Summary Bleeding in Early Pregnancy

Bleeding in Early
Pregnancy
pregnancy related

physiologic bleeding

spontaneous miscarriage

ectopic pregnancy



non pregnancy related

cervicitis

vaginitis

vaginal laceration

cervical carcinoma



more than half of patients that bleed is due to a non
pregnancy cause



Physiologic bleeding of early pregnancy

bleeding secondary to implantation or bleeding related to a
relative deficiency in hormones (eg. progesterone)

due to disruption of
decidual vessels at the
feta maternal interface




Bleeding in Early Pregnancy 1

, Clinical features

minimal bleeding (if the patient is bleeding heavily then
it is unlikely to be a physiologic bleed)

bleeding usually occurs within the first eight weeks of the
pregnancy

no associated pelvic pain

no cervical dilatation



Management

avoid strenuous activity

progesterone. in jamaica, endometrin is the progesterone
medication that is given



Prognosis

usually good

slight increased risk for low birth weight, premature
labour and neonatal mortality


Bleeding in Early Pregnancy 2