What Causes Bleeding During Pregnancy?
It is normal to have concerns and worries about a pregnancy, but red flags should go up if you start bleeding. Though bleeding does not always indicate a serious problem, women who have bleeding during any part of their pregnancy should contact a doctor immediately.
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Implantation Bleeding
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Implantation bleeding is a small amount of spotting that can occur when the embryo is implanted on the uterine wall. This should not be a heavy flow. This type of bleeding usually happens when your period should occur. Some women mistake this for a light period and do not realize that they are pregnant.
Miscarriages
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There are three categories of miscarriages: threatened miscarriage, complete miscarriage and incomplete miscarriage. In threatened miscarriage, there is some bleeding and cramping, but the fetus is still in the uterus. In a complete miscarriage, the pregnancy ends and the fetus is passed through the vagina. An incomplete miscarriage is one that is still in progress, with the woman passing blood clots and tissue. The doctor may order a dilation and curettage, in which the uterus lining is removed through suction or scraping.
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Blighted Ovum
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A blighted ovum is also called an embryonic failure, in which the embryo is in the uterus but fails to develop correctly.
Cervical Changes
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The softening of the cervix or changes in blood flow to the cervix during pregnancy can cause harmless bleeding. More serious is bleeding from cervical infections or growths, or the premature opening of the cervix.
Ectopic Pregnancy
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In ectopic pregnancy, the embryo does not attach inside the uterus. Ectopic pregnancy almost always occurs inside a fallopian tube. What begins as light bleeding can become life-threatening if not treated.
Molar Pregnancy
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Vaginal bleeding is a symptom of molar pregnancy, which occurs when abnormal tissue develops instead of a fetus. If this tissue is not completely removed, it can become cancerous.
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