If you have vaginal bleeding at any time during pregnancy,
report it to your doctor immediately. Vaginal bleeding can be a
sign of
miscarriage or premature labor during a pregnancy. But
sometimes it is not, particularly in the first trimester.
During the first trimester of pregnancy:
- Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is more
common in women who have previously been pregnant than in women who are
pregnant for the first time.
- Very early spotting is sometimes the
result of the fertilized egg implanting in the uterus. Implantation takes place
6 to 10 days after the sperm fertilizes the egg.
- Bleeding can be a
sign of miscarriage. Early bleeding during the first 6 weeks or so can be an
early miscarriage called a blighted ovum. Although a
gestational sac has developed, the fertilized egg has not developed into an
embryo. This is usually caused by a chromosomal error in the early stages of
cell formation. On an ultrasound, a blighted ovum is likely to look like an
empty sac attached to the uterine wall.
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By
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Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
Femi Olatunbosun, MB, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
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Last Revised
|
February 1, 2013 |