There are a few common causes of bleeding in the first trimester:
- Spontaneous abortion
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Subchorionic hemorrhage
- Gestational trophoblastic disease (less common)
When we speak about miscarriages (spontaneous abortions), there are a few terms which are frequently used. An ultrasound and an examination will usually confirm the diagnosis:
- Threatened abortion (when vaginal bleeding occurs before 20 weeks of gestation, there is a viable pregnancy, and the woman has a closed cervix)
- Inevitable abortion (if there is a dilated cervix)
- Incomplete abortion (when a portion of the pregnancy has passed)
- Complete abortion (when all of the pregnancy tissue (products of conception) has passed)
Gestational trophoblastic disease is a much less common cause of vaginal bleeding early in a pregnancy. Some signs of this condition would be a pregnancy size larger than would be expected (based on routine dates), very high levels in a blood pregnancy hormone test (hCG), and severe nausea and vomiting. Here are some common terms that are encountered:
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- Complete hydatidiform mole: A partial mole is formed when a sperm fertilizes an egg that has no nucleus. This is the most common type of this condition. On a sonogram, there may be many ovarian cysts seen or many cysts within the uterus.
- Partial mole: This arises when two sperm fertilize an egg. On a sonogram, there may be a sac with a fetus.
-Dr. P
