Author: Dr Peter England, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Reasons for bleeding in pregnancy.
In this video I discuss the reasons for bleeding in early pregnancy.
There are many causes of bleeding in early pregnancy, including possible miscarriage, less common ectopic, or tubal pregnancy, but often it is an innocent cause.
SPotting from the cervix can follow intercourse, straining on the toilet, or even with heavy lifting.
If you do have bleeding in early pregnancy – don’t panic.
Unless you have very heavy bleeding or are in severe pain, it’s not likely to be an emergency.
You should put on a pad, call and make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor will discuss your medical history with you, possible due dates, last period dates and examine your abdomen. If you are 6 weeks plus gestation, I will conduct a vaginal ultrasound.
Before 6 weeks gestation, an ultrasound is of limited use as the heartbeat might not yet be present.
If you have early pregnancy bleeding blood tests checking for HCG levels over a few days can provide more information.
If you are more than 6 weeks pregnant, a heartbeat will be present within a gestation sack inside the uterus. If no heartbeat is present, we will repeat the scan in a week – in case your due dates were not correct.
After this, we must suspect the possibility of ectopic or tubal pregnancy.
If you are a patient of mine, please call the rooms to discuss any bleeding during your pregnancy.
Author: Dr Peter England, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.
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