot of that will happen within a few hours after, but the vagina cleans itself in a cycle of every few days, so you can often see (and smell) some different-looking discharges from your usual for a couple of days after unprotected sex⁠ (sex: Different things people choose to do to actively express or enact sexuality and sexual feelings; often this involves genitals, but not always. ) . Sometimes, people who are trying to become pregnant expect that for pregnancy⁠ (pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the uterus. Medically, someone is considered to be pregnant when an egg has been fertilized by sperm, cells divide, and the fertilized egg is implanted within the lining of the uterus.) to happen, all that semen needs to stay in the vagina. What they’re missing is that sperm is the important part of semen with pregnancy: the rest of those fluids are basically just there to keep sperm viable and to help get it to the cervical opening. In other words, semen is basically just giving sperm a ride: it doesn’t need to stick around once it drops the sperm off.

Of course, too, if you’re using a lubricant⁠ (lubricant: A fluid used in order to make kinds of sex (such as masturbation, vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse or manual sex) more pleasant and comfortable, and/or to help prevent condoms from breaking by decreasing friction.) , that can also be discharged, and there’s your own natural discharges which make their way out as well which you’re probably already used to seeing. For someone with a genital infection⁠ (infection: When harmful microbes, or germs, or harmful levels of microbes/germs, enter the body and multiply, causing illness. The common cold, flu viruses, sexually transmitted infections, chickenpox, impetigo, rabies and diphtheria are some kinds of infections.) which can cause new discharges, or greater discharge⁠ (discharge: In the context of sex and sexual health, any number of fluids which come from the genitals. Plenty of genital discharge is healthy, while some discharges can be symptoms of illness.) – like bacterial vaginosis⁠ (bacterial vaginosis: An imbalance in the vaginal environment, including pH changes, that occurs when different types of bacteria outnumber the normal, needed and healthy bacteria. It often requires some from of treatment, but sometimes will go away on its own. (BV)) , a yeast infection⁠ (yeast infection: An infection of the vagina caused by an overgrowth of the yeast Candida albicans, which naturally lives on the body. (candidiasis)) , trichomoniasis or other infections – they might see those, too, but symptoms of a sexually transmitted or genital infection tend to need at least a few days – and often longer – to develop. You won’t be seeing STI⁠ (STI: Sexually transmitted infections: illness, infection and/or disease which is often or can be transmitted through sexual or other intimate contact, like HIV, Chlamydia or Herpes. Some people call STIs STDs.) symptoms the next day after sex with nearly all infections.

However, since you did have unprotected sex, you’ll want to make sure you do schedule a screening for infections in the next month or so, and that you keep current with those every year after you first become sexually active⁠ (sexually active: Someone who has had or is currently having some kind of genital sex with a partner or partners.) , even when you are using condoms, though it’s obviously even more critical if you aren’t. And if you do not wish to become pregnant, then you may want to consider getting and using emergency contraception⁠ (emergency contraception: A method of contraception used to prevent pregnancy after sex or rape has already occurred, rather than used before or during, like most types of contraception. Includes emergency contraception pills and IUDs.) as soon as possible: you have within 120 hours of a risk to use it, but the sooner it’s used, the more likely it is to be effective.

Lastly, if you and your partner⁠ (partner: In a sexual context, a person with whom someone is having some kind of sex. The term “partner” can be used for all kinds of relationships, not just serious ones. “Partner” can also mean the person someone is with in a romantic or familial partnership.) have not been monogamous⁠ (monogamous: In the context of sex, people choosing to be with each other sexually exclusively; to only have one sexual partner at a time.) for six months, using safer sex⁠ (safer sex: Practices which aim to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, such as use of latex/nonlatex barriers, regular testing for infections and limiting the number of sexual partners.) practices during that time, and both have not been tested and cleared for all STIs yet, just understand that you are both taking risks of infections with unprotected sex. As well, if you’re not ready and willing to become pregnant right now, sex without using a reliable method of birth control⁠ (birth control: Any number of methods people use to intentionally prevent unwanted pregnancy, including the condom, the cervical barrier, the implant, the patch, the pill, the rhythm method, the ring, the shot, the IUD, spermicide and withdrawal.) – be that condoms, birth control pills, a cervical barrier⁠ (cervical barrier: A birth control device which is inserted into the vagina to cover the cervix and prevent sperm from entering. Diaphragms, cervical caps and contraceptive sponges are kinds of cervical barriers.) or some other solid method – isn’t a great idea. So, if you want to reduce those risks, you’ll need to have a chat with your partner about how to have sex together with safer sex and birth control, and by all means, if you find yourself with a partner who won’t cooperate with that risk management, I’d encourage you to manage your risks yourself by showing that partner to the door.

Here’s some extra information for you on all of this:

• Innies and Outies: The Vagina, Clitoris, Uterus, and More
• Emergency Contraception (Plan B or the Morning-After-Pill)
• Birth Control Bingo!
• Safe, Sound & Sexy: A Safer Sex How-To
• Human Reproduction: A Seafarer’s Guide
• Be a Blabbermouth! The Whats, Whys and Hows of Talking About Sex With a Partner
• Honorably Discharged: A Guide to Vaginal Secretions