Vaginal Bleeding in Pregnancy

What are the treatments for the condition?

Not all vaginal bleeding in pregnancy needs treatment. If bleeding occurs but a miscarriage or early delivery does not take place, observation is all that is needed. Treatment for other causes is as follows:

What are the side effects of the treatments?

Surgery may cause bleeding, infection, and allergic reaction to anesthesia. Blood transfusions carry the risk of infection and allergic reactions. All medicines have side effects, such as allergic reactions and stomach upset.

What happens after treatment for the condition?

The aftereffects of vaginal bleeding depend on the underlying cause. Women with bleeding often have pregnancies that continue without further problems. In the event of a miscarriage, a woman may be advised by her healthcare provider to wait 3 to 4 months before attempting another pregnancy.

If premature labor is halted, medicines to relax the uterus may be needed to extend the pregnancy beyond the 36th week. If significant blood loss has occurred, iron and vitamin pills may be recommended to help regain health. Counseling or other supportive therapy might be helpful to relieve distress related to conditions such as miscarriage.

How is the condition monitored?

Monitoring depends on the cause of bleeding. In some cases, it may consist of a wait-and-see approach. Repeat pregnancy ultrasounds or blood tests may be used.

Women with molar pregnancies need careful monitoring, as molar pregnancies can recur. When a molar pregnancy comes back, small cells from the placenta can spread to other organs like cancer. Chemotherapy may be needed for a person with recurrent molar pregnancy.

Any additional episodes of vaginal bleeding should be promptly evaluated by the healthcare provider. New or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.