Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCauses of Early Pregnancy BleedingDiagnosisComplicationsSummary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes of Early Pregnancy Bleeding
Diagnosis
Complications
Summary
Earlypregnancybleeding refers to vaginal bleeding during the first trimester, or the first three months of pregnancy. It usually occurs after fertilization when the fertilized egg implants in the lining of youruterus. This type of bleeding is also sometimes called implantation bleeding.
While bleeding during pregnancy may seem like a problem, it’s actually very common early on. About 15% to 25% of pregnant women have bleeding in the first trimester, the first three months of pregnancy.The bleeding is typically light. Even so, it’s best to talk to yourobstetrician-gynecologistif you experience any kind of bleeding during your pregnancy.
Sometimes early pregnancy bleeding can signal a number of problems, including miscarriage andectopic pregnancy. Bleeding with pain or bleeding that is heavier than a normal menstrual amount is a reason for further investigation.
Mike Harrington / Getty Images
Implantation is the most common cause of early pregnancy bleeding, but it can also occur due to several other normal causes:
The bleeding in these cases should be light and last only a few days. If bleeding is heavier or lasts longer than a few days or occurs with pain, there could be a problem with the pregnancy, such as amiscarriage, which refers to pregnancy loss in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is also called early pregnancy loss.Bleeding and cramping are signs of a miscarriage. However, about one-half of women who have a miscarriage do not have any bleeding beforehand.
The Cervix in Early Pregnancy
How to Prevent Miscarriages
You cannot prevent miscarriages, but there are some ways you can lower your risk of a miscarriage:
Understanding Chemical Pregnancy: What Causes Early Miscarriage?
Your healthcare provider will review your overall health and details of your pregnancy. A pelvic examination can help identify nonpregnancy-related conditions like vaginal infections or polyps.
If you have a miscarriage, your practitioner will advise you on next steps to make sure your body expels any remaining tissue. If pregnancy loss has not occurred, they may order blood work, lab tests, or ultrasound imaging.
To narrow the cause or impact of your bleeding, your medical professional may order blood work to check the levels of:
A transvaginal ultrasound may be used to check on the development of your embryo. Measurements may be taken of the gestational sac (large cavity of fluid surrounding the embryo), yolk sac (the front part of the embryo), and embryo to gauge the health and progress of your pregnancy. Smaller than normal growth may indicate that pregnancy loss is either possible or imminent.
While most bleeding in early pregnancy is not necessarily bad, there are other causes of bleeding that could signal trouble.
Ectopic Pregnancy
One cause of bleeding in early pregnancy that is not normal is an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus wall, typically in one of thefallopian tubes.
Vaginal bleeding is sometimes the only sign of an ectopic pregnancy. Other symptoms may include abdominal, pelvic, or shoulder pain.
While there have been rare cases where ectopic pregnancies were carried to term, most are fatal to the embryo. The structure housing the embryo can rupture in weeks as it grows. This can put you at risk of internal bleeding or other complications. You may also experience abdominal, pelvic, or shoulder pain with an ectopic pregnancy.
An ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency, asmedications or even surgerymay be required to repair the damage from a rupture.
Molar Pregnancy
Molar pregnancyis an abnormal pregnancy that occurs when there is a problem with the growth of theplacenta. In about one in 1,000 pregnancies, a genetic error can occur during fertilization and lead to a molar pregnancy.
Molar pregnancies form tumors rather than embryos, and are one of the causes of early pregnancy loss. They can appear with:
Subchorionic Hemorrhage
A Word From Verywell
Pregnancy can be an exciting time, but it is also full of unknowns and worries, especially if it is your first pregnancy. If you experience light bleeding early in your pregnancy, there is probably nothing to worry about. Some bleeding, particularly after implantation, is normal. It’s still important, though, to keep your obstetrician-gynecologist informed. If your bleeding becomes heavy or occurs with cramping or pain, call your healthcare provider immediately.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.Hendriks E, MacNaughton H, MacKenzie MC.First trimester bleeding: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 99(3):166-174.Cleveland Clinic.Ectopic pregnancy.Almasi A, Almassinokiani F, Akbari P.Frequency of molar pregnancies in health care centers of Tehran, Iran.J Reprod Infertil. 15(3):157-160.Palatnik, A. and Grobman, W.The relationship between first-trimester subchorionic hematoma, cervical length, and preterm birth.Am J Obstet Gynecol.213(3):403.e1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.05.019.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.Hendriks E, MacNaughton H, MacKenzie MC.First trimester bleeding: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 99(3):166-174.Cleveland Clinic.Ectopic pregnancy.Almasi A, Almassinokiani F, Akbari P.Frequency of molar pregnancies in health care centers of Tehran, Iran.J Reprod Infertil. 15(3):157-160.Palatnik, A. and Grobman, W.The relationship between first-trimester subchorionic hematoma, cervical length, and preterm birth.Am J Obstet Gynecol.213(3):403.e1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.05.019.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.Hendriks E, MacNaughton H, MacKenzie MC.First trimester bleeding: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 99(3):166-174.Cleveland Clinic.Ectopic pregnancy.Almasi A, Almassinokiani F, Akbari P.Frequency of molar pregnancies in health care centers of Tehran, Iran.J Reprod Infertil. 15(3):157-160.Palatnik, A. and Grobman, W.The relationship between first-trimester subchorionic hematoma, cervical length, and preterm birth.Am J Obstet Gynecol.213(3):403.e1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.05.019.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.
Hendriks E, MacNaughton H, MacKenzie MC.First trimester bleeding: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 99(3):166-174.
Cleveland Clinic.Ectopic pregnancy.
Almasi A, Almassinokiani F, Akbari P.Frequency of molar pregnancies in health care centers of Tehran, Iran.J Reprod Infertil. 15(3):157-160.
Palatnik, A. and Grobman, W.The relationship between first-trimester subchorionic hematoma, cervical length, and preterm birth.Am J Obstet Gynecol.213(3):403.e1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.05.019.
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