VAGINAL BLEEDING IN EARLY PREGNANCY

Early pregnancy
- the first trimester of pregnancy corresponds to the first 13 weeks' gestation and early
pregnancy is typically defined less than 10 weeks gestation.
Causes of vaginal bleeding
in early pregnancy
Abortion (Miscarriages)
Ectopic Pregnancy
Molar Pregnancy ( Hydatidiform Mole, Gestational Trophoblastic Disease)
ABORTION
- Termination of pregnancy before viability of the foetus i.e. before 24 weeks if the fetal weight
is less than 500 gm.
Abortion may be either spontaneous (occurring from natural causes) or induced (artificially or
therapeutically).
ETIOLOGY

Chromosomal abnormalities: cause at least 50% of early abortions e.g. trisomy.

Blighted ovum (an embryonic gestational sac).
Maternal infections: Acute fever for whatever the cause can induce abortion.
Trauma: external to the abdomen or during abdominal or pelvic operations.
Endocrine causes: Progesterone deficiency, Diabetes mellitus, Hyperthyroidism.
Drugs and environmental causes:
Maternal anoxia and malnutrition.
Over distension of the uterus: e.g. acute hydramnios.

Immunological causes:
Systemic lupus erythematosus.
Antiphospholipid antibodies that are directed against platelets and vascular endothelium
leading to thrombosis, placental destruction and abortion.
Ageing sperm or ovum.
Uterine defects Septum, Asherman's syndrome (intrauterine adhesions).
Nervous, psychological conditions and over fatigue.
Idiopathic.
Types of abortion

Threatened abortion.
Inevitable abortion.
Incomplete abortion.
Complete abortion.
Missed abortion
Septic abortion: Any type of abortion, which is complicated by infection
Recurrent abortion: 3 or more successive spontaneous abortions

Threatened Abortion

Symptoms and signs of pregnancy coincide with its duration.

Vaginal bleeding slight or mild, bright red in colour.
Pain is absent or slight.
Cervix is closed.
Pregnancy test is positive.
Ultra-sonography shows a living foetus.

Prognosis:
If the blood loss is less than a normal menstrual flow and is not accompanied by pain of uterine
contraction there is a reasonable chance for continuing pregnancy. This occurs in 50% of cases
while other half will proceed to inevitable or missed abortion.
Treatment:
Rest in bed until one week after stoppage of bleeding.
No intercourse as it may disturb pregnancy by the mechanical effect and the effect of
semen prostaglandins on the uterus.
Sedatives: if the patient is anxious.
Treatment of controversy:
Progestogens.
Gonadotrophins may be of benefit in cases of luteal phase deficiency and those get
pregnant with ovulatory drugs.
Inevitable Abortion

Symptoms and signs of pregnancy coincide (match) with its duration.

Vaginal bleeding is excessive and may accompanied with clots.
Pain is colicky felt in the supra- pubic region radiating to the back.
The internal os of the cervix is dilated and products of conception may be felt through it.
Rupture of membranes between 12-28 weeks is a sign of the inevitability of abortion.

Treatment
Any attempt to maintain pregnancy is useless.
Incomplete Abortion
Retention of a part of the products of conception inside the uterus. It may be the whole or part
of the placenta which is retained.
Clinical picture
The patient usually noticed the passage of a part of the conception products.
Bleeding is continuous.
The uterus is less than the period of amenorrhoea but still large in size. The cervix is
opened and retained contents may be felt through it.
Ultrasonography: shows the retained contents.
Complete Abortion
All products of conception have been expelled from the uterus.
Clinical picture:
The bleeding is slight and gradually diminishes.
The pain ceases.
The cervix is closed.
The uterus is slightly larger than normal.
Ultrasound: shows empty cavity.

Missed Abortion
Retention of dead products of conception for 4 weeks or more.
Symptoms:

Symptoms of threatened abortion may or may not be developed.

Regression of pregnancy symptoms as nausea, vomiting and breast symptoms.
The abdomen does not increase and may even decrease in size.
The fetal movements are not felt or ceases if previously present.
A dark brown vaginal discharge may occur (prune juice discharge).

Signs:
The uterus fails to grow and becomes firmer and the cervix is closed.
The fetal heart sounds cannot be heard.

 Investigations:
Pregnancy test becomes negative within two weeks from the ovum death.
Ultrasound shows either a collapsed gestational sac, absent foetal heart movement or
foetal movement.
Complications:
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) may occur if the dead conceptus is retained
for more than 4 weeks.
Superadded infection.
Treatment:
The dead conceptus is expelled spontaneously in the majority of cases.
Evacuation of the uterus is indicated in the following conditions:
spontaneous expulsion does not occur within four weeks,
there is bleeding,
infection or DIC developed or,
patient is anxious. Although some gynaecologists advise evacuation of the uterus once
sure diagnosis of missed abortion is made.
Evacuation is carried out as following:
If the uterine size is less than 12 weeks gestation: vaginal or suction evacuation is done ;
dilatation and evacuation.
If the uterine size is more than 12 weeks' gestation: evacuation can be done by
Prostaglandins: given intravaginally (PGE2), intravenously, intra-or extra- amniotic
(PGF2).
Oxytocin infusion - to control bleeding and enhances expulsion of the retained products.
Combination of Prostaglandins and Oxytocin.
Hysterotomy( doing a cs section incision of the uterus; vertical incision): is rarely
indicated in 2nd trimester missed abortion if the medical induction fails initially and after
repetition few days later.

Septic Abortion
It is any type of abortion, usually criminal abortion, complicated by infection.
Microbiology: E.Coli, bacteroids, anaerobic streptococci, clostridia, streptococci and
staphylococci are among the most causative organisms.
Clinical picture:

General examination:
Pyrexia and tachycardia.
Rigors suggest bacteraemia.
A subnormal temperature with tachycardia is ominous and mostly seen with gas forming
organisms.
Malaise, sweating, headache, and joint pain.
Jaundice and /or haematuria is an ominous sign, indicating haemolysis due to chemicals
used in criminal abortion or haemolytic infection as clostridium welchii.
Abdominal examination:

Suprapubic pain and tenderness.

Abdominal rigidity and distension indicates peritonitis.
Local examination:
Offensive vaginal discharge. Minimal inoffensive vaginal discharge is often associated
with severe cases.
Uterus is tender.
Products of conception may be felt.
Local trauma may be detected.
Fullness and tenderness of Douglas pouch indicates pelvic abscess which will be
associated with diarrhea.

Treatment

Isolate the patient . Bed rest in semi-sitting position

An intravenous line is established for therapy.
Observation for vital signs:
A cervico-vaginal swab is taken for culture and sensitivity,
Antibiotic therapy:.
Fluid therapy:
Blood transfusion: is given if CVP is low (normal: 8-12 cm water).
Oxytocin infusion: to control bleeding and enhances expulsion of the retained products.
Surgical evacuation of the uterus can be done after 6 hours of commencing IV therapy
but may be earlier in case of severe bleeding or deteriorating condition in spite of the
previous therapy.
Hysterectomy may be the last choice to save life
Ectopic pregnancy
In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants in a location outside the uterus and tries to
develop there. The word ectopic means "in an abnormal place or position." The most common

site is the fallopian tube, the tube that normally carries eggs from the ovary to the uterus.
However, ectopic pregnancy can also occur in the ovary, the abdomen, and the cervical canal
(the opening from the uterus to the vaginal canal). The phrases tubal pregnancy, ovarian
pregnancy, cervical pregnancy, and abdominal pregnancy refer to the specific area of an ectopic
pregnancy.
Signs and Symptoms
Ectopic pregnancy can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms often mirror those of a
normal early pregnancy. These can include missed periods, breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting,
or frequent urination.
The first warning signs of an ectopic pregnancy are often pain or vaginal bleeding.
Fate of ectopic pregnancy
Tubal abortion - extrusion of the product of conception through the fimbriated end of the
oviduct or through a rupture of an oviduct; aborted ectopic pregnancy, the pregnancy having
originated in a fallopian tube.
Tubal rupture - is most often a complication of a tubal ectopic pregnancy where the
pregnancy breaks open due to progressive growth. It can potentially lead to shock.

Morbidity and Mortality Rates

Abdominal pain occurs in 97% of women with an ectopic pregnancy,
Vaginal bleeding in 79%, abdominal tenderness in 91%, and infertility in 15%.
Persistent ectopic pregnancy after surgical treatment occurs in 510% of cases.
Ectopic pregnancy accounts for 1015% of all maternal death; the mortality rate for ectopic
pregnancy is approximately one in 2,500 cases.

Ectopic pregnancy is the result of a flaw in human reproductive physiology that allows the
conceptus to implant and mature outside the endometrial cavity (see the image below), which
ultimately ends in the death of the fetus. Without timely diagnosis and treatment, ectopic
pregnancy can become a life-threatening situation.[1]

Signs and symptoms

The classic clinical triad of ectopic pregnancy is as follows:

Abdominal pain
Amenorrhea
Vaginal bleeding
Unfortunately, only about 50% of patients present with all 3 symptoms.
Patients may present with other symptoms common to early pregnancy (eg, nausea, breast
fullness). The following symptoms have also been reported:
Painful fetal movements (in the case of advanced abdominal pregnancy)
Dizziness or weakness
Fever
Flulike symptoms
Vomiting
Syncope
Cardiac arrest

The presence of the following signs suggests a surgical emergency:

Abdominal rigidity
Involuntary guarding
Severe tenderness
Evidence of hypovolemic shock (eg, orthostatic blood pressure changes, tachycardia)

Findings on pelvic examination may include the following:

The uterus may be slightly enlarged and soft
Uterine or cervical motion tenderness may suggest peritoneal inflammation
An adnexal mass may be palpated but is usually difficult to differentiate from the ipsilateral ovary
Uterine contents may be present in the vagina, due to shedding of endometrial lining stimulated by an ectopic pregnancy

Hydatidiform pregnancy (MOLAR PREGNANCY)

A hydatidiform mole is a relatively rare condition in which tissue around a fertilized egg that
normally would have developed into the placenta instead develops as an abnormal cluster of
cells. (This is also called a molar pregnancy.) This grapelike mass forms inside of the uterus
after fertilization instead of a normal embryo.
Causes
The cause of hydatidiform mole is unclear; some experts believe it is caused by problems with
the chromosomes
A mole sometimes can develop from placental tissue that is left behind in the uterus after a
miscarriage or childbirth.
Two types of masses;
Complete Molar Pregnancy there is no embryo and normal placental tissue

Partial Molar Pregnancy- theres an abnormal embryo and possibly some placental tissue. The
embryo begins to develop but it malformed and cant survived.
Symptoms
Women with a hydatidiform mole will have a positive pregnancy test and often believe they
have a normal pregnancy for the first three or four months.
However, in these cases the uterus will grow abnormally fast.
By the end of the third month, if not earlier, the woman will experience vaginal bleeding
ranging from scant spotting to excessive bleeding.
Sometimes, the grapelike cluster of cells itself will be shed with the blood during this time.
Other symptoms may include severe nausea and vomiting and high blood pressure. As the
pregnancy progresses, the fetus will not move and there will be no fetal heartbeat.
Prognosis
A woman with a molar pregnancy often goes through the same emotions and sense of loss.
In addition, there is the added worry that the tissue left behind could become cancerous.
In the unlikely case that the mole is cancerous the cure rate is almost 100%. As long as the
uterus was not removed, it would still be possible to have a child at a later time.