Vaginal bleeding before age 10
It is uncommon for a young girl to start menstruating before age 10.
Injuries to the pelvic or vaginal area, such as falling on the crossbar of a bicycle, can cause vaginal bleeding. An object in the vagina can cause vaginal bleeding or discharge.
Sexual abuse is another possible cause of vaginal bleeding in a young girl. You may feel uneasy if your health professional brings up the issue of sexual abuse. Health professionals have a professional duty and legal obligation to evaluate the possibility of abuse. It is important to consider this possibility, especially if there were no witnesses to an injury that caused a child's vaginal bleeding.
If you think your child has been abused, it is your responsibility to call your health professional or contact the National Child Abuse Hotline and Referral Service at 1-800-422-4453. Adults need to protect young children, because children cannot protect themselves.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: July 11, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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